distinguished Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria (NONIN), a prominent socio-cultural organisation of titled men across Igboland, has honoured three serving senators for what it described as “superlative representation of the Igbo nation” in the National Assembly.
Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria society honours 3 Senators – Abaribe, Ngwu, and Nwoko – for exemplary representation and service to the Igbo.
The distinguished Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria (NONIN), a prominent socio-cultural organisation of titled men across Igboland, has honoured three serving senators for what it described as “superlative representation of the Igbo nation” in the National Assembly.
A honourees — Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), and Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North) — were selected following a rigorous evaluation process led by a committee chaired by Ozo Ferdinand Anikwe, PhD, KSJI, JP, a renowned scholar, retired permanent secretary, and former Director-General of the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation (CBAAC).
The recognition formed part of activities marking the 2025 Iri Ji Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo celebration held at the Enugu Sports Club, Golf Section, on Sunday, September 21, 2025. The annual event celebrates excellence, cultural renewal, and leadership within Igbo society.
How the awardees emerged
According to Prof. Anikwe, the committee assessed Igbo senators on ten performance indicators, including legislative productivity, grassroots connection, humility in power, constituency engagement, Igbo advocacy, and social impact. The goal, he said, was to celebrate leaders “whose performance mirrors the ideals of service, humility, and courage long associated with the Ozo institution.”
Ngwu: Passion with sense of community
Among the three recipients, Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, was particularly praised for combining legislative passion with community investment. His initiatives — including the Enugu West Academy, scholarships for indigent students, postgraduate grants abroad, road rehabilitation projects, solar lighting installations, and youth vocational centres — have earned him a strong grassroots following.
In a recent viral Senate session, Ngwu had challenged what he termed “federal neglect of the Southeast in infrastructure funding,” asking: “When will the South East ever have a lion’s share in any national project?” His forthrightness, NONIN said, exemplifies “the courage of conviction and people-centred representation.”
Abaribe: The Courageous Igbo Voice
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, one of the longest-serving lawmakers from the Southeast, was commended for his “unflinching courage and consistent advocacy for justice.” NONIN cited his insistence that releasing IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would restore calm to the region.
Abaribe’s voice, it said, has remained one of the few steady beacons of Igbo identity and dignity in the National Assembly. His humility, accessibility, and moral authority among his constituents were cited as key reasons for the award.
Nwoko: Reigniting Anioma Renaissance
The third honouree, Senator Ned Nwoko, was recognised for rekindling the historical and cultural consciousness of the Anioma people — the Igbo-speaking communities of Delta State. NONIN likened Nwoko’s efforts to the legacy of Chief Denis Osadebey, the 1930s nationalist and founder of the Igbo Federal Union (IFU), who worked to unite all Igbo groups across Nigeria.
According to the citation, Nwoko’s advocacy for the inclusion of Anioma in mainstream Igbo discourse reflects “rare historical awareness, courage, and devotion to truth.” The organisation expressed confidence that his cultural and political engagement will “help recover what the Igbo nation has lost in unity and self-definition.”
A Night of Cultural Glamour and Recognition
The Enugu ceremony drew a distinguished audience of traditional rulers, academics, technocrats, and business leaders from across Igboland. Among the guests were Dame Ugochi Madueke, Enugu Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Chairperson of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, the Ogadagidi of Edem Ani Ogwugwu; and Igwe Aloysius Ogbonna, the Uba-Ojene of Ogugu, represented by Dr. Augustine Okoli.
NONIN’s National Leader, Ozo Prince Emeka Onyesoh, led the delegation of titled men including Ozor Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, PhD, Deputy National Leader and immediate past spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
In his remarks, Ozo Anikwe described Senator Ngwu as “a jinx-breaker, an eloquent parliamentary prodigy, and a legislator whose humility and vibrancy elevate the Igbo voice at the national level.”
Aside from the three senators, Dr. Festus Uzor, a distinguished Enugu-born administrator and politician, also received an award for his “phenomenal rise through intellect and hard work.” Uzor, former local government chairman, Speaker of Enugu Assembly, was a three-time Commissioner (health, education and special duties), and chuef of Staff at Lion Building, the seat of power in Enugu. NONIN also honoured Chief Afam Agana and Chief Cinedu Ugbo for philanthropy and service to humanity.
Pending presentations in Abuja
The awards to Senators Abaribe and Ned Nwoko will be formally presented in Abuja at a later date, the organisation announced.
For the Ozo society, honouring these leaders is both cultural and moral. It reaffirms the Igbo ideal that public office is not about self-aggrandisement but about honour, service, and truth.
As Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, NONIN Deputy National Leader, summed it up:
“Our purpose is to remind every Igbo son and daughter in public life that greatness is measured not by power, but by humility, by courage, and by how one uplifts others.”
