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EEF started unofficially in the 1970s, with the founder Eyisi Ebuluo supporting local culture and his community at Neni, Anambra state. In 1982, as the executive president of Umudioka Community in Neni, along with other members of the executive, he revived a neglected festival, the Nkadioka Festival, a traditional festival that had been forgotten after the Nigerian Civil War. Since then, the organisation has been part of several efforts to increase awareness of local culture in Neni and beyond.

In 2008, the organisation was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Since then, EEF has been focused on spreading the love of culture. We do this through support for festivals, art exhibitions and more. Everything that we do has a root in a local tradition.

What we do

  • Financial Support for the Less-privileged
    We provide a monthly financial token to make life better for widows and the aged in rural communities. This is hinged on a past tradition among the Umudiokas. Whenever, the Nkadiokas returned from their work trips, they would take a portion of their gain and share with the aged in the community. This was a form of social capital system whereby those who can no longer work are supported.
  • Support for Local Culture
    Africa is a diverse continent with so many beautiful traditions to share with the world. At Eyisi Ebuluo Foundation, we believe that “he who brings culture brings life” because a people’s culture embody their essence. Supporting African culture in its diversity is our way of preserving and celebrating that which is our own. We do this through several projects (embed link to projects page)
  • Scholarships for the Indigent
    We believe in communality that existed in traditional African societies where communities came together to help one another to rise. For indigent and promising students, we provide scholarships so that they can be shining examples of how Africans support one another. We also hope that they also return to help other people in their local communities.

MILESTONES

  • 1979: Igbo Language Writing and Debate Competition started.
  • 2005: Started the widowhood support.
  • 2011: Support for the building of Umudioka Cultural Centre
  • 2017: Co-sponsored the Nkadioka Festival

About the founder

Born March 13, 1934, Ozoekwe Udeze grew up in Umudioka community, Neni, Anambra state.  Surrounded by family, he learned of the traditions of his people: greetings, proverbs, work, traditional marks, and more. His father who was an Nwadioka, an itinerant traditional herbalist and artist, travelled to several communities, spreading the traditional art of Igbo people through Igbu Ichi, traditional marks.

As a teenager, Ozoekwe had few opportunities and struggled to pay his way through primary education. However, he could not continue as a result of lack of funding. In 1953, he started learning business  as an apprentice with an Uncle, even though he also had a side business selling kerosene.  As a result of his challenges growing up without the needed financial support for his education, he has always supported indigent and intelligent students through scholarships.

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Testimonies

“Ebulue loves Igbo language. He writes in Igbo language. The greeting we use in Umudioka: Dioka/Abunya. Dioka/Abunya; he was the one who composed it. He was the one who also introduced the way of greeting women: Ada Dioka, which means daughter of Umudioka. All these are ways of strengthening the Dioka identity. His cultural strength stretches even beyond Umudioka. There are anthems for Neni and Umudioka and Ebulue is behind their composition.”
Chief Nwakenezi
President, Umudioka Community.
"As an orphan, the loss of my uncle who took care of me meant that my education had ended until I met Eyisi Ebuluo. He took charge and sponsored me throughout my education, paying for my school fees and buying everything that I needed. He is a father figure to me.”
Oliver Oyedum
Beneficiary
“Eyisi Ebuluo knows the power of literacy. When you talk to him, you see it. He knows the importance of the individual in terms of the culture where the person comes from. People get educated and get carried away by Western education. They think that English for instance is the language of that should supplant your Mother Tongue. No language in the world is incapable of describing the phenomena around it. We need to discover our roots. This is what EEF is doing through the Igbo language debates”
Professor Chidi Maduka
Retired Lecturer of Literature-in-English

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