Council of Ndi’Eze Igbo, Igbo-Speaking Community Pays Condolence Visit to the Family of Late Igwe Hycenth N. Ohazuruike, Ezendigbo, Lagos State
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Council of Ndi’Eze Igbo, Igbo-Speaking Community Pays Condolence Visit to the Family of Late Igwe Hycenth N. Ohazuruike, Ezendigbo, Lagos State
By Naomi Onome
In gratitude to God for a life well spent, representatives of the Eze council in Lagos State, led by its chairman, Eze Chika Nwokedi—the Ezendigbo of Ijegun Ijeododo—alongside the executive members Igbo-speaking community in Lagos State, also led by the President General Chief Sunday Ude, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Igwe Hycenth Nwabueze Ohazuruike (OON), the first Ezendigbo of Lagos State, on Friday, 23rd May, 2025.
During the visit, the Chairman of the Eze council, Eze Chika Nwokedi, in his speech, condoled with the family of the late king who died on April 22, 2025. He described Eze Hycenth as a philanthropist whose charity had earned him a good reputation amongst many other Igbo rulers. Speaking about his personal relationship, he mentioned that Eze Hycenth had played a fatherly role, especially during his marriage ceremony to his wife, Ugoeze Pst. (Dr.) Tessy Chika Nwokedi in 1999, and didn’t fall short of his duties towards gracing the occasion. Describe the late king as a ruler worth emulating for his many good deeds; pledge support to the family.
Other member representatives of the Eze in council, Eze Emmanuel Okoro- Ezendigbo Agbado Oke-Odo and Eze Chukwuemeka Silvanus Onuoha-Ezendigbo Igbolerin, Eze Kenneth Anayo Agubedu -Ezendigbo Imude/Sibiri OtoAwori, Eze Uchenna Dike- Ezendigbo Ketu, and Divine Oto Awori in turns expressed their condolences while promises were made to assist the family of the deceased over the burial activities as events unfold.
The Igbo-speaking community president in Lagos, Chief Sunday Udeh, during the condolence visit, emphasized the need to show unity in the proceedings of the late King’s burial as a sign of respect for the footprints he’s set towards ensuring unity and progress amongst the Igbos. Moreover, he noted that the events unfolding as per burial rights will be followed through to see it successfully as well as ensure the financial demands raised by late Igwe Hycenth’s family are acknowledged. He called out saboteurs already eyeing the seat of the late Igwe to desist from their plans to usurp power, affirming no one will be liable for consideration until all protocols for eligibility are observed and endorsed after one year of Eze Hycenth’s demise as the first Ezendigbo of Lagos State.
The tribute presented by Chief Sunday Udeh and Eze Chika Nwokedi to Prince Kelvin Onochie Ohazuruike on behalf of the family, and as delivered by Chief Engr. Chukwuka Odimegwu, Secretary General of the Igbo-speaking Community Lagos, reads:
A Traditional Unifier Goes Home
It is with a heavy heart that the President General, executives, Council of Ndieze Ndigbo, Board of Trustees, and members of the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos mourn the passage of Eze Ndigbo Lagos State, Eze Hycenth Nwabueze Ohazuruike (OON).
It is very unfortunate that Ndigbo in Lagos State lost a great leader, traditional unifier, and mentor like Eze Hycenth Nwabueze Ohazuruike.
You were one of the best men from the southeast who made Ndigbo proud in so many areas. You were instrumental in safeguarding the business empires of Igbo sons and daughters in Lagos, which was what led the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos to confer on you the revered title of Eze Ndigbo Lagos State, and the Federal Government honored you with the prestigious award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), which you carried out its responsibilities diligently by promoting our rich cultural heritage in Lagos State and the diaspora.
It is on our record today that the Ezeship journey outside Igbo land started with your conferment by the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos on April 22nd, 1999, as Eze Ndigbo Lagos State. Your leadership as Eze Ndigbo Lagos State ushered in a new and progressive Igbo traditional institution outside the southeast, where you laid a good legacy by which millions of Ndigbo acknowledged and believed in the Igbo cultural identity.
As the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos, at this point, celebrates your departure to the great beyond, we pledge to continue to promote all the positive legacies you laid down towards giving our rich cultural heritage a place in our hearts and minds of our children and children yet unborn.
We pray God Almighty gives your soul eternal rest till we all meet to part no more.
Rest in Perfect Peace. Omere-ora Ihiala
Adieu EzÄ™ Mkpume II
The BoT Chairman of the Igbo-speaking community nationwide also gave an account of Igwe Hycenth’s diary as registered in the minds of his followers, friends, and colleagues. He said those already looking to climb into the late King’s position should be ignored, as he assures the family of Igwe Hycenth that the Igbo-speaking community is committed to unity and will show support in accordance with tradition, promising to be resourceful when needed.
More also, it is confirmed through sources that Eze Hycenth ensures availability of his presence whenever and wherever the Igbos have a crisis in Lagos to ensure peaceful existence amongst the other tribes; it is also stated that in cases of fire disaster of the major Igbo markets, Eze Hycenth will show up for the Igbos in cash and kind. Eze Chika added that the late king had contributed immensely to the welfare of Igbos in Lagos by creating available funds for payable loans and grants to enable Igbo entrepreneurs to survive with their businesses with little or no collateral as well as less interest, among other of his magnanimous prowess.
Speaking with some of the children of Late Igwe Hycenth Nwabueze Ohazuruike (OON) Ezendigbo of Lagos State, Princess Uju Obi, Prince Kelvin Onochie Ohazuruike, and Princess Emily Ohazuruike expressed gratitude over the visit, said the welcomed ideas will do a lot towards ensuring a successful burial event, and described the late king as a philanthropist as they hope for a successful burial, which will involve a stretch of activities from October 9th to 11th, 2025.
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