The objectives of OIUSA are to promote educational, economic, and cultural development of the Ikwerre people. The organization also seeks to create better relationship and understanding with people of other nationalities. This is why, each year, members of this well-meaning ethnic organization meet to foster better understanding amongst themselves and people from other nationalities.
For sometime, many Ikwerre sons and daughters recognized the need for a national organization of Ikwerre people in the United States of America (USA). However, no attempt was made by anyone to make this recognition a reality, until Ikwerre Community Association (ICA) of Los Angeles, California called for the first meeting of all Ikwerre people on July 6, 1996 in Los Angeles, California. Ikwerre responded in mass to this call, and a national organization was formed. The organization was named National Organization of Ikwerre People (NOIP). At the conclusion of this meeting, a Caretaker Committed was selected to manage the affairs of the organization until the next convention. At the 2nd annual convention in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 1997, the "Ogbakor Ikwerre USA" (OIUSA) was adopted in place of NOIP, and executive officers were elected. The organization is incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia, but maintains a headquarter in Los Angeles.
There’re about 200 individual and association members of OIUSA. Membership is mainly individual Ikwerre indigenes living in the USA and Canada. A president, who is the chief executive, heads the secretariat in Los Angeles.
The Akata is an accessory of the traditional attire of Ikwerre indigenes of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It is hung around the neck as part of the dress code and it comes in different colors. It is worn over the traditional "wokho," "etibo" or wrapper, and distinctively identifies Ikwerre indigene anywhere in the world.
For ordering information please contact:
OIUSA President Prof. Chris W. Ogbondah.
Email: chris.ogbondah@uni.edu
Office Phone: 319-273-5913, Cell: 319-231-4064