Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has built a new world headquarters for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Enugu. The facility, located on Park Avenue in Enugu GRA, is expected to be handed over to the organisation in October. Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah inspected the facility on Tuesday in Enugu alongside Okorocha and other officials as construction entered its final stage. The project is a 3,000-square-metre facility featuring various amenities.
The new headquarters was motivated by Okorocha's desire to provide Ohanaeze with a befitting permanent home and promote pride and identity among Ndigbo. Okorocha said his decision was not driven by wealth but by his heart of love for his people. He had earlier visited the old Ohanaeze secretariat and felt it was inadequate for an organisation representing millions of Ndigbo. The new headquarters aims to provide a permanent institutional home for Ohanaeze and strengthen its capacity to serve Ndigbo.
The facility features twin auditoriums, about 11 offices, conference rooms, a library, an interactive audiovisual space, and a memorabilia section dedicated to preserving Igbo history and heritage. Okorocha said the building was about three to four weeks away from readiness, with landscaping and other finishing works still ongoing. The formal commissioning will be arranged by the Ohanaeze leadership and the Enugu State Government, while Okorocha's responsibility will be to hand over the building to the organisation.
Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah commended Okorocha and the Rochas Foundation for the project, describing the building as befitting of the Igbo people. Mbah said the project served as a reminder of the common roots of Ndigbo and the need for greater unity. The governor noted that the location of the facility in Enugu, a significant centre of Igbo identity, made the project particularly important.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, thanked Okorocha for providing a lasting symbol for the organisation. The facility will serve as a legacy for successive leaderships of Ohanaeze and strengthen its ability to protect and defend the interests of Ndigbo. Azuta-Mbata expressed gratitude for Okorocha's effort in promoting Igbo pride and identity.
The building was designed by Walsh Blanc, an integrated spatial design and experiential architecture practice led by its Managing Director, Mrs Uloma Rochas Nwosu. The design was inspired by the need to create a facility that would unite Ndigbo while telling the story of their history, culture, and identity. The building incorporated several Igbo-themed elements, including a lion motif, red and white colours, and seven pillars representing the seven Igbo-speaking states.
The new headquarters is expected to be formally handed over to Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the first week of October. Part of the old Ohanaeze secretariat will be preserved as a historical reference point, with old furniture, flooring, and other materials retained alongside photographs and videos documenting the history of the former building. A significant portion of the furniture and artworks used in the new headquarters was locally produced.
Key points
- The new headquarters features various amenities, including twin auditoriums, offices, conference rooms, a library, and a memorabilia section.
- Okorocha's decision to build the facility was motivated by his desire to promote pride and identity among Ndigbo.
- The facility is expected to be formally handed over to Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the first week of October.
