Nigeria community is a union of associations of Nigerians domicile in the republic of Angola. The primary objectives among others are to emancipate, promote and protect the interest of registered Nigerian members in Angola. The formation of the Nigeria community in Angola was triggered by the gruesome murder of late Mr. Linus Nweke in the year 1995 and was legitimized by the Nigeria embassy in Luanda through the then minister consul, Mr.Okorie. The conveners of the very first meeting which was held in Maianga include the following:- Hon Basil Ngige, Hon. Chidebe Nze, Mr. Christian Ozumba aka Okey Abatete, Mr Dampson Nnaji, Mr I.K Ntinulu, Mr Leonard Agbor, Mr Simeon Nwalieji and many more. The Nigeria community is one of the foremost foreign communities in Angola with a sizeable population and carrying on legitimate business and professional jobs. The community is predominantly in the auto spare parts industry and controlling a reasonable chunk of the industry in Angola with Golf Market as the epicenter. Although majority of the members have taken their businesses and companies far and wide and spread to every nook and cranny of this country, it is also worthy to note that the community has contributed immensely to the economic growth of the host country as far as the auto industry is concern. The first interim executive headed by Hon Chidebe Nze as president, appointed in 1995 by the then minister

consul Mr. Okorie

 

HON. CHIDEBE NZE.

As the first interim president of the Nigeria community in Angola, Hon. Chidebe Nze brought Nigerians together under one umbrella by sustaining the association. His administration recorded few registered members but his attention was focused on the protection and defense of Nigerians against any form of oppression. He was the first leader of the community to organize a press conference, where he briefed the media on the outstanding characters and integrity of Nigerians in Angola, marketed the quality of products from Nigeria and emphasized on the big role our nation, Nigeria plays as economic giant of the continent. He pursued this objective till his last day in Angola.

 

 

HON. AUSTIN EDOGIE.

He became the president following the departure of Hon Chidebe Nze on the 28th February, 2003 and continued in the same trajectory. Although his administration short leaved for only four months as a result of his sudden death, after a protracted illness that saw him evacuated to Nigeria for medical care. He gave up the ghost on the 20th June, 2003 as reported by his family. His vice, Hon. Ifeanyi Nworah took over as interim president.

 

HON. IFEANYI NWORAH.

He was the vice president to the late Austin Odigie. He became the president following the untimely demise of his principal. Hon Nworah took over as interim president and worked hard to keep the fire burning till 30th of April 2004 when he handed over the working constitution and other documents of the community to the officials of the Nigeria Embassy. Following his handover, Mr. John Ogebulue who was the then minister consul at the Nigeria embassy was appointed the head of interim by the then Ambassador His Excellency Ambassador Oguntuase. He was saddled with the responsibility of conducting the first ever general election of the community and to effect a smooth transition. Mr. John Ogebulue now late was

inaugurated with his team on the 24th of May 2004. Late Ogebulue who died in South Africa after a brief illness, before his death conducted the first general election that produced Hon. Basil Ngige as the first elected president of the community in 2007.

 

 

HON. BASIL NGIGE

As the first democratically elected president of Nigeria community, Hon Basil Ngige didn’t waste time to fit in having been working in the background with successive president. He was a strong support system to Hon. Chidebe Nze. His emergence never came as surprise to

many, however his achievements were apparently seen in his effort to sustain the legacy of his principal and predecessors which was to protect and defend the vulnerable Nigerians against any form of oppressions. The greatest of all was that he established for the first time, the community’s secretariat which was located at Rua de Ambrezette, Bairro Neves Bendinha Kilamba Kiaxi Luanda. He also conducted a general election considered by many as free and fair ever by the community that produced Hon. Benjamin Okeke aka OKB in 2011.

 

 

HON. BENJAMIN OKEKE (aka OKB)

Having emerged as the second democratically elected president from what was generally accepted as the most free and fair election in the history of the community, Hon. Okeke swung into action with a total reform in the administrative system of the community with the introduction of family union’s representatives. The introduction of family union’s representative became prudent because of the large number of registered members at that time which made it cumbersome to convene a general meeting in one month. Members were encouraged to register through their family/towns union which made revenue generation very easy and dissemination of informations was made superbly easy. Each union was made to have at least two members representing her in the assembly of representatives held every month end. The administration of Okeke was a lot more easier because of the effective administrative system implored at that time which apparently was the reason behind his undisputed and enormous achievements which includes:- 1. Sustainable maintenance of the secretariat including new furniture and office equipment. 2. Purchase of a housing property at the sum of fifty thousand dollars ( $50,000 USD) 3. Compulsory export of corpses of deceased members to Nigeria to ensure befitting funeral by families. 4. Harmonized effective container grouping and co-operative system among Nigerians. 5. Fought to a standstill with the collaboration of security agencies, all the miscreants terrorizing Nigerians. Finally, he conducted an election and handed over to another democratically elected president in the person of Hon. Sampson Ebigbo in May, 2015.

 

HON. SAMPSON EBIGBO.

Elected in May, 2015 having been in the background of the Nigeria community politics for many years. He served under Hon. Ngige as the chairman of Golf market welfare association. He promoted and maintain the legacies of his predecessors by protecting and defending the interest of

Nigerians especially at the Golfe Market. He established cordial relationship with the police and other security agencies to stop unnecessary invention of the market by the police. Although his administration had its own flaws that were characterized by the community politics and

little disagreement here and there which affected the general election. But the intervention of the then Ambassador, His Excellency Ambassador Olatunde Adesesun retuned peace to the community. His Excellency Adeseun appointed an interim executive committee headed by Hon.Chukwuemeka Goerge Onyemeforo on the 31st of March, 2019. The committee was given a ten point agenda and to hand over a blue print within two years

 

HON. CHUKWUEMEKA GEORGE ONYEMEFORO.

He was appointed interim president by the then Ambassador, his Excellency Ambassador Olatunde Adesesun on the 31st of March, 2019 following some discrepancies emanating in the community politics that couldn’t give room for a transitional election. Some of his achievements include 1. The return of normalcy in the various family union and Nigeria community as a whole. 2. He made a giant step to registering the community as corporate entity under the laws of republic of Angola and to opening a bank account. Although the strive did not come to accomplishment because of the outbreak of a corona virus pandemic and the lock down which didn’t make it any easier to run administrative offices. However, his coordinations within the period under review was remarkable and superlative. 3. His greatest achievementwas to return the community under one unit and created an effective system of governance with the introduction of leaders of nations and community leader’s assembly which is now the legislative organ of the community. His administration constituted a lot of committees one of which was the constitution review committee that reviewed the constitution to suit modern day reality. Finally he conducted a free and fair general election that ushered in Hon. Athony Obinna Ogbuka as president in October, 2021.

 

HON. ATHONY OBINNA OGBUKA.

Considered to be the youngest ever president of the community. He was elected convincingly in the general election and sworn into office on the 17th day of October, 2021. His emergence brought hope to the community and without delay, swung into action by reconciling aggrieved

members from the aftermath of the election which was the reason for organizing the second ever end-of-year party of the community in November, 2021. The party recorded a huge success and generated enough fund for the community. Hon. Ogbuka’s administration has broadened the cordial relationship between the community and the Nigerian mission in Angola. He’s been commended for several interventions on the issues of oppressions against Nigerians and had successfully convened joint meetings of Exco, community leader’s assembly and stake holders in two occasions this year, 2022 between January and August where quarterly account of the community was rendered and certified. Furthermore, he secured plots of land in a choice area of Golfe 2 and payment completed for the construction of community’s secretariat building . All of these, he achieved in a space of one year. Finally he digitalized the office of the community by creating Nigeria community app for easy accessibility and working hard to actualize every bit of his campaign promises. The history of the Nigeria community will not be complete without mentioning the advisory role of the elders forum led by Elder Tony Ugoh. Our gratitude to the Nigerian mission in Angola headed by the Nigeria Ambassador, Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Mrs. Monique Ekpong, members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps both past and present for their unalloyed support. More also the government and people of the Republic of Angola for being hospitable. In all of these, we appreciate the Almighty God for His steadfastness.

 

 

 

 

 

Long live federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

Long live the Republic of Angola.

 

 

 

 

 

As compiled by Hon. Athan C. Ogbede.