Established November 13, 2004, Nzuko Ndi Igbo of Northeast Ohio (NNINO) is a nonprofit organization designed to promote Igbo culture and social business networking among members in Northeast Ohio, foster socioeconomic linkages between Igbo in Northeast Ohio, and provide educational and charitable services to the people of Northeast Ohio.

By RHONDA CROWDER

Staff Reporter

Nigerians make up the largest community of African immigrants living in the U.S. and the Igbo is one of the three major ethnic groups of Nigeria. The Igbo are said to be the most industrial group in Nigeria as well as Africa and is often compared to the Jewish when it comes to hard work.

They are also traditionalists who take pride in their culture through many forms of celebration, including the New Yam Festival which is unique to the Igbos of the Southwestern region of Nigeria.

Established November 13, 2004, Nzuko Ndi Igbo of Northeast Ohio (NNINO) is a nonprofit organization designed to promote Igbo culture and social business networking among members in Northeast Ohio, foster socioeconomic linkages between Igbo in Northeast Ohio, and provide educational and charitable services to the people of Northeast Ohio.  

Throughout Northeast Ohio, they introduce their culture to our community during their annual Iri-Ji (New Yam) Festival.

“The festival is educational, getting the knowledge out… It is through this that we display and educate people about our African culture, value systems, food, dress, music, and dancing,” said Malachy Nzekwe, a founding president of NNINO. “Through this festival, we do fundraising to give back to community.”

And, they do so in the form of providing educational scholarships.

“The scholarship is open to any student living in Northeast Oho,” he said.  As the festival is the organization’s major event, the scholarship recipients are presented during that time.

Last year, NNINO awarded more than $2200 to students attending Cuyahoga Community College.  Each year, a scholarship committee selects one school and students attending that institution are eligible to receive the award.  It could be a high school or college in Cleveland, Akron, or Canton. 

This is the first year they are selling tickets to the festival.  In the past, it was free.

The festival will be held on Saturday, August 25, at the Canton Civic Center’s McKinley Room, 1101 Market Avenue, North Canton, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for child 13 to 17 years old.  They are expecting 500 people, including some governors from Nigeria.

A live band will perform.

“We just started but I think we’re doing pretty good,” said Nzekwe, explaining that this is the second year they’ve presented scholarships. At that same, their overall goal is to bring their tradition out of Nigeria to Northeast Ohio. “We want to educate Northeast Ohio about the culture of Nigeria, particular about Igbo. “We are the foundation of African culture. It’s through us that African be known.”