 The 1930s saw the rise of Igbo unions in the cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt . Later , the Ibo Federal Union ( renamed the Ibo State Union in 1948 ) emerged as an umbrella pan @-@ ethnic organization . Headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe , it was closely associated with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons ( <unk> ) , which he co @-@ founded with Herbert Macaulay . The aim of the organization was the improvement and advancement ( such as in education ) of the Igbo and their indigenous land and included an Igbo " national anthem " with a plan for an Igbo bank . 
