Historical Perspective
The antecedents of the Anyiam-Osigwe Group can be traced to the 1800s-1930 history of entrepreneurial spirit and achievements associated with both parents of Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, founder of the Anyiam-Osigwe Group.
His father, Nze (Lord) Anyiam (The Ojukwu Na ru Orgwu (I) of the ancient town of Nkwerre) in the then South-Eastern Nigeria, was among the prominent sons of Nze Osigwe Nwa Okala (a renowned merchant of George fabrics) son of Duru Nnuihe (Lord of a thousand things) of Umuoforolor Nkwerre in the present Nkwere Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Nze Anyiam was himself an accomplished entrepreneur of his time.
In the years that followed he became primarily engaged in philosophical studies, research and the teaching of what he termed “the Path to Self-Mastery and Conscious Unity with Divine Intelligence”. It was during this period of his earthly sojourn that he founded the West African Academy of Sciences, which was essentially a network of “truth seekers” who subscribed to his quest to study “the human being as a manifestation of Divine Intelligence”.
His enquiry and attendant experiences culminated in his development of the concept of “a Holistic Approach to Human Existence and Development’’, which has been recognized as "a viable philosophy for development”. Anyiam-Osigwe’s contributions to philosophical inquiry have gained significant recognition. A major development in this regard is the collaborative effort between the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, its affiliate, the Africa Institute of Leadership, Research and Development, based in South Africa and the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan. The goal of this collaborative initiative is to employ the original thoughts of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe for the construction of a coherent and plausible development philosophy that will serve as a viable foundation for socio-political and economic reconstruction and sustainable development in Nigeria and other developing societies.
To achieve this goal, the collaborators have embarked upon: An exposition of the views of Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe on Development Philosophy. An analysis of his philosophical positions to see how best to situate them within the sub-disciplines of Philosophy.
The organization of his original writings in a manner that would render them more accessible for more productive philosophical scrutiny. A thematic presentation of his views in a way that they can serve as raw materials from which contemporary African philosophers can draw both inspiration and resources for further philosophical inquiry.
It is in furtherance of these goals that The Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation in conjunction with the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan as well as the Africa Institute for Leadership, Research and Development organise a bienniel international conference on the Development Philosophy of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, with the broad theme, A Holistic Approach to Human Existence and Development.
In acknowledgement of his efforts to the development of Philosophy, the Nigerian Philosophical Association, on the 23rd of October 2012, posthumously honoured Anyiam-Osigwe with the distinguished Odera Oruka Award for Sage Philosophy.
