Foremost Igbo Culture Advocate Dr Chuma-Odili Harris Udokamma a.k.a Ogene Ndigbo has expressed grief over the passage of the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Igwe Nwabueze Ohazuluike- Mkpume. Igwe Tokas as he was fondly called, until his death, was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Association of Ndi Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora.
Ogene in a condolence message on Wednesday, said the late Eze Ndigbo had made “indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.”
Reportedly, Igwe Mkpume joined his ancestors on April 20, 2025 after a protracted illness.
According to Ogene, Igwe Tokas was an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Igboland and Lagos in particular in just a little over twenty years of his reign as a consummate Igbo Leader.
He expressed his condolences to the family, the Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos, the Igbo Community, the Traditional Council of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora and the entire Igbo people living in Lagos State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased Igbo Leader.
Ogene said: “A mighty Iroko has fallen; Igwe Mkpume, Eze Ndigbo na uzo ije has joined the ancestors.
“I recall vividly, in 2012, at Ndigbo in Lagos Annual New Yam Festival, Igwe Tokas appreciated my efforts and campaigns for a true rebirth of Igbo language films in Nollywood. He led the Traditional Council of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora to honour me with an hononary Chieftaincy Award “Ogene Ndigbo”, the traditional title that would be later conferred on me at my home town Azu- Ogbunike in 2016. Igwe Ohazuluike was a rallying point of lovers of Igbo culture in diaspora. He was a great unifier, he forstered peaceful coexistence and unity amongst Ndigbo across the Western and Nothern Nigeria, using his position as Eze Ndigbo conferred on him, and endorsed by the Igbo eternal Leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to mobilise Ndigbo in diaspora to a true cultural revivial.”
“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our amiable Igwe Tokas, Mkpume. He is forever in my heart. Igwe Mkpume will be greatly missed.”
Late Igwe Ohazuluike hailed from Ihiala, in Anambra State.
