From the creeks of the Niger Delta to the cities of America — the journey of a people who refused to be invisible.
The story of the Ijaw National Congress is a story of a people who refused to be invisible. From the creeks and rivers of the Niger Delta to the cities and suburbs of America, the Ijaw nation has always sought unity, justice, and recognition. The Ijaw National Congress USA Chapter carries that legacy forward on American soil.
Before 1991, many Ijaw groups had formed across Nigeria to draw attention to the plight of the Ijaw people. But they were fragmented — scattered voices without a unified platform. That changed when delegates gathered in Patani, Delta State, for the first All-Ijaw National Convention. The convention produced two historic resolutions: a demand for the creation of homogenous Ijaw states, and the formation of the Ijaw National Co-ordinating Committee (INCC).
At the All-Ijaw National Delegates Conference in Kaiama on May 15, 1993, the name Ijaw National Congress was officially adopted. The constitution was ratified, and the INC was founded to work for Ijaw unity, promote national consciousness, and adopt a coordinated approach to solving the Ijaw question in Nigeria.
As the Ijaw diaspora in America grew, so did the need for organized representation. The Ijaw National Congress USA, Inc. was incorporated in the United States, bringing the structure and mission of the INC to the growing community of Ijaw professionals, families, and students across the country.
The INC-USA held its historic inaugural joint meeting in Houston, Texas. Chairman Bishop (Dr.) Ayibakuro Suobite described the gathering as “a defining moment in the history of the Ijaw people in the United States of America,” declaring that INC-USA represents “a strategic platform for advancing the interests, welfare, cultural identity, and global visibility of the Ijaw nation.”
Today, the Ijaw National Congress USA Chapter stands as the most organized platform for Ijaw advocacy, unity, and cultural preservation in America. From our national secretariat in Houston, we serve Ijaw families in every state.
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