Owerri Obinwanne Association of Delaware Valley, USA

OUR HISTORY

 

In 1987 Madam Maggie Nzeh visited his Sons in the United States and was introduced to Mr. & Mrs. Soribe through a mutual family friend whose daughter resided in their home while attending college. She was so excited beyond measure to find out that another Owerri family other than the late Professor Jonathan Mbonu lived in the Philadelphia area. She quickly embraced the Soribe family as her extended family and urged them to seek out all Owerri people in the area and bring them under one umbrella as brothers and sisters, since the distance from one was very far.

She made them promise that this was a task that will be accomplished. Mr. Val Soribe agreed that it was a noble idea and mentioned that three are other Owerri indigenes in the area; including Denis Ekwerike from Emekuku and the late Cosmas H=Njoku from Uzoagba.

The following year in the fall of 1988, Mr. & Mrs. Soribe fulfilled the promise by organizing a meeting in their residence and hosted the first meeting that was attended by Ghandy Nzeh, Oliver Nze, Denis Ekwerike, Gordy Mbonu and late Cosmas Njoku.

During the earlier meetings, deliberations where had on the catchment areas. Initially the old Uratta clan was cond=sidered to be known as ‘Nde Owerre’. This would have precluded the late Cosmas Njoku from joining since he was from Uzoagba which is in Ikeduru. A decision was made to expand the catchment areas to include Ikeduru and Ngor Okpala. The geographical areas were therefore established as follows:

 

  1. Along Port Harcourt Road …………..up to and including Ohaji
  2. Along Onitsha Road………………up to and including Eziama Obiato (Uqwu Orji)
  3. Along Okigwe Road………………..up to and including Umudim Ikeduru
  4. Along Umuahia Road…………………up to and including Azaraegbelu
  5. Along Aba Road……………………… up to and including Ngor Okpala

 

Mr. and Mrs. Soribe continued to host meetings in their home and the membership grew to include Evans Ihejirika, Frank Aribeana, and later Christian Nduka.

In 1989, during deliberations, there was a need to name the association prior to putting a constitution in place. Several names were suggested and the name Owerri Obinwanne as suggested by Evans Ihejirika was picked and was charged with the task of helping us put a constitution together. after the constitution was approved, Val Soribe was appointed President while Evan Ihejirika was appointed as secretary. The rest of the positions were filled and Owerri Binwanne became an entity. Ghandy Nzeh and Denis Ekwerika collaborated by working together to register the organization as a 501c(3).

In 1990, the first annual ball was held. It was successful and Owerri Obinwanne came into her own. The following women cooked and catered for the entire mean for over two hundred people present. These Women, are: Caroline Soribe, Angela Nzeh (non-member), Adina Ekwerike, Mrs. Frank Aribeana, Cerena Nduka, Jenny Madufor and Mrs. Chris Okeke contributed immensely towards the success of the first annual ball and fundraising.

The meeting venue continued at the Soribe residence for almost two years and a decision was made later to rotate it among members afterward.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  1. During the nineties decade, Owerri Obinwanne Association was very charitable. A clothing drive was organized and the proceeds went to the salvation army.
  2. Also during this decade, Owerri Obinwanne Association donated to motherless babies homes in Imo State with the help of Rev. Father Francis Okere. There were food, cash and clothing donations.
  3. In the two thousands, several village schools were given cash donations for the procurement of books – An initiative by Dr. Rosalind Adara
  4. Purchase a property for meeting venue – 6224 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA

PRESIDENTS

Owerri Obinwanne has been blessed with capable leaders since it’s inception and the following have served as President:

 

S/N

  

Duration

  

Name of President
1 1990 –  1992 Val Soribe
2 1992 – 1993 Dr. Gory Akiko
3 1993 – 1994 Dr. Denis Ekerike
4 1994 – 1995 Ghandy Nzeh
5 1995 – 1996 Prof. Evans Ihejirika
6 1996 – 1998 Dr. Denis Ekwerike
7 1998 – 1999 Ghandy Nzeh
8 1999– 2001 Dr. Mike Anyanwu
9 2001 – 2003 Eddie Abakporo
10 2003 – 2005 Ghandy Nzeh
11 2005 – 2006 Dr. Denis Ekwerike
12 2006 – 2007 Chima Njoka
13 2007 – 2009 Dr. Rosalind Abara
14 2009 – 2011 Mr. Sam Achu
15 2011 – 2014 Dr. Emma Ihejirika
16 2014 – 2016 Linus Ugorji
17 2016 – 2018 Chief Maurice Mbata
18 2018 – 2023 Dr.Mrs. Obioma Aguocha
19 2023 – Present Mr. Titus Egbujor

 

THE IMPACT ON MEMBER’S LIFE

Without question, Owerri Obinwanne has lived up to the true creed of its meaning. Owerri Obinwanne in essence means that we have each other’s back. That you are your brother’s keeper. That we stand in gap for each other. This has been the case in the twenty-five years pls of its existence. Indeed, we do rally around each other in times of crisis. When a member lost a parent who was visiting from home, we rallied around to cushion the impact. When a member loses loved ones, OOA is there to comfort the bereaved. OOA has passed the test of time and has been the longest surviving civic organization in the Philadephia region if not United States.

Long Love Owerri Obinwanne Association of Delaware Valley, USA

 

Special Contributions from:

  1. Val Soribe
  2. Caroline Soribe
  3. Denis Ekwerike
  4. Mike Anyanwu
  5. Professor Evans Ihejirika
  6. Sam Achu

Historian: Ghandy Nzeh

Board of Directors (BOD):

  1. Professor Evans Ihejirika
  2. Sir. Valentine Soribe
  3. Chief Damian Aguocha
  4. Chief Gordon Abara
  5. Chief Maurice Mbata
  6. Mr. Linus Ugorji
  7. Dr. Obioma Aguocha
  8. Mrs. Kate Achu
  9. Mrs.. Jane Anyanwu

Meet Our Officers