The Origin and History of the Igbo Cultural Society
The origin of the present day “Igbo Cultural Society in Austria” originated as far back as in the year nineteen hundred and eighty nine (1989) in Vienna Austria. The nucleus came as a result of a special meeting summoned by Mr. Isaiah Chidi Nnaji a former Igbo Nigerian Diplomat with the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna in his residence.
The meeting was however, called to discuss some vital issues concerning an Igbo strongest and populous cultural dancing group in Vienna called “Enyimba” at that time. Mr. Vitus Nwachukwu recalled that at the end of the amicable deliberation within the group, Mr. Isaiah Chidi Nnaji suggested to them the need to establish an “Igbo Union” in Vienna.
Another important name to be mentioned in line with same thought of an “Igbo Union” in Vienna was that of a Catholic Rev. Father Dr. Oscar Anyanwu. Mazi. Simeon Eronini recalled that Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu told him that Rev. Father Dr. Oscar Anyanwu on several occasions spoke to him on the need for such an Igbo Organisation.
As a result of Mr. Isaiah Chidi Nnaji’s and Dr. Oscar Anyanwu’s dream of an Igbo Union, the members of Enyimba Cultural Group gradually started deliberating on that. However, serious attention was not made on that and secondly the existence of the Nigerian Students’ Union which was very strong and was serving as the only Nigerian Union (Umbrella Organisation) in Austria in addition to some sort of attachment and behavioural attitude to the Students’ Union made people to shy away from the need. Although Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu was interested to establish such; he failed reluctantly to do so for whichever reason best known to him.
Four years later, Mother Nature struck a member of Enyimba Group in the name of Mazi. Cliff Anyanwu and he died. The Igbos in Austria amongst other Organisations like the National Union of Nigeria Students in Austria (NUNSA) and an Institution, the Afro Asia Institute (AAI) where late Anyanwu was doing part time job just to mention but few, rallied round and contributed enough amount of money and finally flew the corpse down to Nigeria.
The politics that members of the Enyimba Group and some Igbo members at the Students Union at that time witnessed was to say the least an eye opener to the reality of who belongs to where and of course it went further to strengthening the feelings of forming an Igbo Union. The death of Anyanwu brought in addition awareness among the Igbos and the unity of the youths in Vienna.
The death also served as a push factor to the realisation of Igbo Union in Vienna. Discussions started to gain momentum at different corners among the youths and mini meetings were organised and carried out here and there. Other meetings were conducted in the respective homes of Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu and Mazi. David Nwagwu. Names worth mentioning were Mazi. Simeon Eronini, Mazi. Theodore Odoemena, Mazi. Patrick Orisakwe, Mazi. Victor Dike. Others were Mazi. Samuel Nzekwu, Mazi. Emmanuel Njikonye, Mazi. Charles Ofoedu and Mazi. Casmir Nnamdi and Mazi. Nelson Okire and so on. These personalities played very important role towards the realisation of today’s “Igbo Cultural Society in Austria”
The sole aim at that time was to unite all the Igbos and secondly to make sure that any Igbo person who dies in Austria must be flew home-Nigeria at every cost.
The only existing meeting of the Igbos in Vienna at that time was only concentrated on the nucleus elders and some other Igbos who had spent good number of years in Austria. However, this small elderly group do not represent the interest of the Igbos in general but only their group interests and the group excluded other Igbos and interested persons from joining them. The group could best be described as “Family meeting of close friends”.
In 1995 Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu once again summoned another meeting at his residence; before this very meeting, he sent Mazi. David Nwagwu, who at the time was the general secretary of Students Union and very close to Mazi. Samuel Ogbonna, who was then very active in Students politics and president elect, to speak to him and eventually invite him to the meeting. In the meeting, Mazi. Samuel Ogbonna was asked to explain his position and whether there is any danger if the Igbos established “Igbo Union” alongside the National Association of Nigerian Students in Austria (NUNSA). His answer was no as long as the formation will not disturb the activities of Students Union. He furthermore promised to assist in whichever form in making the dream come through. He said that as a result of his position, he could not play active role but promised to render guidelines, advises, material and financial supports. It is on record that he contributed immensely to the dream to come through in many ways especially when serious decisions were to be taken. His present and contributions during the meetings were cherished by the group and was also encouraging. It was in that meeting that a resolution was reached to go ahead with the formation and that further meetings should no longer be hosted by or at individual residents. As a result of that, the next meeting was held at Votive Church Agape Hall.
During the meeting, a two man committee was appointed to serve the youths. These two gentlemen were Mazi. Victor Dike (interim chairman and Mazi. David Nwagwu (interim general secretary) at the same time he was also responsible financial issues. It is important to place on record that Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu was the force behind the evolution even though he declined to take any visible position.
Towards the end of 1995, another meeting was held at the Votive Church Agape Hall in which election was to be held. As the meeting started with its proceedings, it was discovered that Dr. Chike Item was the only advanced or rather elderly Igbo personality that was present. Mazi. Mag. Phil. Samuel Ogbonna, who was more or less parading as the latent force and invisible head of the youths came up with a surprise suggestion and said “My dear brothers, since what we want to do is more or less the establishment of a cultural organisation, it will be fine and fair if we make our decision public, invite all the igbos in Vienna especially the elders and encourage them to take part in the election; they should occupy important positions and we shall give them every necessary support” His message captured the minds of the majority of the meeting and a decision was reached to stage election in February of the following year, that is in1996.
In the first quarter of 1996, a general election was called and staged at the small hall in the second floor (2nd Floor) of Afro Asia Institute in the Türkenstrasse number three in the 9th District of the City of Vienna Austria.
In the election, Mazi Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu, Mazi. Chief. Dr. Med. Joe Ama Ovuike and Mazi. Dr. Chibo Onyeji contested for the chairmanship of the Society. Mazi. Dr. Chibo Onyeji was knockout at the first instance, Mazi. Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu and Mazi. Dr. Med. Joe Ama Ovuike tied. Surprisingly to many voters, before the second and final run off to determine who wins the chairmanship would take off, Mazi. Chief. Dr. Med. Joe Ama Ovuike stepped aside for his political opponent and very close friend. As a result of that Mazi. Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu became the first ever Chairman of the Society. Mazi. Chief. Dr. Med Joe Ama Ovuike took the position of the Vice Chairman and Mazi. Dr. Chibo Onyeji was unopposed and the people’s choice to the post of the General Secretary. This constellation was very satisfactory to the youths- a perfect combination they thought!
Other members of the first Executive Committee were as follows: Mazi. David Nwagwu, who served during the formative stage as the chief correspondence worn the position of Assistant General Secretary, while Mazi. Victor Dike occupied the post of Financial Secretary-formals an interim chairman. Mazi. Austin Eze became the Assistant Financial Secretary. In addition, Mazi. Chief Arthur Nzekwu took the post of Social Secretary and Mazi. Vitus Nwachukwu the forerunner of today’s Society served as the Assistant Social Secretary. Mazi. Nelson Okire, Mazi. Chuks Okeke and Mazi. Patrick Orisakwe completed the committee as first, second and third Provost respectively.
Meanwhile, after the swearing in of the first Executive Committee members of the Society under the able elderly leadership of Mazi. Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu as the chairman, the general assembly gave the committee full mandate to gradually organise all the Igbos in Austria, to make the Society strong where all Igbos would be proud to belong and to officially register the Society with the responsible governmental office in Vienna Austria.
Pursuant to that, Mazi. Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu now the chairman took over the challenge and confidence bestowed on his committee and himself. He put different machineries in motion and on the 23.10.1996 the Society was registered in Vienna Austria with the name “IGBO – Kultur-Verein in Österreich (IGBO Cultural Society in Austria) with the identification registration number IV-SD 1605/ VVM/96.
With that, the dream of youths to form an Igbo Organisation and allow the Igbo elders to administer it was realised. Today (2006) the Society has existed for a decade.