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The Edo State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has warned against the use and conferment of unauthorised Igbo traditional titles such as Ezeigbo, Ezendigbo, Igwe, and similar designations outside recognised traditional institutions in Igboland. The directive, announced during a press briefing in Benin City, stems from a resolution reached by the organisation’s General Assembly on April 9, 2026, and is intended to apply to Igbo communities in Edo State, across Nigeria, and throughout the diaspora.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Edo State Secretary Emmanuel Ofodu stated that the creation of parallel traditional leadership structures outside Igboland lacks both cultural legitimacy and legal backing. He explained that only constitutionally and traditionally recognised authorities within Igboland possess the mandate to bestow such titles, warning that any individual or group involved in unauthorised installations would be acting contrary to established cultural directives and an earlier court ruling referenced by the organisation. The group also reaffirmed its loyalty to the existing traditional institutions in Edo State, including the palace of the Oba of Benin and other recognised rulers across the state.
Ohanaeze said the decision was influenced by controversies surrounding the conferment of “Eze Ndigbo” titles in several foreign countries, including South Africa, Ghana, and parts of Europe, where such ceremonies have reportedly generated tensions with host communities. The organisation’s legal adviser, George Igbokwe, noted that some of these incidents created diplomatic and communal disputes, prompting the apex Igbo body and the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers to adopt a stricter position against the practice.
The latest directive aligns with the Federal Government’s earlier position on the issue. In April, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the coronation of “Eze Ndigbo” figures outside Igboland as embarrassing and capable of straining Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with host countries. Ohanaeze has urged security agencies, government institutions, and members of the public to regard any unauthorised use of such titles as invalid, while encouraging Igbo communities to operate through recognised town unions and established community structures.
