About Obosi Development Association of USA

The surge of Obosi people to USA started after the end of Nigeria Civil War in 1970. They settled across USA in different academic institutions and major metropolitan areas. From the early 1980s, a shift started to emerge. Due to the need to move closer to those they grew up with, stay closer to family members, or to be at a warmer part of the country, some Obosi families moved to Houston-Dallas corridor and Arkansas area. Houston accounted for the greatest number of Obosi families in U.S.A. from the late seventies to late eighties. Also, the northeastern USA such as New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and surrounding states and the mid-atlantics such as Georgia and Carolinas have sizable numbers of Obosi families.  Houston was the first city in USA to have an organized Obosi family meeting in the early 1980s.

Obosi families in Atlanta area inaugurated their Association in the mid-eighties. Subsequently, Obosi families in Dallas, New York area, Washington DC area, Los Angeles area, Chicago area, San Francisco Bay area formed local Obosi Associations in those areas respectively. These associations of Obosi families generated an awareness of where we reside and most importantly, how we are faring in this great land, USA.

The seed for action was sewn and nurtured through one of the early efforts for a central organization directed toward embarking on charitable projects at Obosi. This rallying cause brought out a need for a central organization and convention where Obosi people in USA could come and discuss topics of common interest. Thus, the inaugural convention of Obosi Development Association of USA (ODA-USA) was held on 4th of July weekend, 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first convention was well attended by Obosi families in the USA. ODA-USA members believe that they were the first organized group of Nigerians in the USA to successfully host a national convention attended by families from all nook and crannies of the USA.

Majority of ODA-USA members are drawn from local Obosi Associations in various areas namely Obosi People Association (OPA) Atlanta; Obosi United Association (OUA) Chicago; Obosi Foundation (OF) Dallas; Obosi Progressive Society (OPS) Houston; Obosi Development Association (ODA) Los Angeles; Obosi Community Association (OCA) New York Area; Obosi Development Association (ODA) San Francisco Bay Area; Obosi Sons and Daughters Association (OSADA) Washington Area.  Membership to ODA-USA is on an individual basis.  A sizeable number of ODA-USA members reside in areas with no affiliate Obosi organization.

ODA-USA officers, together with the presidents of the eight affiliated Obosi Organizations around the USA, comprise the ODA-USA Executive Board.  The Executive Board runs day-to-day affairs of ODA-USA.   ODA –USA officers are elected by the general membership to serve a two-year term.  The President and Vice President can only be re-elected for two consecutive terms in the same position.  ODA President is the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary runs the secretariat.

Nnamdi Michael Amobi – President

Biography: Mr. Amobi is a Howard University Alumnus; He is an independent contractor; a member of ODA-USA since inception and has served in several capacities.

Dr. Ike Nwabude – Vice president
Biography: Dr. Nwabude is an Internal Medicine Physician and Wound Care Specialist; He is the Medical Director/Physician at NorthStar Internal Medicine PA, Dallas Texas; and a member of ODA-USA for more than a decade. Dr. Nwabude is also the current president of Obosi foundation, Dallas, Texas

Emeka M. Uyamadu, Esq. – Secretary

Dr. Philip Ezugo Onochie (PharmD, MBA)- Financial Secretary

 

Dr. Nnenna N. Onochie, MD, FACP (Iyom Onodugo) – Asst. Fin. Secretary

Biography: Nnenna Onochie is a Medical Doctor practicing in the State of Texas; and has been a member of ODA-USA for approximately 12 years.

Christian E. Ubakanma – Treasurer

Lawrence Ajumobi – Asst. Treasurer

Sylvanus Ifeanyi Mgbakogu – Publicity Secretary

Biography: Mr. Sylvanus Mgbakogu is a career law enforcement officer based in Dallas, Texas. He holds a bachelors of science in sociology and a masters of science in criminal justice from purdue university. He is also the provost of Obosi Foundation, Dallas, Texas.

Chimezie Au Nwokolo – Provost

The Board of Directors (BOD) are representatives of the various local affiliates of ODA-USA.  The BOD conducts the general election of ODA-USA officers, and audits ODA financial records.  In the rare event of a conflict which makes the ODA-USA Executive unable to function, BOD will help to resolve the matter to avoid a total breakdown or void in leadership.  BOD does not run the day to day affairs of ODA-USA.

(OPS Houston)

(OPA Atlanta)        

(OUA Chicago)

(OF Dallas)

(ODA Los Angeles)

(OCA New York)

(ODA San Francisco Bay Area)

(OSADA Washington DC)

PATRONS

 

  • Chief Austen Collins Anibogwu (Iyasele Obosi and the traditional prime minister)
  • Chief Morris Efobi (Oba Obosi)
  • Chief Osita Chidoka (Ike Obosi)

ADVISERS ON OBOSI TRADITION AND EZE-NA-NDI-ICHIE MATTERS

  • Chief Morris Efobi (Oba Obosi)
  • Chief Chiedu Uyamadu (Odogwu Obosi)
  • Chief Austen Collins Anibogwu (Iyasele Obosi and the traditional prime minister)

LEGAL ADVISER
Anthony Obiajulu, Esq.
Biography: Mr. Obiajulu earned a Juris Doctor Degree from Howard University Law School; An Attorney at Law in the State of New York; A Senior Trial Attorney at the State Insurance Fund, Manhattan, New York; Mr. Obiajulu is a member of ODA-USA, and the Legal Adviser from 2007 to present.

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISERS

Ogbueshi Emeka Onuorah-Anuorah, Ph.D. (Ezedinobi)
Biography: Dr. Onuorah-Anuorah earned a Ph.D. in Health Services; He is an Adjunct Professor of Health Administration – Walden University; the Director of Intensive Care Units – Veterans Administration Medical Center; A member of ODA-USA since inception and the founding president of ODA-USA from 1995-1997.

Emma Maduabuchukwu Ichu, Ph.D. (Omeogaa)
Biography: Dr. Ichu earned Ph.D. in Information Technology; A software development consultant; Dr. Ichu is a member of ODA-USA since inception and president of ODA-USA from 1997-1999.

Engr. Uzo Maduka
Biography: Engr. Maduka earmed a Master of Science Degree in Engineering; He is a Senior Environmental Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; A founding member of ODA-USA, Chairman ODA-USA Fundraising Committee from the inception of ODA-USA to approximately 1999, and the president of ODA-USA from 1999-2003.

Chief Nnamdi kingsley Offor, Ph.D. (Dikemba)
Biography: Chief Offor is a retired Banker and Database Engineer; A member of ODA-USA since inception and president of ODA from 2007-2011.

Nze Raphael Obi Ebozue, MBA, RN (Idi Adigwe):
Biography: Mr. Ebozue is the Manager of Post Anesthesia Care Unit Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health at Shattuck; He is a Member of ODA-USA since inception and the president of ODA-USA from 2011 – 2015.

John C. Uyamadu, Esq.                                                                           

Biography: Mr. Uyamadu earned a Juris Doctor in 2004; He is an Attorney and Counselor at Law; works at the Law Offices of John C. Uyamadu L.L.C.; and a member of ODA-USA since approximately 2001.

Sources of Obosi and her Related Towns:
Oral history showed that Obosi people originated from Arochukwu via Ojoto. History indicated that from the ancient town of Arochukwu migrated the founders of the towns of Oze, Ora-Eshi and Nri. Subsequently the founders of Ojoto, Ihiala, and Alo migrated from Ora-Eshi and Nri. People that left Ojoto founded Obosi and Nnewi-Umudim. Founders of Ibuzo and Umuru-Ukpo originated from Obosi. The founder of Obosi is a hunter named Adike from Ojoto. The name Obosi was derived from Mbosisi (literally meaning soil that cannot hold together). The name Mbosisi was given to the land by Adike because of the difficulty he encountered with frequent falling apart of the walls of an earthen house he was constructing at his new home.

 

ADIKE and His Generation
ADIKE, the founder of Obosi was the son of Okpala, who had other sons that permanently resided at Ojoto. For this relationship, he is still known and referred to as ADIKE-OKPALA. One of the grandsons of ADIKE was also named OKPALA. Listed below is the genealogy of ADIKE.

Okpala, Ezeani and Okpo are the sons of the first son of Adike named OBA. Ota, Ire, Uru, Mmakwum, Uruowulu, and Ugamuma are the sons of Adike’s son named OKUDU. In addition to these nine descendants of Adike, another family (named CHIMA) came from the western side of the River Niger to settle at Obosi. Amongst these ten families, six of them namely; Ota, Umuru, Okpala, Ezeani, Okpo and Chima formed one village now known as Umuota meaning the Ota’s children while the remaining four namely Ire, Mmakwum, Uruowulu and Ugamuma each formed a village respectively.

Note: In addition to the villages mentioned above whose names derived from descendants of Adike, there are parts of Obosi cosmopolitan that are not named after descendants of Adike. Some of these cosmopolitan areas are involved in land disputes with Obosi neighbor(s). The Obosi cosmopolitan areas include, but not limited to, Awada-Obosi, Okpoko-Obosi, Ugwuagba-Obosi, Ugbongene/Ogbodogbo-Obosi, military cantonment, Enekwa Sumpu-Obosi, Odume-Obosi, Achaputa-Obosi, and Otu-Obosi.