-New Association Opens Doors To All Igbo-Speaking Communities, Vows Zero Tolerance For Crime, Offers Grants, Health & Disaster Support
Felix Mbata, Lagos state
A new dawn has come for Ndigbo in Lagos. On Saturday 14th June 2026, great Igbo leaders, youths, and women converged at Tiger Bar, Bucknor Estate, Ijegun Road, Lagos, to birth Onur’ube Nwanne Gbataoso Association — a brotherhood built on one principle: when your brother cries, you run to him. Visionary and Founder, Hon. Ezerika Samson Ejikeme from Orumba North LGA, Anambra State, told the gathering that the association was created to end the era of failed organisations and selfish leadership. His mission: protect Igbo interest, defend welfare of all Igbo –speaking communities in Lagos and beyond.
The name Onur’ube Nwanne Gbataoso translates in English as “When you hear your brothers cry, run to him and know what makes him cry. If he is in pain, agony, in battle, try to help him. That is the meaning of Onur’ube Nwanne Gbataoso.”
Why The Association Was Born
According to Hon. Ejikeme, the reason behind the association is because several organisations have disappointed the Igbo race. “So some of us came together and said we need to have an association that will protect the interest of the Igbos and to bring an atmosphere where Igbo’s welfare and the neighbours communities will be protected, defended and guided,” he said.
That vision is already drawing Igbos from Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Imo State, Abia, Ebonyi, and other Igbo-speaking communities who love what the association is doing and want to be part of it. “So that is our aim, is to stand together as brother to defend one another, to help one another. It is in fight we fight for our common interest together. If it is in sickness we are there. If it is in any challenging and ceremony we are committed to handle good and bad situation together,” he added.
He stressed that the association supports members, “in as much as he is not a criminal, we cannot accommodate criminals in our midst, because our association is against crime.”
Tangible Benefits For Members
Hon. Ejikeme, listed numerous benefits and profits as a member. “One of us that went through several operations, we are raising fund to assist for the hospital bills. If a member has accommodation challenge, we can assist the person, if someone has fire inferno, we will come in to assist on our capacity. So there are so many numerous benefits,” he said.
He disclosed that the association has a platform that assists members with grants and funds to encourage financial backup in businesses. “We have a Non-Governmental Organisation which we have foundation through which we assess grants. We are working to affiliate with Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and other similar organisation to help our members,” he stated.
On Igbo Leadership Crisis In Lagos
Speaking as visionary and founder, Hon. Ejikeme said he is fully aware of misunderstandings among Igbo leaders in Lagos. “Thank you, in fact, I love this question personally, because I have been among those that fight to see that there will be complete peace in Igbo leaders Lagos state. There will be peace and tranquility among the Igbo leaders and followers in Lagos state,” he said.
He revealed he served as a member of a Peace Committee in one organisation with the agenda to bring everybody together to foster peace so that Ndigbo can live in harmony and pursue Igbo unity in Lagos state. “But that wasn’t achieved. The crisis in some Igbo groups is because some leaders have personal interest rather than collective interest,” he noted.
“If it is for interest of members or Igbo people in Lagos, why should somebody go extra mile to fight with his brother because of leadership? If you have intention to lead Igbo people in Lagos with open heartedness and selflessness, why must you fight when you lose? The safety and interest of people you are leading should be the paramount intention for you. So if that is your intention you will not fight another person. It is those that you are leading that will say, we want this person to lead us because of his competency, capacity and accountability. But because some leaders are selfish, they want to grab it by force,” he said.
He lamented that the aims and objectives of those organisations are deviating because of personal interest instead of following core values.
Membership Requirements & Fees
The association is open to every Igbo-speaking person, from age 22 years, single or married, to retirement age of 70 years. “And we make it in a way so that it will be easy for everyone. It is not a club that we will be tasking people for this and that. This is just an association where the welfare of members is top on our agenda,” he explained.
Registration fee is a token of N2,000.00 (Two Thousand Naira Only). Monthly due is N1,000.00 (One Thousand Naira Only). “We make it easy for everybody because we have Igbo welfare as our paramount. That is why our motto is: We are our Brother’s Keepers,” he said.
Meeting day and time: Second Sunday of new month. Time: 2pm prompt. Venue: Tiger Bar, Bucknor Estate, Tiger Bar Bus stop, Bucknor, Ejigbo, Jakande Gate, Ijegun Road, Lagos state.
For enquiries: Publicity: 07038583009, Contact: 08064236036, Organising Committee: 08037142375.
Challenges & Inauguration
On challenges envisaged, Hon. Ejikeme said: “Challenges I am envisaging is people believing in the vision and mission. Secondly, having leaders that will work according to the core value of this association. That is why I, being the visionary and leader, am careful in selecting who will be what in the leadership position because if we don’t lead with competence, compassion, accountability, we will do the same mistakes others have been doing. So that is the challenge I am envisaging. Let people that are working with me have the same mindset, have the same zeal.”
On preparedness for inauguration, he said: “We are working towards the inauguration. When time comes, we will publish it to Ndigbo across the globe to know and come to witness.”
Conclusively, with Onur’ube Nwanne Gbataoso, Hon. Ezerika Samson Ejikeme is offering Ndigbo in Lagos what many organisations failed to give: brotherhood without crime, welfare without burden, leadership without selfishness. From health support to business grants, from disaster relief to peace advocacy, the association is positioning itself as the new home for all Igbo-speaking communities in Nigeria and beyond. As the inauguration draws near, the message to Ndigbo across the globe is clear — when one cries, all will run. That is the new covenant.