Dr. Arinze Onwumelu, popularly known as Dr. Zo, a Nigerian medical professional based in Canada, has voiced his concerns about the financial wisdom of constructing lavish homes in ancestral villages, a common practice among affluent Igbo men.
In a recent statement, Dr. Zo critically assessed the tradition, labeling it an uneconomical choice in the modern era.
“I am Igbo, from the eastern part of the country,” he began, shedding light on this cultural expectation. “Building a huge mansion in the village as a rich Igbo man is a waste of time and a waste of money.”
Dr. Zo highlighted the societal pressures that drive this tradition, explaining: “There is this thing we have in the east that for you to be recognised as an Odogwu (a wealthy man), you must build a big mansion in the village. I did it too. I watched a lot of people this last Christmas go home and open their big mighty mansions in the East, especially. I don’t think other parts of the country have this same concept.”
He expressed skepticism about the economic viability of such investments, urging others to consider alternative options. “Sometimes, I wonder, we the Igbos think we are very smart in terms of economy, but sometimes I wonder the economic value. If I build that house somewhere in Lagos, Abuja, or Port-Harcourt, even Enugu, I would have made over N100 million in the last five years.”
While acknowledging the cultural significance of maintaining a home in one’s village, Dr. Zo encouraged moderation. “I am not saying you should not build a house in the village. What I tell you is what I tell my younger ones: go to the village and just build a small house, 4-bedroom, have a big compound. It’s always good to have something in the village, but it does not have to be a mansion, occupying everywhere with houses. It’s rubbish.”
Drawing from personal experience, he shared the financial challenges associated with maintaining such properties. “What I am saying to you, I did it, my father did it, father’s friends did it, and their kids are struggling today to maintain those houses. I am spending a lot of money to maintain the house I haven’t been in over four years because of things going on in the east—insecurity and stuff. So, what is the economic value? It is just a wrong move.”
Dr. Zo urged younger generations to rethink this practice, emphasizing its long-term drawbacks. “What I am saying today, you will realise it in 25 years. Absolutely no need for those houses. Use that money and put it in better locations that will give you money. This is coming from a mistake that I made. A village mansion is a waste of time and a waste of money.”
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