A SHORT ESSAY ON THE ROLE OF RANGERS FC IN POST-WAR RECOVERY FOR NDI IGBO

At the end of the war, the leadership class in Igbo land was in tatters and lacking in confidence. Many had died or been killed during the war. Some others had fled into exile and what was left in the country lacked confidence. Their livelihoods were gone, their stature diminished, and their self-belief and judgment in question. A new leadership cadre was desperately needed but it was difficult to know where to find it.

The re-discovery of the dignity of the people of the

We have come to the end of today's event. We hope you have learnt a thing or two about the Biafra War and we immensely appreciate you for staying with us all day.

Daalụ nụ.

To close our event today, here is a gratitude video in honour of all who sent relief aid to Biafra during the war. We are grateful to them all.

We also remember all who lost their lives during the war. May they Rest In Peace.

Kindly note that you can visit the Centre For Memories to see our ongoing exhibition on

THE BIAFRAN AIRLIFT

The Airlift to Biafra is the second largest airlift in human history. It is known that about 3 million Igbo people died during the war but that number would have been a lot more if not the humanitarian activities of so many groups, organizations and national governments who sent relief aid to Biafra.

Approximately 30 non-governmental organizations and several governments provided non-military direct and indirect aid through or in support of the Biafran Airlift. Major contributors of such items as food, medicine, transport aircraft,

THE UGA AIRSTRIP

Many people are aware that Biafra had an airstrip in Uli but only a few know that there was another airstrip in Uga, Anambra State.

Uga, the second of the three sites originally selected as a bush airstrip, was hastily developed following the threatened loss of Uli in September 1968. Like Uli, the airstrip at Uga was converted from a stretch of the main Orlu to Awka road but instead of creating concrete hard-standings, the Biafrans used a form of PSP (a pierced-steel planking system), although local reports at the time described the

THE ABAGANA AMBUSH

The Abagana Ambush (March 31, 1968) was an ambush by Biafran guerrilla troops led by Major Jonathan Uchendu that wiped out the Nigerian 2 Division. Of the 6,000 Nigerian troops ambushed, only a very small number survived, including the 2nd Division's commander, General Murtala Muhammed.

On 31 March 1968, a convoy consisting of 106 vehicles belonging to the Nigerian 2nd Division transporting 6,000 soldiers, as well as armour from Onitsha to Enugu was ambushed and decimated in the town of Abagana by a small

OPERATION HIROSHIMA

This was a military operation conducted by the Biafran 4th Commando Brigade in an attempt to recapture Onitsha from the Nigerian 2nd Division. The operation ultimately resulted in failure and ended in the deaths of numerous mercenaries and Biafran soldiers. In early November 1968 the 4,000 strong Biafran 4th Commando Brigade moved northwards from Umuahia to Nkwelle, less than 10 km outside of Onitsha. On 15 November Colonel Rolf Steiner was ordered to launch an offensive operation coined "Operation Hiroshima". Steiner initially

OPERATION OAU (September 2 – October 15, 1968)

Operation OAU was a move by the Nigerian troops to capture the three towns of Owerri, Aba and Umuahia. It was an intermittent battle that may have resulted in over 25,000 deaths on both sides. Although the Biafran soldiers were outnumbered, they were able to retain control of Umuahia and eventually recapture the cities of Owerri and Aba.

On September 2, Nigerian artillery began shelling Aba while ground forces began to enter the city under heavy Biafran fire. For twelve days bloody house-to-house

SOME OPERATIONS DURING THE BIAFRA WAR

OPERATION TIGER CLAW (October 17–19, 1967)

This was a military conflict between Nigerian and Biafran military forces. The battle took place in the major port of Calabar. The Nigerian were led by Benjamin Adekunle while the Biafrans were led by Maj. Ogbo Oji. The aftermath was a major loss to the Biafrans because it cost the Biafrans one of their largest ports.

In October 1967 a Nigerian Navy armada on a naval campaign left the port of Bonny en route to Calabar. Inside the ships were the heavily armed troops of the

THE BIAFRAN AIRFORCE

Biafra had a small, yet effective air force. Biafran Air Force commanders were Chude Sokey and later Godwin Ezeilo, who had trained with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Its early inventory included two B-25 Mitchells, two B-26 Invaders, (one piloted by Polish World War II ace Jan Zumbach, known also as John Brown), a converted DC-3 and one Dove. In 1968, Swedish pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen suggested the MiniCOIN project to General Ojukwu.

By early 1969, Biafra had assembled five MFI-9Bs in Gabon, calling them "Biafra Babies".

THE BIAFRAN ARMED FORCES

At the beginning of the war, Biafra had about 3,000 soldiers. This number grew as the war progressed, ultimately reaching 30,000. There was no official support for the Biafran Army from any other nation, although arms were clandestinely acquired. Because of this, Biafra manufactured many of her weapons locally. Some Europeans served the Biafran cause: German-born Rolf Steiner was a lieutenant colonel assigned to the 4th Commando Brigade, and Welshman Taffy Williams served as a major throughout the conflict. A special

THE RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION AGENCY (RAP)

At the outbreak of the war, Biafra was poorly equipped as compared to the Nigerian army with arms and ammunition being in short supply. This imbalance in power was intensified in the course of the war. Biafran scientists, prominently from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (then University of Biafra), formed the Research and Production (RAP) Agency of Biafra which included a Weapons Research and Production Group.

Headed by COLONEL EJIKE OBUMNEME AGHANYA, it was the aim and purpose of this group to develop an

BIAFRA: COMMUNICATION AND PROPAGANDA

Radio, as a modern communication technology, has played a revolutionary role in propaganda wars. Governments and revolutionaries find it indispensable because of its advantage in disseminating messages quickly across national borders. The Biafran government saw the enormous propaganda potential of radio and tactically exploited it. Radio Biafra was an important arm of the Biafran struggle for self-determination.

Also through the efforts of their roving diplomats, such as CHINUA ACHEBE, during the war, Biafra

BIAFRA: ECONOMY

An early institution created by the Biafran government was the Bank of Biafra, accomplished under "Decree No. 3 of 1967".

In 1967, DR. PIUS OKIGBO was appointed economic adviser to the Biafran government (1967–1970). He succeeded in helping with the establishment of the Central Bank of Biafra and produced the republic’s currency.

The bank carried out all central banking functions including the administration of foreign exchange and the management of the public debt of the Republic. The bank was administered by a governor

BIAFRA: POLITICS AND GEOGRAPHY

The Republic of Biafra was a unitary republic administered under emergency measures. It consisted of an executive branch, in the form of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and a judicial branch in the form of the Ministry of Justice. Its legal system was based on the English Common Law.

Upon the outbreak of the Biafra War, SIR LOUIS NWACHUKWU MBANEFO was appointed Chief Justice of Biafra and Ambassador Plenipotentiary. He was actively involved in the peace talks with the Nigerian Government and worked actively towards a

During the last pre-screening webinar for our documentary on Dr. M I Okpara, one of the panelists, Prof. Pat Utomi, described Okpara as “the Lee Kuan Yew of Africa”.

The giant strides of the Okpara’s administration is still referred to today. Little wonder, he is still being described as the finest leader the East (and even Nigeria) has ever produced.

Join the Centre for Memories as we hold another webinar to usher in the second global screening of the documentary: “M. I. Power: The Legend and The Legacy”.

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE PRESENTS CFM FOR GRANT AWARD

Thank you Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for being so gracious to recommend the Centre For Memories (CFM) to Friedrich Naumann Foundation as your organisation of choice to be awarded the project grant that accompanied the award bestowed on you in December 2020. This gesture demonstrates your commitment and support to CFM and Ndigbo and serves as motivation and encouragement to us.

The Centre is applying the grant to implement a project designed to instil timeless Igbo values in secondary school students in

Since 2016, The Sub-Saharan African Regional Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been awarding the Africa Freedom Prize to outstanding personalities who provide decisive impulses for the development of liberal society in African countries.

The 2020 Africa Freedom Prize of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation was awarded to Nigerian author and award-winning international writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to recognize her inspiring role in addressing social grievances and political challenges, and gender inequality through her writing

Dr. Michael Iheọnụkara Okpara’s tenure as premier of Eastern Nigeria is widely acclaimed to have been the golden age of that region. In just six years, Dr. Okpara inspired a revolution that transformed the East from being probably the poorest of the regions, to the most vibrant and one of the fastest growing sub-territories of the world at the time in every sphere of development and infrastructural development.

Join the Centre for Memories as we hold a webinar themed: ỌLUOBODO: A CALL TO SERVICE, to celebrate and showcase Late Dr. M.I Okpara

CHINUA ACHEBE - THE QUINTESSENTIAL INTELLECTUAL

Whenever the phrase “IgboNwereMmadu” is used, the name Chinua Achebe comes to mind. He is adjudged by many to have played the foremost role in telling the story of Ndigbo to the world. He used his books and essays to discuss the way of life of Ndigbo. Prominent among these books is the globally acclaimed bestseller, “Things Fall Apart”.
Chinualumogu Albert Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, Anambra State, Nigeria to Isaiah Okafo Achebe and Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam Achebe. He had a happy

Sam Hart @hartng is a Lawyer with specialisation in Environmental Law.

He is also a trained Mentor, Marketer and Communicator.

He has had extensive experience in the public sector at Federal and State levels working in the past 17 years as aide to 3 successive Governors of... Abia State serving at different times as Speechwriter, Chief Press Secretary and Director of Protocol.

He also served for 3 years as the Group Editor of an International Magazine with headquarters in London with focus on outstanding African leaders; A position that afforded him

Have you registered to join us for the Aba Women's War and Iva Valley Massacre Memorial event? Kindly use this link to register bit.ly/36BzSUz

The Centre for Memories is set to host a memorial event on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 to mark these 2 significant events in Igbo history.

Theme: Ozugo: Ending Oppression and Injustice

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Activities:

Visit Iva Valley Coal Mining Site October 29, 2020

Host a webinar on the memorial theme– Nov 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM

Hold a walk and laying of wreath at the Coal Miners’