The Early IPA
By Binaebi Oguoko
The early Ijo community in London evolved around the Ijaw People’s Association (IPA), which was founded in 1948 by the enlightened efforts of a few ordinary Ijo men. The main impetus came from Mr Young Kpiaye (Founding President of the IPA), He was not an educated man in the academic sense, but he had a keen sense of Ijo cultural and political awareness. He felt the need for an organisation that could bring the individuals and their families under one community umbrella. Thus the birth of the Ijaw People’s Association (IPA) of the United Kingdom & Ireland. He went around rallying and convincing the Ijaw men living in London at the time, on the need for an Ijaw organisation that could act as a cultural and social/welfare focus. It all started in Bethnal Green East London in the house of Mr James Ingobor (deceased). The original foundation members who had joined before 1957 include messrs; H A Ofiniama (1st secretary of the IPA from 1948-1965), Lawrence Okorodudu (18 years as president and 7 years as vice president), A Zitubo, M B Oguoko (chairman 1964), J K Okoro (foundation treasurer till 1967), Y Kpiaye (foundation President till 1967), Y K Mieboh, W Oloula, D Appiah, Stephen Okpokpo, M Kantel (foundation vice president till 1969, he later moved to Manchester), M Suwari, I Alagoa, M Abeki, P Kalabeke, L Enekeme, L E Okudu, P Norman, J Ingobor and C Ijebu. Others joined in the 1960’s onwards and include a wide cross section of Ijos drawn from the different parts of Ijawland.
The various occupations of the individuals who came to the UK at this time ranged from railway workers (engineers, examiners, labourers), factory workers and clerical staff. Many sought to improve their education by going to night school and college. Many of these early pioneers married from the local white community or went back to Nigeria to marry an Ijo wife. Most of the children of these marriages have grown-up and become full adults and form what is now known as the British born Ijo (Ijaw) community in London. Some are members of the present IPA.
The Ijo community the UK, from the late 1940’s took an interest in the political development of Nigeria. When the late Chief HR Dappa Biriye, as a young Barrister and representative of THE RIVERS PEOPLE & CHIEFS CONFERENCE representing the Ijos and Niger Delta Peoples, attended the 1957 Constitutional Conference, he met with the IPA of London at 40 Grove Road East London. He briefed them on the political developments of the time and the need for the Ijos to rise out of poverty and underdevelopment.
The Ijaw People’s Association is currently under the leadership of Mr. Isaac Namabiri, the President.
