Excitement has spread across the Igbo 

community in Lagos following the nomination of Chief Onyeka Ifekandu for the vacant position of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, an office left vacant after the death of the former occupant, the late Chief Hyacinth Ohazulike.

The nomination, which followed consultations among Igbo traditional leaders and community stakeholders in Lagos, has drawn widespread reactions, with community groups and prominent personalities expressing support for what many described as a move anchored on continuity, stability and service. Chief Ifekandu, who hails from Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, is the current Eze Ndigbo of Lagos Island and is known within the community for his long-standing involvement in social intervention and youth support initiatives.

Sources within the community confirmed that discussions leading to the nomination were propelled by his track record of engagement with traders, artisans, students and small business operators in Lagos and parts of the South-East.

Over the years, Ifekandu has been associated with educational support programmes, skills development and informal sector empowerment, with a focus on apprenticeship support and assistance to struggling traders within Lagos markets. Through the Eze Ndigbo Welfare Foundation, scholarships have been awarded to indigent students in federal institutions, while other initiatives have targeted widows, youth and micro-entrepreneurs. Traders around the Lagos Island business district, including the Docemo axis, described him as accessible and responsive to community challenges, noting that his interventions often focus on economic inclusion and peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups.

Born on March 18, 1976, Ifekandu’s journey reflects the popular Igbo apprenticeship tradition. After early challenges following the death of his father, he reportedly moved to Aba, Abia State, where he learned the trade, before relocating to Lagos in the early 1990s. He later combined business with further education, earning qualifications in Banking and Finance from Lagos State Polytechnic.

Stakeholders note that his experience during periods of ethnic tension in Lagos shaped his views on inter-ethnic cooperation, a factor that has continued to define his engagements in Lagos Island, where he has worked closely with leaders across communities.

Speaking recently, Ifekandu said his focus has always been on service, adding that wealth should translate into responsibility. “We must build people, not just businesses. When we lift others, society becomes safer and stronger,” he said.

While the process of succession is ongoing, community leaders say the nomination represents a call for continuity of peace and development within the Igbo community in Lagos. Political analysts note that the emergence of Ifekandu, if ratified by the appropriate traditional and cultural bodies, could signal a renewed focus on unity among Ndigbo in Lagos, especially at a time when economic pressures and social tensions are placing new demands on traditional institutions.

As consultations continue, many within the community describe the development as a pivotal moment for Igbo leadership structures in Lagos, with expectations that the eventual occupant of the office will strengthen cohesion, protect business interests and promote peaceful coexistence across ethnic lines.