Aqueen Ibeto elected as first ever female president of Ohaneze Ndigbo UK

OHANEZE Ndigbo UK has elected its first ever female president when voted in Enugu State-born Chief Aqueen Ibeto into office to take over from Dr Nnana Igwe at its annual general meeting (AGM) over the weekend.

Under its constitutional arrangement Ohaneze UK and Ireland rotates its chairmanship among its component states on an alphabetically basis. Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states are all members and each of them gets to produce a president when it is their turn, which in most cases involves the vice president taking over.

For instance, Dr Igwe from Ebonyi State was the immediate past president, with Chief Ibeto being his vice president and at the AGM, she just took over. Chief Ibeto had to see off a challenge from Professor Joe Ukemenam but it was a mere formality as off the 35 delegates who voted, she secured 27 votes, with the other votes being voided as invalid.

Already, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has acknowledged Chief Ibeto's victory, describing the election of the first ever female president as a great thing. Chidozie Ogbonnia, the publicity secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, said the development should open the door to more female participation in other branches and chapters.

Mr Ogbonnia said: "I have the authority if the president-general Professor George Obiozor to commend you and the entire members of Ohaneze Ndigbo UK for a successful, free and fair election on Saturday November 20 2021. It is also heart-warming that a lady from Enugu State Chief Mrs Aqueen Ibeto was overwhelmingly elected and sworn-in thereby setting a standard for other Igbo women to participate actively in Ohaneze affairs."

He has written to Chief Ibeto to personally congratulate her and promise her the full support of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide in the execution of her duties. Mr Ogbonnia also congratulated the outgoing president Dr Igwe for his services to Ohaneze Ndigbo during his tenure.

Ohaneze Ndigbo UK is a member of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) and following her election, Chief Ibeto will now represent the body as a delegate. Like previous Ohaneze Ndigbo president's she will represent the Igbo community ay Canuk and community events.

Canuk chairman, Ayo Akinfe, said: "In the UK, we are going through a thunderstorm of change at the moment, with all the gender imbalances of the past being corrected in one go. In Canuk, nine of out 14 executive committee members are female and in the Nigerian Organisation in Diaspora, seven  out of the 10 of their exco are female.

"With the election of the first ever female president of Ohaneze Ndigbo UK, we have totally banished gender inequality in our community once and for all. We at Canuk congratulate Aqueen Ibeto on her election and look forward to working with her, especially with regards our cultural show next year, that shall feature Atilogwu dancers and other Igbo traditions.

Chief Ibeto said she now looks forward to formally informing the high commission about the change of guard at a meeting with the high commissioner Ambassador Sarafa Ishola. She has pledged to use her new position to enhance the status of Igbos in the UK.