It was brought about by its members' wish to host a celebration for Dr. Akanu Ibiam, the second Igbo physician to return from his educational pursuits in Britain.

[4] A pan-Igbo conference took place in December 1948 in Port Harcourt in what was then the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria ruled by the British Empire.

Upon assuming office as Head of State, General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi outlawed all political parties as well as ethnic, cultural, and social organizations.

[3] Thus, the pan-Igbo organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was largely created in 1979 by Professor Ben Nwabueze, a constitutional lawyer, who served as its Deputy President.

[3] The organization was supported by Kingsley Mbadiwe, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Dr. Pius Okigbo, and Chief Jerome Udorji (who served as the first Secretary General), among other notable Igbos.

On January 10, 2025, Senator John Azuta-Mbata was elected as the President-General, succeeding Fidelis Chukwu and marking a new beginning for the group.