Iwuaku Iwuchukwu tasks Umuaka monarchs, others on land committees.

A diasporan businessman of Umuaka Imo State origin, Mazi Iwuaku Iwuchukwu has called on all the Umuaka royal fathers, their respective autonomous communities, presidents- general and other stake-holders in the entire Umuaka Municipal Council to set up their own independent land committees respectively in order to checkmate the crises arising from land sales and purchases in Umuaka.

Mazi Iwuaku Iwuchukwu, a successful diasporan businessman based in Angola made the passionate appeal last week following the Umuaka Times exclusive report concerning the successful establishment of a land committee in Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous. Mazi Iwuchukwu made this call while holding talks with Umuaka Times correspondents who called on him earlier last week in an exclusive encounter.

During the cause of the interview, Mazi Iwuchukwu stated that his advocacy aims to mitigate crises stemming from land sales and purchases among Akalites and their neighbours. In furtherance of his appeal, he emphasized the need for structured land management to ensure peaceful coexistence among community members and those who wish to either sale or buy landed properties in Umuaka. Iwuaku regrettably noted that the absence of clear guidelines and oversight has led to disputes, litigations and strained relationships within Umuaka community and beyond.

In his words Mazi Iwuchukwu noted: “If all the communities in Umuaka will follow the Obinwanne example, there will be no crisis again in land matters in the whole of Umuaka.”

According to him, the proposed land committees would be responsible for: (1). Documenting land ownerships in the communities they operate.(2). Verifying and recording land ownerships to prevent both before and after sales disputes. (3). Regulating land sales: (4). Ensuring that land sales are conducted transparently and fairly between the sellers and the buyers. (5). Resolving disputes: (6). Providing a platform for resolving land-related conflicts.

Mazi Iwuchukwu who is the founder of Umuaka Charity Foundation, used the opportunity and thanked the people of Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community especially the royal father of the community HRM Eze Justin Ezeala and his team as well as the members of the Obinwanne lands committee as led by Chief Celestine Agu, the Onowu of Obinwanne and the Ekwe Mbiriba Umuaka.

Iwuchukwu who disclosed to Umuaka Times that he strongly believes that his initiative will be welcomed by community leaders and stakeholders who recognize the potential benefits of organized land management in their respective communities, by establishing land committees. He finally reiterated that Umuaka’s autonomous communities can reduce tensions and promote harmony via land committees.

Some highly dependable sources and top voices across Umuaka Municipal Council who reached out to Umuaka Times last week on the issue last week, view the advocacy by Mazi Iwuchukwu as a significant milestone towards ensuring the town’s progress and stability, particularly as the advocacy relates to land administration, ownerships and disputes. Mazi Iwuchukwu’s leadership and vision for Umuaka’s development have earned him respect and admiration from Umuaka community and beyond. He won the Man of the Year Award by Umuaka Times in 2024 as a result of his constructive and financial commitments towards the growth of Umuaka town.

Umuaka Times gathered that the call for land committees in Umuaka is expected to spark up meaningful discussions and actions within the ten autonomous communities that make up Umuaka town and the entire Njaba LGA, It is believed at certain quarters that this will ultimately contributing to a more peaceful and prosperous future for the town and the LGA.