Since its formal establishment in 1976, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has served as the apex socio-cultural organization uniting the Igbo people of Nigeria and the diaspora. Tasked with preserving Igbo identity, advocating for political inclusion, and promoting regional development, Ohanaeze has been led over the years by distinguished individuals from diverse professional backgrounds—including medicine, law, diplomacy, business, and academia.
The table below presents a chronological list of the Presidents-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, from the organization’s inception to the present day. It includes their full names, professions, tenure start and end dates, as well as their states, local government areas (LGAs), and towns of origin—providing a comprehensive look at the leadership that has shaped the voice of the Igbo nation across decades.
listing the Presidents-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo
| No. | Name | Profession | Tenure Start | Tenure End | State | LGA | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam | Medical Doctor | 1976 | 1979 | Ebonyi | Afikpo North | Unwana |
| 2 | Justice Eze Ozobu | Jurist | 2000 | 2003 | Enugu | Udi | Ozobu |
| 3 | Prof. Joe Ogbonnaya Irukwu | Lawyer, Insurance Exec | 2003 | 2007 | Abia | Ohafia | Item |
| 4 | Dr. Dozie Ikedife | Medical Doctor | 2007 | 2011 | Anambra | Nnewi North | Nnewi |
| 5 | Amb. Ralph Uwechue | Diplomat, Publisher | 2011 | 2013 | Delta | Aniocha North | Ogwashi-Uku |
| 6 | Chief Enwo Igariwey | Politician | 2013 | 2017 | Ebonyi | Afikpo South | Unwana |
| 7 | Chief John Nnia Nwodo | Lawyer, Politician | 2017 | 2021 | Enugu | Uzo-Uwani | Ukehe |
| 8 | Prof. George Obiozor | Diplomat, Academic | Jan 2021 | Dec 2022 | Imo | Oru East | Awo-Omamma |
| 9 | Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu | Businessman, Politician | Apr 2023 | Jul 2024 | Imo | Ikeduru | Umuohii Atta |
| 10 | Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu | Politician | Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 | Imo | [Data Needed] | [Data Needed] |
| 11 | Senator John Azuta-Mbata | Politician | Jan 2025 | Incumbent | Rivers | Obio/Akpor | [Data Needed] |
Notes:
- The tenure of Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam began with the formation of the Igbo Forum in 1976, which was later renamed Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1979.
- The tenure of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was cut short due to his death in July 2024.
- Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu served as an interim President-General following the death of Chief Iwuanyanwu until the election of Senator John Azuta-Mbata in January 2025.
- Some LGAs and towns are marked as [Data Needed] due to limited publicly available information.
References
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Ọhanaeze Ndigbo. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ọhanaeze_NdigboWikipedia
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Uwechue, R. C. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raph_UwechueWikipedia
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Oyedokun, T. (2025, January 10). Who is John Azuta-Mbata? The Rivers State indigene elected as Ohanaeze Ndigbo president. BusinessDay. Retrieved from https://businessday.ng/news/article/who-is-john-azuta-mbata-the-rivers-state-indigene-elected-as-ohanaeze-ndigbo-president/Business Day
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Nweze, C. (2025, January 15). Ohanaeze Ndigbo: One union, three presidents. Blueprint. Retrieved from https://blueprint.ng/ohanaeze-ndigbo-one-union-three-presidents/Blueprint Newspapers Limited
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Senator Azuta-Mbata who’s Mobilizing Ikwerre against Wike, Emerges President Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. (2025, January). The Southern Examiner. Retrieved from https://thesouthernexaminer.com/senator-azutambata-whos-mobilizing-ikwerre-against-wike-emerges-presi-p13246-266.htm
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