By Claribel Udah
The Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Agbogidi, has called for deliberate efforts to retain and reinvest more wealth generated by Ndi Onitsha in the community.
Achebe made the call during a meeting with members of Agbalanze Onitsha and Otu Odu Onitsha at Ime Obi Onicha on September 15 where he challenged the two influential societies to contribute more actively to the economic development of Onitsha.
Agbogidi expressed concern over the huge financial commitments associated with traditional title ceremonies, noting that an average Ozo or Odu title-taking ceremony now costs between N35 million and N45 million.
He also recalled the mandatory N1 million contribution by Ozo and Odu initiates to the Onitsha Improvement Union, OIU, saying the initiative had so far generated about N300 million in savings for community development.
Agbogidi, however, questioned how much of the money spent by Ndi Onitsha ultimately remained within the community, asking how much of the money was reinvested in Onitsha. He called for a committee to examine the movement of funds into and out of Onitsha.
According to him, understanding the community’s economic flows would help Ndi Onitsha make deliberate investment decisions, increase local wealth retention and ensure resources were channelled towards projects capable of securing the community’s long-term development.
Agbogidi said that Agbalanze and Otu Odu, given their influence and resources, had important roles to play in shaping Onitsha’s economic future. He stressed that community development required collective responsibility rather than reliance on government alone.
Agbogidi urged members of the societies to look beyond traditional ceremonies and consider practical ways of investing in Onitsha, stressing that the community must take responsibility for addressing its challenges and building the future it desires.
Claribel Udah is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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