The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Worldwide has said, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, that there is no faction in the body.
This is as the organisation said it had commenced moves to modernise the Igbo Apprenticeship System, a system that has helped the people achieve economic empowerment.
President-General of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, stated this during a media briefing on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Iwuanyanwu said those claiming the offices of the President and Secretary of the organisation are on a selfish economic adventure to enrich themselves.
He further said he was unanimously elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2023 in Enugu State.
He stated, “There is no faction. Myself, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, I’m the President General unanimously elected by all the people.
“The first time, everybody supported one person. That is me, the five governors of South East, all the people.
“Now there are people who make money by this faction who want to make money.”
On the apprenticeship system, Iwuanyanwu observed that modernity currently challenges it and, therefore, requires a review.
He said Ohanaeze, under him, has constituted a business committee headed by Sam Ohuabunwa, which has been mandated to review and bring it in tune with the times and further use it to empower the people.
Iwuanyanwu said, “This apprenticeship system is very indigenous to Nigeria. What it means is that when an Igbo man establishes a business, he hires three or four people who could be his relations to work with them.
“He clothes them, houses them, and feeds them, but he will not pay them salaries. At the end of their terms, he will settle them; they call it (Idu ulo).
“He will give them money, which means the aggregate of the money they should have earned as salary. That person will now set up his own business and will collect another set of his apprentices again.
“You see, it has a geometric progression within a short time. That’s what made Igbo to be very prosperous.”
Continuing, he said, “Today in Nigeria, the resourcefulness of the Igbo is measured by the commanding heights they maintain in business across various parts of Nigeria.
“Now, the system is no longer as strong as it was. Things have changed over the years. Mark you that it is an old structure that has to be modernised. Ohanaeze is going to find a means of modernizing it.
“Ohanaeze has set up a committee on business under the chairmanship of Sam Ohuabunwa. Part of their duty is to find a means of modernizing it. It was like a primitive content, but it served its purpose. But now, the Ohuabunwa committee will be able to find a modernised mode so that it will continue to work”.
On the protection of Igbo interests, Iwuanyanwu said the organisation would continue to protect the interest of Igbos across the world and would stand by any Igbo who engages in criminal activities.