Introduction

History is meant to bind the past to the present, that is what we have done by narrating what we observed over the years since the Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton came into existence in Edmonton and what steps were taken to respond to our cultural and associational needs as a people. In writing the history of ICAE from inception to 2022, we have the singular advantage of having all but one of the founding members of the association alive. Another huge advantage is the fact that many of the major players who shaped the history of ICAE including the current president, are still active members of the association.

In the Beginning

The discussions to have an association that represents Ndigbo in Edmonton started in November 2001 when people from the Igbo community in Edmonton met in the house of one of the members in Millwoods to brainstorm and make contacts with each other. However, the association was officially founded in 2002 when it was registered as a Not-for-Profit Association in the Province of Alberta. At the time ICAE was formed, Igbo people in Edmonton were largely members and leaders of the then Nigerian Association of Alberta (NAA). Therefore, there were fears in certain quarters and opposition from others, that the formation of ICAE would be in conflict of interest with NAA. The founders of ICAE were not deterred by the concerns because of their strong belief in the adage that “Charity begins at home” and that a strong ICAE would also help to build a strong NAA. The key drivers to finding an Igbo association in Edmonton were the urge to promote Igbo culture in the diaspora and to contribute to the welfare of the Igbo people in Edmonton.

The founding members of ICAE include Ruby Morah, Tony Anagor, Sam Okolo, Chuba Nwachukwu, Achulike Nwaribe, William Chemeziem Nwaribe, Josephine Nwaribe, Caleb Morah, Emma Morah, Ifeanyichukwu Uzor, Nnenne Ikejiani, Dorothy Onuoha, Adamma Obiajunwa, Ferdinand Mbajiorgu, Jude Anawanam, Chief Chinwe Okelu, Dr. Patrick Iroegbu, Eleazer Nwachukwu, John Igbokwe, Dr. Chiemeka Ihejirika, Prof. Phil Okeke, and others. Other major players such as Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi) and Dr. Peter Obiefuna, joined the association soon thereafter.

At the end of the term of the first executive, a new Board was elected (2004 - 2006) comprising of Dr. Chiemeka Ihejirika (President), Dr. Patrick Iroegbu (Vice President), Tony Brown Ikwueme (Secretary), Noble Akpolonu (Treasurer), Penny Eleweke (Director of Humanitarian Services), Deacon Obi (PRO), Nze Eleazar Nwachukwu (Social Director), and Emma Morah (Financial Secretary). Chuba Nwachukwu and Dr. Ndubuisi Nnamani (the men’s dance coordinators) were later appointed as Board Directors.

The “In-Diaspora” Magazine

In 2004, the Board came up with the notion of establishing a magazine to share ideas, publicize Igbo culture and raise funds. The frequency of publication was set at every other year. Deacon Obi in his capacity as PRO was charged with the responsibility of heading the “In-Diaspora Magazine” Publication Committee.

Membership of the Community Magazine Committee 2004 included: Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi, Chair) Dr. Patrick Iroegbu Ifeanyi Uzor; and Anthony Brown Ikwueme

Editorial Board:

Prof. Phil Okeke Dr. Jonah Eleweke John Igbokwe

Marketing/Production:

Sarah Igboji Anselem Okereke Ruby Morah Kez Gabriel Ifeanyi Uzor

Men’s and Women’s Dance Groups

The Board also worked hard to establish the men’s dance group (Akunaecheze), the women’s dance group (Obinwanne) and the Children’s dance group (Egwu Umuaka). Nze Eleazar Nwachukwu, Dr Ndubuisi Eugene Nnamani, and Chuba Nwachukwu, were instrumental in forming the dance groups. They trained the drummers in Igbo musical equipment such as wooden and metal gongs, drums. Tony Ikwueme, Dr. Patrick Iroegbu and Innocent Dominic were the lead dancers. ICAE performed Oji Onu masquerade, nmanwu, Owugiri, etc at several public functions, including the Guyanese independent celebration, Portuguese Cultural Event, and the Wetaskiwin Town centenary celebration where we wereICAE Men’s Dance Group was paid to perform.. Emilia Uzor was the leader of the women’s dance group.

The first Igbo Day Celebration/the Inauguration of ICAE, and the launching of the “In-Diaspora Magazine” took place on May 21, 2005. Guests included city councillors, business owners, and the Nigerian High Commission Ottawa. Others included observers and participants from other associations from Toronto, Calgary, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as Tanzanians, Sierra Leoneans, Cameroonians, Ghanaians, Caribbeans, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Mexicans, and other Canadians. The first Igbo day celebration was followed by the first ICAE picnic in July of 2005. The biggest personal and collective insight gained from the first Igbo Day celebration experience was the fact that Igbo women and men can give their best when opportunities are provided for them to do so.

The Turbulent Days

Despite the laudable achievements of the Board, after the leadership tenure of Dr. Chiemeka Ihejirika in October 2006, due to unexpected infighting within the Board, there was an astonishing indifference towards continuity. No one agreed to assume the mantle of leadership of ICAE and Dr. Ihejirika did not continue. Therefore, a Caretaker Committee headed by Chief Chinwe Okelu and comprising Lolo Sandra Agbarakwe and Ibironke Ejim, was appointed by the members. The mandate of the Caretaker Committee was to determine solutions to the challenges of getting members to lead ICAE.

The Caretaker Committee delivered a report in 2007. In October 2007, Ifeanyi Uzor was elected president. The situation did not improve and some prominent ICAE members made personal efforts to find ways to resuscitate the association. There was a great window of opportunity to reactivate ICAE through the 2007 Igbo Christmas. Extensive consultations were done, and all key players and major stakeholders were on board. However, on the morning of December 27, 2007, the day scheduled for the Igbo Christmas, the first significant event during the days of apathy, the shocking sad news of the death of the founding president, Mr. Anselm Okereke reached the community. Anslem died in an auto accident while returning from Misericordia Hospital. That beautiful morning, a dark cloud enveloped our community sky and the Igbo Christmas party was canceled. A committee headed by Dr. Peter Obiefuna swung into action on how to give our founding president a befitting burial. Their action was coordinated with the team from the Nigerian Association of Alberta (NAA) where Anselm also served as the Executive Secretary and communications Director. The Igbos and Nigerians came out together en masse and gave Anslem a befitting burial here in Edmonton. Anselm’s death was a rude awakening for Igbos in Edmonton. It helped Ndigbo to foster and take ICAE more seriously. ICAE discussed life insurance matters extensively and encouraged every member to take out a life insurance policy no matter how small.

Special meetings eventually yielded results. In October 2008 a new Board led by Dr. Patrick Iroegbu was elected. That was made possible by the intervention of two Ex-Presidents of Igbo Cultural Association of Calgary (Nze Felix Oleri and Prof. Onyee Nwankpa). Other members of the Board included Dr. Idong Obiefuna (Vice President) Ifeoma Okoye (Secretary), Jude Anawanam (Treasurer), Deacon Obi (PRO), Mr. Ferdinand Mbajiogu (Provost), and Penny Eleweke (Financial Secretary). Dr. Eugene Nnmani, Mr. Emma Morah and Dr. Peter Obiefuna served as Board Directors.

The key mandate of the administration was to rebuild ICAE. The Board took up the challenge heads on. The first general meeting afterward was very successful, yielding a very large turnout, followed by a huge fundraising to host the 2008 Christmas party. During this regime, for the first time the ICAE annual picnic took place outside Edmonton at Lake Wabamum. One clear exemplary practice of the Board that members appreciated was that members were regularly updated with the activities of the Board through the “Igbo Community News” initiated by the PRO. This helped to encourage members to pay their dues, and fees as required and in a timely manner.

In October of 2010, a new Board headed by Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi) was elected. Other members of the Board included Dr. Idong Obiefuna (Vice President, up to September 2011), Irene Browm (Vice President, from Nov 26, 2011) Nduka Ahanonu (Secretary), Okwuchi Nnani (PRO), Nnamdi Okoye (Financial Secretary), Valentine Akabogu (Socials Director), Dr. Mike Opara (Treasurer), Nkem Onyegbula (Provost), and Dr. Patrick Iroegbu (IPP).

Shortly after it was inaugurated, the Board set up a Standing Committee: Magazine Publication Committee to manage the Indiapora Magazine. After extensive discussion by the Board, the name of the magazine was changed to Ndi-Diaspora Magazine. Members of the Committee included Dr. Peter Obiefuna who served as the chairperson of and editor-in-chief up to July 7, 2011. Thereafter, the President appointed Kelechi (Kaycee) Madu as Editor-in-Chief. Other members include Deacon Obi (Managing Editor),Nkem Onyegbula (Graphic Editor), Dr. Chiemeka Ihejirika (Director of Marketing and Advertising), and Okwuchi Nnani (Chairperson, ex officio and Chief Executive Officer).

Leveraging on the renewed enthusiasm about ICAE, the Board moved ICAE forward with a strong team of Board members. Christmas party was moved from volunteered member’s home to a rented hall, annual picnic activities were organized and celebrated. Meetings were held regularly, and important issues discussed. The Board also organized the first Igbo Youth Day, planned, and executed by Igbo youths headed by Victory Obiefuna and Chizoba Iroegbu. There were essay competitions and prize awards for various age groups. The Board initiated the use of coordinating committees for various programs.

Another milestone of the administration was the Ojukwu memorial event. The Board organized a gathering of Ndigbo and Nigerians to mourn the death of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba of Nnewi who laid down his life for the Igbo and the development of Nigeria. Also, the Board reorganized Ndi-Diaspora magazine into a separate financial entity.

Perhaps, the most important achievement of Deacon Obi’s Board was obtaining gaming license for ICAE from the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). Carl Benito, the then MLA for Mill Woods, assisted ICAE in the process of obtaining casino licence. During the first Casino event in 2014, ICAE realized $78,000. ICAE has been realizing approximately the same amount from Casino every other year since 2014, except in 2016 when we did not participate in Casino.

Nduka Ahanonu was elected President in 2012, Irene Brown as VP, and Val Akabuogu assumed the post of ICAE Secretary. Mr. Ahanonu’s leadership was short lived, and the Vice President, Irene Brown, continued to preside over ICAE matters until the next general meeting when a replacement president was elected in line with ICAE Bylaws. Chief William Nwaribe became the next President and served out the rest of the tenure and then contest for a new term of presidency.

At the end of Chief William Nwaribe’s regime, the presidency of ICAE was hotly contested between Chief Nwaribe and Okwuchi Nnani and the turnout of members for the election meeting was until then, unprecedented. Mr. Okwuchi Nnani won the election. The administration celebrated the second Igbo Youth Day. They organized a trip to visit the Igbo Village in Staunton Virginia, USA. Okwuchi Nnani was the first ICAE president to serve two terms. His administration stabilized the rocky foundation of ICAE

The New Era

In 2018, after the administration of Mr. Nnani, Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi) became the president. Prior to election date, he presented a manifesto to the members outlining what he intended to achieve if given the opportunity to lead ICAE again and he preselected a few people he intended to work with and presented a slate of candidates during the election. In the absence of any other candidates, the slate was approved by the members. The members of the Board included Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi, President), Ogechukwu Ezeh (Vice President), Evangelist Micael Emeka Ibemesi (Secretary) Ada Okeke (PRO), Ugochukwu Diqwo (Treasurer), Chinedu Nwanegbo (Financial Secretary), Alex Ajuzieogu (Social Director), Ebere Opara (Humanitarian Director), Isioma Ufere (Membership Director) Chidi Iwuchukwu (School Board Chair), Nkechi Ezeonyeasi (PTA Chair), Va,entine Akabuogu (Volunteer Coordinator), Chidi Ibemere (Bingo Coordinator), and Okwuchi Nnani (IPP).

Shortly after the Board was elected, the President initiated the leadership retreat, a time the Board and selected Igbo leaders and their spouses embark on a one-day annual retreat to review the situation of ICAE, deliberate on how to advance the affairs of the community and recommend policy initiatives to the Board. This led to several initiatives.

The initiatives resulted in tremendous success for ICAE. Between the years 2018 and 2021, ICAE executed various projects including Obtaining a Bingo licence and holding two casino events and regular bingo sessions that yielded over $200,000. The Board made the ICAE office fully functional by purchasing a laptop, a desktop, a coloured printer, and requisite software for ICAE office and Igbo School use, and relocated ICAE office and the Igbo School to a better space. Shortly after the Board was elected, the Board also realized that ICAE has dynamic and mobile membership. Therefore, they leverage the advantages of modern technology by resorting to ZOOM for board and general meetings. The resort to ZOOM became a major asset in the ICAE developmental arsenal during the pandemic.

The initiatives resulted to a tremendous success for ICAE. Between the years 2018 and 2021, ICAE executed various projects including: Obtaining a Bingo licence and holding two casino events and regular bingo sessions that yielded over $200,000. The Board made the ICAE office fully functional by purchasing a laptop, a desktop, a coloured printer, and requisite software for ICAE office and Igbo School use, and relocated ICAE office and the Igbo School to a better space. Shortly after the Board was elected, the Board also realized that ICAE has dynamic and mobile membership. Therefore, they leverage the advantages of modern technology by resorting to ZOOM for board and general meetings. The resort to ZOOM became a major asset in the ICAE developmental arsenal during the pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, ICAE grew by leaps and bounds during the years 2018 to 2021. Some of the significant achievements include increase in membership from only 26 officially registered and fully paid members in 2018 to 364 fully registered and paid members in 2021. This was as a result of a change in membership through bylaws review. The Board established and equipped an Igbo cultural choir and organized a choir concert that was attended by prominent dignitaries and government officials. During the cultural choir concert, the Mayor of Edmonton proclaimed July 13, 2019, “Igbo Cultural Day in Edmonton.” The Proclamation proudly hangs on the wall of ICAE office today.

One of the greatest achievements of the administration was the establishment of a culture of grant writing. The Board established a grant committee comprising of Ogechukwu Ezeh, Ada Okeke, Nwanne Amogu, Chief Willian Nwaribe, Ugochukwu Digwo, and Deacon Obi. In the year 2021, ICAE realized the amount of $347,612.08 in income, including $22,878.94 in bingo income, $79,545.61 in casino income, $221,543.00 in grants income, $7,050.00 in donations, and $5000 in sponsorship.

The administration was able to execute various projects including mental health project. Through the Mental Health Fund, ICAE delivered the following service to our community among others.

Hired a Program Assistant for ICAE.
Purchased 40 pieces of HP Chromebook N4020 Touchscreen 2-in-1 for Igbo Language School students.
Spent $5023 to visit and commiserate with a total of 20 bereaved members.
Spent $3000 for Omugwo visits to visit 13 families wth new borns, including a family that gave birth to a triplet and other who gave birth to twins.
Provided sewing, jewelry-making, and gardening training to members who signed up for the trainings.
Provided the amount of $872.27 each, to 11 registered and confirmed Igbo elders in Edmonton.
Provided the amount of $20,020 to Igbo School Board to pay Igbo School teachers for one year under the Kids Online Education Support Programs.
Purchased equipment, including 5 annual Zoom licenses and1 large meeting license for various ICAE programs, Webcam, External Microphone, Video Camera, and 2 Projectors.
Every registered ICAE member who did not opt out, received $100 grocery card under the Mental Health fund. That is $200 card per family. In addition, every registered ICAE member who did not opt out, received additional $100 grocery card under the Family Service Support fund. That is another $200 card per family, making it $400 per family.

This administration challenged the Igbo people in Edmonton to upgrade their Igboness by dreaming of that Igbo community they want in Edmonton in the next 100 years, and many did. During the tenor of the Board, many ICAE members started actively volunteering in committees, School Board, grant/fundraising committees, and the various grant implementation teams.

At the end of 2021, Deacon Obi handed the baton of ICAE leadership to Ifeoma Okoye (2022 -), a lawyer and a veteran of ICAE leadership. The new Board comprised of Ifeoma Okoye (President), Dr. Bede Eke (Vice President), Isioma Ufere (Secretary), Ada Okeke (PRO) Fabian Ikokwu (Treasurer), Chiamaka Udeogu (Financial Secretary), Alexander Ajuzieogu (Social Director), and Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Deacon Obi, IPP).

The current administration is moving ICAE to a greater height. The number of memberships continues to increase on daily basis. The administration has obtained the amount of $525,000 in grants and is currently executing various projects including a mentorship project, Operational Management, and Effectiveness Project which includes developing a 5-year strategic plan for ICAE and modernizing the ICAE website, Revenue Generator Program which includes establishing a skill development centre and training members on fundraising and grant writing, and Igbo Language School Transformation project which involves effectively conducting the Igbo School online and in person.

Perhaps, the greatest achievement of the administration so far is the hosting of a very successful first Iri Ji ceremony in this part of the world

History of ICAE Bylaws

The first ICAE bylaws were drafted in 2002 by a committee made of Tony Anagor, Patrick Iroegbu, Ifeanyi Uzor, Eleazar Nwachukwu, Caleb Morah, Nene Ikejiani, Anselm Okereke, John Agbam, Sam Okolo, Chimeziem Nwaribe, John M.O. Igbokwe, Chiemeka B. Ihejirika.

The bylaws were reviewed in 2009 by a Constitution Review Committee comprising of Dr. Cyriacus Agbarakwe (Chair), Dr. Peter Obiefuna, and Ifeoma Okoye. And approved by the general membership, on the 21st day of March 2009.

In November 2018, the Board headed by Deacon Obi undertook a comprehensive review of the bylaws of the Association in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws. The amendments were approved by the general house during the general meeting held on December 1, 2018. The highlights of the amendment include the definition of active membership status, some added incentives for active membership, a yearly membership system, and an increase in registration fees.