The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has called for collective action to eradicate violence against women and other vulnerable groups, stressing that harmful traditional practices and outdated taboos must no longer be tolerated in modern society.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the revered monarch said communities must consciously reform cultural norms that conflict with human dignity, safety, and social justice.
Igwe Achebe disclosed that the Onitsha community has already taken deliberate steps by instituting community-based rules and guidelines aimed at protecting women, widows, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable members of society.
“We are using culture to protect not only girls and women, but to protect everybody—the widows, the disabled, the down-and-out, and the unhealthy,” he said.
“It is about coming together within our community, organizing ourselves, and taking care of one another. When people act otherwise, the system calls them to order. It’s working for us.”
The monarch noted that certain cultural practices once accepted have been deliberately discarded because they no longer align with present-day realities or values.
“We have removed certain elements that don’t make sense today,” he said, explaining that the Onitsha Traditional Council possesses the authority and structure to implement such reforms. According to him, the community’s leadership is actively transforming local governance to meet 21st-century social standards.
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Igwe Achebe further emphasised that education, enlightenment campaigns, and cultural dynamism are essential for societal progress.
“Culture is the way of life of a people, and it must be dynamic because it exists to serve the people,” he stated.
“Our ancestors had limited worldviews based on the knowledge of their time. Today, we know better. Practices once considered taboo, especially around health and social issues, must be re-examined through education and enlightenment.”
He concluded that protecting women and vulnerable groups requires not only laws, but also intentional cultural leadership, community accountability, and a willingness to evolve traditions in line with human rights and contemporary realities.