Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an apex Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria. Ndigbo, by census records, make up one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. Ohanaeze Ndigbo ensures that the interest of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria is protected.
Although Ohaneze Ndigbo is not a political party, part of its primary objectives is to foster unity of purpose among Ndigbo for an effective political representation within the democratic system of governance in Nigeria. The goals of the organization are currently under review in order to enable it address some very important, if not threatening issues, confronting Ndigbo in present day Nigeria.
The organization came into being after the Nigerian civil war through the vision of some prominent Igbo people who identified the need to unify Ndigbo under a common umbrella entity with a single voice on all issues affecting Ndigbo. This initiative was received with much enthusiasm considering the huge socio-economic displacement suffered by the Ndigbo during the Nigerian war and the resultant need for some level of group rehabilitation.
An organizational assembly was thus created and named Igbo National Assembly (INA). This organization was later banned by the Federal Military Government at the time, probably due to an unfounded Government's fear of a grand suspicious agenda being cultivated by Ndigbo via the organization. Following the ban, Professor Ben Nwabueze ( a foremost constitutional lawyer) assembled other prominent Igbo leaders to form Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1976. He also became the pioneer Secretary- General and held the position for twenty years.
The organization was effectively championed and supported by Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe, Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Dr. Pius Okigbo, and Chief Jerome Udorji among other notable Igbo personalities.
The current Secretary-General of the organization is Chief Nnia Nwodo.