History
HISTORY OF PEOPLES CLUB
PEOPLES CLUB OF NIGERIAL INTERNATIONAL
The People’s Club of Nigeria was founded by Nigerians who are desirous to foster good relations among themselves and to promote charitable and philanthropic causes. Peoples club was formed in 1971 in Aba (present Abia state of Nigeria) by a small group of individuals led by Chief Titus I. Ume-Ezeoke. This was at a period of hopelessness following the devastation of the Nigeria civil war which ended in 1970. The Club was formed with the spirit of uniting people of like minds, for social interaction.
The formation was timely and extensively welcomed because of the Club’s founding principle which reads “be your brother’s Keeper” and was also embodied in its motto: Unity, Love and Service. Since its formation, the Club has grown extensively and could be found in most major cities in the world. By the year 2000, there was a branch of the Peoples Club in every major city in Nigeria. The club latter moved its headquarters to Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria.
Chief Titus Ike Ume-Ezeoke, Onyima of Amichi was the founder of the Peoples Club of Nigeria. the younger brother of Sir Georfry Ume-Ezeoke former Accountant General of Old Anambra State also the elder brother to Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke former Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Shagari in 1979
They were direct sons of HRH Igwe Peter Umeorimili Ezeoke of Amichi the Paramount Obi of Amichi.
After the civil war, his business and that of his friends went down. one of the days he was lounging with Chief Umeohamadike Obieze, Azukaenyi of Unubi and his friends in Aba in 1971, the thought to form the Club came as a way to socialize and help themselves heal from the wounds of the civil war, coupled with the pain of receiving only 20 pounds from the Federal Government as palliatives to build back their multi-thousands and million businesses. Peoples Club was founded when it mattered most, at a time when Ndigbo lost faith when they felt abandoned, raped, maimed and ravaged by the civil war, when they had no iota of hope, when the experience and remembrance of war nearly extinguished a race and people, it was birthed.
it wasn’t founded only to socialize, but also to help heal the wounds of the challenging times of the post-war era.
Okaa Society of Nigeria existed before the Peoples Club, but it was extinguished during the civil War. Some of their members died during the war. Okaa Society of Nigeria was mostly young well-to-do Igbo traders who found a common purpose to meddle together and built a fraternity. it died during the war and hope was lost. it’s important to note that Peoples Club built the generation of wealthy Igbo Men and beyond who transformed to what we see today. Chief Titus Ike Ume-Ezeoke retired as the founder and Patron in March 1983. he was the first National President of the Peoples Club of Nigeria, he handed over to Dr. Chukwuma Obioha, Akajiugo of Arondizuogu as the second National President
Peoples Club is often imitated but seldom duplicated. Since 1971, there have been other clubs that tried to compete with Peoples Club but failed. This is why membership of the Peoples Club is a privilege. Membership is open to all irrespective of race, religion, tribe, sex or social status. The Club is non-political.
PEOPLES CLUB OF NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL CALGARY BRANCH
Peoples Club of Nigeria International – Calgary Branch started by accident of history. The history started in 2011 when Chief Paul Eneh and Mazi Ben Ezenta accidentally met at the TipTop Store at the Deerfoot Mall. Mazi Ezenta was shopping with his wife when Chief Eneh overheard them speaking the Igbo language. Chief Paul approach the couple and introduced himself and said that he overheard them speaking Igbo. He said that he is Igbo also and recently moved from Houston to Calgary. That sparked interest from Mazi Ezenta who had also lived in Houston for about 8 years.
Friendship soon developed which extended to both families including our spouses. In one of their social visits, Mazi Ezenta brought up the social life in Houston which is grossly missing in Calgary. Both men decided to create an organization that will provide a platform for social interaction since the only organizations in Calgary are the Igbo Cultural Association of Calgary (ICAC) and Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC).
After speaking with Nze Dan Metuh who indicated interest to be part of the initiative, Mazi Ben invited Leo Agoawike his neighbour to the first meeting of the group. Nze Metuh invited Nnamdi Ahajumobi. Other people were invited and the group started to grow in number. At the time, there was no mention of Peoples Club. The group met for about one year discussing the type of social club to form, format and the rest. In one of the meetings, while still searching for a format and name for the group, the name Peoples Club was mentioned, but it did not raise much interest. In that meeting, Leo Agoawike made a profound statement which changed the cause of the group. He said that if you go to a place and see two restaurants, one – a no-name beautiful restaurant and the other a McDonald. People will flock to the McDonald because of the name recognition. A lot of people agreed with the analogy. There and then, our focus changed to forming a branch of Peoples Club.
The problem then because how to go about it. Luckily enough, Chief Paul Eneh was a former member of Peoples Club of Nigeria International – Houston Branch. He made contact with his former colleagues and they informed us of the requirements that at least we must have five (5) peoples club members before we can start meeting and fifteen (15) to be inaugurated as a branch. The challenge became how to get four additional members to make up the minimum of five required to start meeting as a potential People Club branch. We approached some Peoples Club branches in the US to induct our members. Some were telling us to pay $10,000 (USD) per member in addition to other associated fees. One branch promised to induct our members with a payment of $500 (USD) each. We agreed. A couple of months latter when we were getting ready for the induction of the 4 members, they increased the price to $5,000 (USD) per member. In the cause of that negotiation with the US branch, they mentioned that they even gave a cow to Asaba branch that sponsored them. That gave us an opening that we can approach a branch in Nigerian to induct our foundation members. After discussing with a couple of branches in Nigeria, Abuja branch agreed and inducted Hon Ben Ezenta, Hon Dan Metuh, Hon Leo Agoawike and Hon Nnamdi Ahajumobi in June 2013. Hon Paul Eneh was elected a coordinator of the group. New York branch accepted to sponsored us to be a Chaprter. Honourable Paul Eneh subsequently became the pioneer chairman when the branch was inaugurated and 13 members were inducted by Hon Sam Iwuchukwu – the National President Peoples Club of Nigeria International, at a ceremony which held in Calgary in 2016.
The branch inducted 15 members on August 6, 2022, to bring her total membership to 23. On September 24, 2022, a new executive led by Hon Ben Ezenta (Okigbo) was elected to take over from Hon Paul Eneh (Ozo Nwachinemelu) after two terms of 3 years each.