HRH. Eze Nicholas Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo is a philanthropist (UN Peace Ambassador), and well known for always speaking the truth no matter whose ox is gored. He is very accommodating but will never support lies. He has distinguished himself in the area of promoting Igbo Speaking in Schools in Lagos to ensure that Igbo language and culture does not go into extinction. In this chat with The Unique Model Magazine, he reveals what inspired him to initiate the project, advised the Chairman of Council of Ndi Eze in Lagos, Eze (Dr.) Nwokedi on the task ahead as well as Ndigbo in Lagos to always know that they have leaders and confide in their leaders whenever there is an issue
Excerpts:
Sir, you are one of the Ezes that came to officiate in today’s programme, giving of certificate of leadership of Ndi Eze in Lagos State to the newly elected chairman, Eze (Dr.) C. C. Nwokedi, can you introduce yourself?
I am Eze (UN Peace Ambassador) Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eziokwu bu Ndu, Eze Ndi Igbo Aigbaka Ejigbo.
Can you tell us the essence of today’s gathering? Some are given certificates what can you say about the event?
Today is a special day to all of us, the Ezes in Lagos, because it’s a day we are trying to unite and build ourselves, unite more than ever, move Ezeship forward to another level. So to me it’s a special day. I am happy to be among.
Now you are the Public Relations Officer, what are your functions?
My functions are to communicate to the public, the efforts of the Ezes and to the Igbos in general, whatever that is our decision and progress we are making, I am to relate to people to carry them along. Make them understand what we are having for them.
What is your advice to the new Lagos State Chairman of Ndi Eze, Eze (Dr.) C. C. Nwokedi?
My advice to him is that, he should be courageous, he should be more determined; he should be focused because when you’re elected in a position like this, it’s a call for duty. You should know that whatever you have done in the pass is in the past. You’re having a new journey that you must create time to determine how the future will look like.
Secondly, he should not look at the gossip and challenges that will be ahead, Christ said call me in the days of trouble, I will answer you. It means that, there is trouble ahead, we should prepare for it, those that you look as your enemies, gossiping you, and they are actually helping you to bring the best out of you. They are tools God is using to prepare you for the great days ahead.
So my third advice for the chairman is to overlook whatever challenges that will come and not to be distracted, because things ahead are beyond him, but with God he will succeed. And the entire executive, because we are just elected, we don’t know what we are going to face. For now, it is our own way, we must be patient to hear what God is saying, and keep to ourselves.
My advice to all the Igbos in Lagos state is to know that they have leaders, they should always confide in their leaders, been the Ezes in Lagos. In every local government we have Eze.
What inspired you to establish Igbo Speaking Schools in Lagos?
We are to promote the culture and the language, what inspired me is because many of our children don’t even understand the Igbo language. Even some of the elders don’t know the Igbo language very well. We speak it, we don’t understand it. I tried to set up that school to enable Igbos to learn and not to forget their mother language in Lagos. It is free to help our children.
To make them understand the language earlier and grow with it. Even if they were born in Lagos and brought up here, they should know where they are coming from because the English Language which is a borrowed language has taken away our language and culture and tradition. So I am committed to ensure our language is not lost.
The task is financial demanding, what plan do you have to ensure you float the schools across Lagos State?
Yes, very soon there will be a launching for that, I will make it known to all Igbos that there is something like this existing. Also God who gave a child yam to plant will give him a digger to harvest the yam, since I have started doing it with my own personal money; I know God in heaven will support me to make it a successful project.