About Igbo Union of New Mexico

We are a group of Igbo people working together toward a common cause.

Who We Are

The Igbo Union of New Mexico, Inc. (IUNM) is a non-profit 501c3 organization established by Nigerians of Igbo descent who are residents of the State of New Mexixo. The Igbo people are a distinct group of indigenous people in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. With a population of over 30 million people, they are the third-largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria which has a population of about 180 million people. Over 5 million Igbo people live in the Diaspora with about 3 million in other parts of Nigeria and about 2 million outside Nigeria, including about 100,000 in the United States and over 1000 in the State of New Mexico. The Igbo people have a strong sense of ethnic identity, industry, excellence, and dexterity.

Archeological evidence indicates that the Igbo people settled in their present abode in Nigeria before 948 AD. During the Atlantic Slave Trade in the 16th to 19th Century, some Igbo people who were taken as slaves were dispersed to colonies in the Americas such as Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. Thus elements of Igbo culture can still be found in some of these countries, and many African-Americans and Caribbeans have traced their roots to the Igbo people of Nigeria. Before the “amalgamation” of Nigeria as a British colony in 1914, the Igbo people lived as independent people in various Igbo “kingdoms” but they had no central or unified kingdom. When Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, the Igbo people constituted the majority population of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. In the aftermath of the military coup d’etat in 1966 and the “pogrom” of Igbo people living in Northern Nigeria, the Igbo people under the leadership of Lt Col Odumegwu Ojukwu attempted to secede from Nigeria to form their own independent country, the Republic of Biafra.

This led to a civil war that ended in January 1970 when the Igbo people agreed to rejoin the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Since then, the Igbo people have made giant strides in all spheres of life. As a result of migration, there are now large ethnic Igbo populations in many countries in Africa such as Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside Africa, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Like in many other states in the United States, the Igbo Union of New Mexico, Inc. (IUNM) is a non-profit organization established by Nigerians of Igbo descent who are residents of the State of New Mexico with the mission to unify Igbos, support their well-being and promote cooperation with other ethnic groups in New Mexico. The IUNM is the umbrella organization of the other “sub-national” Igbo Associations in New Mexico.

Purpose of IUNM

• Provides and develops projects, including education on Igbo language and culture

• Promotes good citizenship amongst members

• Promotes communal support for members

• Facilitates socioeconomic development of Igbo land.

• Foster better relationships among our members and others within our local (host) community

• Help forge a better future for our children born in diaspora

Mission Statement

The mission of IUNM is to foster unity , protect and support the well-being of Igbo people living in New Mexico as well as promote cooperation between the Igbo people and other ethnic nationalities.

Our Vision

We aim to be the most recognized charity organization in New Mexico, dedicated to providing comprehensive assistance to Igbo people,  the members of our organization and the immediate community we live in.

If you want to help our organization by volunteering or donating, please send us a message.