Igbos contributions to Nigeria’s development

I respect, admire and love Igbo people of Nigeria for their resilience, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. It is said that if you go to any community in Nigeria and you can’t find an Igbo person there, please don’t stay because such environment is either too dangerous or barren. The Igbos are the most itinerant people among the ethnic groups in Nigeria. They hardly stay in the South East region where they occupy five states of Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Anambra. Sizeable population of Igbo people can be found in Delta, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, and Lagos states.

As I hinted on this page last week, I was in Abia and Imo State from May 28 – June 1, 2026. I was on official assignment to God’s own state of Abia. In the course of that visit, I visited Aba, Isiala Ngwa, Umuahia, Owerri and Oguta. Sincerely speaking, the south east region is undergoing massive infrastructural transformation. The road networks in particular are being upgraded and expanded thereby reducing travel time among communities as well as promoting trade and investment.

On May 29, I was at the Ariaria International Market in Aba. That market has undergone a massive, ultra-modern transformation. The 500,000-square-meter hub now features multi-story blocks with sleek designs, electronic doors, fire alarms, elevators, improved drive-thru access, and effective drainage networks. The reconstruction project, spearheaded by the Abia State government through a public-private partnership, has completely modernised the decrepit infrastructure of the market. I was at a boutique in the market and bought some Ishiagu dresses and caps.

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, I was at the National War Museum where two tour guides took me through the war artefacts of Nigeria and the Voice of Biafra bunker where the Biafrans had their national and international communication centre during the three years fratricidal civil war of 1967 – 70.  Memories of millions of dead and wounded victims flooded my mind. I bought a book titled “The National War Museum Umuahia” published by National Commission for Museums and Monument and Development Alternatives and Resource Centre. The 141-page book is a pictorial on war artefacts and arsenals used during the Nigerian civil war. I pray our country will never experience such bloodletting again!

Same day as I was at the War Museum, I moved to Owerri to enable me get closer for my early morning flight back to Abuja. As a culture ambassador I searched the internet for tourist sites in Owerri and saw Oguta Lake which is about 40 minutes’ drive from Owerri, the Heartland’s capital. Curiosity made me go on that visit and I was not disappointed. The road network to the lake was asphalted and very smooth. Oguta Lake is the largest natural lake in Imo State and the entire South-Eastern region of Nigeria, stretching about 8 km in length and 2.4 km in width. I took a boat ride to confluence point where Ogbuide river (greenish) met with Urashi river (brownish) without mixing. 

According to local folklore, the two colours of water belong to a male and female deity (Urashi and Ogbuide) who had a bitter dispute and decided to flow separately side by side without ever blending. This visit remined me of a similar visit I made to the confluence point of Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja, capital of Kogi State many years ago as well as a recent visit to Ikogosi Spring in Ekiti State where hot and cold water met but didn’t mix.

Igbos contribution to national development cannot be overemphasized. In manufacturing and trade, they are leaders. I was amazed by the war arsenal Biafran soldiers were able to produce to prosecute the war. They range from Red Devil (motorized armoured troop carriers) to Ogbunigwe which is like a rocket propelled grenade and Flying Mosquitoes which is a small combat aircraft.  In contemporary times people talk of Aba Made footwears, belts, bags, and fabrics. Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing located in Nnewi; Anambra State produces its own line of indigenous Nigerian automobiles. The lineup spans multiple categories, including sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, commercial buses, and compressed natural gas/electric vehicles. IVM also manufactures military-grade hardware and armored vehicles in Nigeria.

Main Market, Onitsha in Anambra State is said to be the largest market in Africa based on geographical size and volume of goods. I have shopped in this market severally during my National Youth Service Scheme at Asaba, Delta State. Asaba and Onitsha are contiguous towns separated by the Niger Bridge.

Outside of Igboland, if you go to Alaba International Market, Trade Fair Complex, Oshodi, Ikeja Computer Village, Computer Village in Wuse Zone 4 of Abuja, they are mostly populated by Igbo traders. Igbos are trailblazers in mass transit buses operations with the likes of Ekene Dili Chukwu, The Young Shall Grow, ABC Transport and Ekesons pioneering the use of Marcapoulo buses for movements of cargo and passengers across the country and West Africa sub-region.  The Nigeria’s hospitality and real estate sector is also dominated by Igbos. Most hotels in Abuja, for instance, are said to be owned by Igbos

In sports, Igbo rank very high. Igbo footballers, male and female have done this country proud from time immemorial. The exploits of Enugu Rangers and Enyimba of Aba football clubs cannot be taken for granted. Enugu Rangers Football Club has won nine league titles, six Federation Cup titles and one CAF Winners Cup. Enyimba FC on the other hand is the only Nigerian football club to have won the African Champions League in 2003 and successfully defended it in 2004. Nigerian Green or Super Eagles of Igbo extraction include: Emmanuel Okala, Christian Chukwu, Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Chukwueze, Ben Iroha, Uche Okechukwu, as well as Esther Okoronkwo and Perpetua Nkwocha of Super Falcons to mention, but a few. Nigeria’s male and female basket ball teams are dominated by Igbos and we cannot forget the fact that Chioma Ajunwa, an Igbo lady, is the first Nigerian to win Olympic gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.

In entertainment industry, Igbos pioneered what is now known as Nollywood. The Igbos built Nollywood on their back with Idumota, Lagos being the home video distribution headquarters. Actors like Pete Edochie, Zack Orji, Kanayo O.  Kanayo, Nkem Owoh (Osuofia), Rita Nzelu and Patience Ozokwor (Mama G) play critical roles in moulding Nollywood. Before then are actors like Chika Okpala, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, alias 4.30, Claude Eke, the famous Chief Jegede Sokoya and Elizabeth Evoeme, popularly known as Ovularia, Chief James Iroha, better known as Gringory and Davis Ofor, known as Clarus all of New Masquerade sitcom shown on Nigerian Television Authority from mid-1970s until the mid-1990s.

In the music industry, musicians like Oliver Sunday Akanite better known by his stage name Oliver De Coque, Chief Osita Osadebe, Eddy Okonta (aka the Obi of Trumpet), Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, Flavour (Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli), Phyno (Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike), Tekno (Augustine Miles Kelechi), Nelly Uchendu and Onyeka Onwenu are all of Igbo extraction.  Igbos gave Nigeria Atilogwu dance. Cuisines such as  fufu which they call akpu and soups like Ofe Owerri, Ofe nsala, Oha, and Okazi are of Igbo origin. Igbos are known to celebrate New Yam festivals and Women’s August Meeting.

I do hope Nigerian government can harness the full potential of the Igbos for greater and better national development. Their innovative and entrepreneurial skills are needed across Nigeria. The ‘can’do’ spirit of the Igbos is exemplary. They are less dependent on government and desire just enabling environment for them to thrive in business. I crave for better development of Igbo tourist sites. National War Museum needs stable electricity and fixing of the road leading to the complex.

I.G: @jideojong