The president of Ohaneze Ndigbo Philippines, Chief Dr. Chukwudi N. Obiabumuo, MD, DrPH, MPH, has announced the establishment of an emergency community office to provide shelter and support for distressed Nigerian nationals in the Philippines and disclosed that he has been funding repatriation flights from his personal finances, with no government backing.
Obiabumuo made the announcement last Saturday at the association’s inaugural Cultural Day 2026 held at the Villar Foundation Complex, Las Piñas City, themed Celebrating the Beauty of Igbo Culture.
The proposed office, he clarified, would function as a walk-in emergency shelter and documentation hub for Igbo and Nigerian nationals in crisis.
“The office is not for me. It’s not for my executive. This office is a kind of place where an Igbo man can run into and have a temporal shelter,” he said.
He revealed that he and members of his executive had been pooling personal resources to purchase return flight tickets for sick or stranded compatriots, with no institutional or governmental support.
“One of my pure goals is to make sure that we build a base that can help Nigerians especially Igbos, my people to either repatriate home or to have a soft landing for them,” he stated.
Appealing to registered Igbos in the Philippines to join the association, Obiabumuo stressed that membership was driven by solidarity, not financial obligation.
“It must not be money. Encouragement and togetherness. If I call anybody and say what is happening, and I get response, it gives me joy and strength of trying to do more,” he added.
The Cultural Day event featured traditional masquerade displays from representatives of all Igbo states, musical performances including a performance by popular act DandybestAfrica and a special recognition ceremony honouring distinguished members of the Nigerian community in Southeast Asia.
Describing the event as historic, Obiabumuo said: “We thought it would not happen. But today, it is history.”
The Ohaneze ndi Igbo Philippines is said to have been founded on the Igbo proverb Igwe Bu Ike “Unity is Strength”, it is the recognised socio-cultural body for the Igbo-speaking community in the Philippines, committed to cultural preservation and diaspora welfare.
The event drew an impressive gathering of guests and leaders of thought from Nigeria and across the world, underscoring the growing reach and influence of Ohaneze Ndigbo Philippines on the global stage.
A highlight of the occasion was a special awards ceremony in which distinguished personalities were honoured with recognition awards for their outstanding contributions to the betterment of Ala Igbo and the Nigerian diaspora community at large.
Among those decorated was Archbishop Dr. Onyeka Nzekwesi, also known as Chinakaribeya, Chief Executive Officer of Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd, whose leadership and investments in Igbo development earned him special commendation.
Also honoured was Hon. Ofodeme Ikenna, Member representing Ekwusigo State Constituency, Majority Leader and House Committee Chairman on Homeland Security and Boundary of Anambra State House of Assembly, recognised for his legislative service and commitment to his constituents at home and in the diaspora.
The ceremony also featured the presence of Mr. Abdullahi Saidu Daya, First Secretary Political, Education and Consular at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Manila, Philippines, whose attendance signalled official diplomatic recognition of the association’s work and relevance.
Further lending the event an atmosphere of broad unity and solidarity were representatives of the Arewa Community Forum in the Philippines, traditional rulers and kings representing various Igbo state bodies in the Philippines alongside their executives, and Filipino representatives whose presence embodied the spirit of cross-cultural friendship, oneness, and mutual support that Ohaneze Ndigbo Philippines continues to champion.
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