Echiemeze Chizekene Ofili Elected CISA President
The Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA) has elected Echiemeze Chizekene Ofili as its new President. Ofili, a consummate audit, compliance and financial crime management professional, well-grounded in community activism takes over from Iru-Ugegbu Dr. Mrs. Josephine Uzoamaka Aguoji of Anambra State whose tenure expired December 31, 2025. CISA Byelaws stipulates a 2-year rotational presidency among Igbo Speaking states in alphabetical order. Abia and Anambra have had their leadership turns and now it is (Anioma) Delta’s turn. Ofili election has already been ratified by CISA Council of Presidents in line with the organization’s byelaws.
CISA’s new President, hails from Obomkpa Kingdom in Aniocha Local Government Area, Delta State, and will pilot the affairs of this North American apex Igbo organization for the next two years. Echiemeze Ofili who previously held key positions in CISA comes highly and widely recommended. He brings a wealth of professional and community service experience vital for CISA’s continuing growth and advancement to the post. Ofili holds a Master of Science in Economic Crime Management from Utica University, Utica, New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Echiemeze is a seasoned audit and risk manager with professional certifications ranging from internal auditing, fraud examiner and risk management assurance grounded in extensive and real-world experience of over two decades spanning government, financial services, and regulatory environments. Ofili currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Audit at MUFG Bank Ltd., a global corporate and investment bank, with branch offices in Tampa, Florida, United States. In this role, he supports enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and internal audit initiatives within a highly regulated financial environment. He also serves as Treasurer of the Igbo World Assembly (IWA), Secretary General of the Anioma World Assembly (AWA), and Secretary General of the Obomkpa Progressive Union (OPU) America Inc., where he continues to provide leadership in administration, financial stewardship, and strategic planning in support of cultural preservation, community development, and global engagement. Prior to his election as President, Ofili had previously served as Secretary General of the Council of Igbo States in the Americas (CISA) from 2010 to 2013, where he played a key role in organizational governance and coordination across member states. He later served as Financial Secretary of CISA from 2020 to 2025, overseeing financial records and strengthening accountability practices. He is married and is the proud father of three daughters.
In accepting the honor of his election as CISA’s new President, Echiemeze Chizekene Ofili acknowledges CISA position as a top Igbo Diaspora Organization in continental Americas and pledged to lift CISA higher. He thanked CISA membership for the confidence reposed in him and expressed his gratitude to all his predecessors for setting the bar high, pledging to make CISA proud by expanding and strengthening its relations with African Americans and beyond. Earlier, the Chairman of CISA Board of Presidents and Abagana Regent, Onowu Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze congratulated and welcomes the new CISA President and lauded CISA for continuing its long-standing practice of smooth transitions! He also extended CISA heartfelt gratitude to the immediate past President Dr. Mrs. Josephine Aguoji for her accomplishments especially in strengthening CISA global festival in the historic Igbo landing site in St. Simons Island and consolidating the connection between ndi-Igbo America of today and their ancestors whose active resistance against enslavement holds a pride of place in slave resistance history. CISA is thrilled with Ofili as new President and is confident he will continue to keep CISA’s flag flying profoundly to make Ndiigbo proud of his tenure.
Submitted by:
Chief Mathias Mgbeafulu
CISA Director of Media & Publicity
PRESS RELEASE