Finding community and career connections: Young Igbo adults build a network in metro Detroit

For young Igbo adults building lives in metro Detroit, a professional connection and a familiar cultural tradition can come from the same place.

The Detroit chapter of Umu Igbo Unite (UIU) brings together young adults of Igbo heritage. The Igbo are an ethnic group with roots in southeastern Nigeria. Through cultural gatherings, networking and community service, the chapter helps members connect while maintaining ties to their heritage.

“Umu Igbo Unite is about bringing back the culture of young Igbos, giving them a place to fellowship, connect, network, and grow together,” says Stephen Nwagwu, president of the Detroit chapter.

Nwagwu has watched that simple idea make an impact for young Nigerian immigrants and Nigerian Americans building lives in metro Detroit.

“It’s a very important thing for our people, especially being Igbo and coming from Nigeria,” he says. “Having a community here gives us a foundation where we can learn from one another and keep our cultural preservation moving forward.”

UIU is a national nonprofit dedicated to preserving Igbo culture, connecting the diaspora, supporting entrepreneurship, and driving civic engagement among young Nigerian immigrants and Nigerian Americans. 

For Nwagwu, preserving culture begins with what members do when they come together. He says chapter gatherings often open with the breaking of the kola nut (oji), a traditional Igbo ritual of hospitality and respect. The ceremony connects the act of welcoming people with a practice carried forward from home.

“It’s those little things that make people feel at home, even if they’ve come from somewhere else,” he says. “It keeps that cultural preservation going so that we can pass it down generation to generation as we become older adults.”

Through that shared practice, cultural preservation becomes part of gathering, alongside the conversations and professional connections that bring members together.

Nwagwu points to one member who, he says, first came to the United States on a college soccer scholarship in Indiana before moving to metro Detroit for a master’s degree. According to Nwagwu, the member found career guidance, professional connections, and friendships through UIU Detroit, including connections with local IT professionals in his field.

“He came here looking for community and a way to connect with others who shared his background,” Nwagwu says. “Now he has a multitude of friends, networking opportunities in IT, and people he can call family. UIU gave him a place where he could build both his resume and his social life.”

The chapter holds men’s and women’s fellowship evenings, networking nights, and monthly general membership meetings. Nwagwu says these gatherings give members opportunities to discuss family expectations and identity, share career advice, and build relationships.

UIU Detroit’s “Igbo Market Day” interview series explores the connection between cultural identity and professional ambition. Among its featured guests is Umelo Onyejiaka, founder of DevOps Detroit, which brings tech professionals together through workshops, mentorship, and networking.

Onyejiaka, who grew up in Nigeria, told Voyage Michigan in March that watching his mother run a business taught him resourcefulness and persistence. He also credited his community with instilling a belief that professional success carries a responsibility to others.

“Your culture drives your success,” Onyejiaka says. “If you’re around people with tenacity, it rubs off.”

Through DevOps Detroit, Onyejiaka puts those values into practice by helping others develop skills and professional connections. His sense of responsibility also extends back to Nigeria.

“It’s confidence and the belief that we can succeed no matter what. We must make it happen. We must make a way. Because when we get our money, we try to repatriate. We try to rebuild home,” he says.

UIU Detroit also extends its work beyond its membership. Nwagwu says the executive team has supported a local African restaurant’s grand opening, participated in youth and parent outreach, organized food drives, and supported organizations serving senior citizens across metro Detroit.

“Community is built on community service work,” Nwagwu says. “We are not the biggest team, but we are a strong team. Our main goal is to keep serving, keeping the UIU Detroit name out there, and building real partnerships across metro Detroit.”

For membership inquiries or details on upcoming events, contact the executive board at Detroit@umuigbounite.com or follow them on Instagram @uiu.detroit for updates.

Point of Entry is a series exploring the lived realities and vital contributions of immigrant communities across Southeast Michigan. This is a collaboration with New Michigan Media, supported by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. See more stories from this series here.