Igwe of Nnewi kingdom

The Nnewi monarchy is a traditional inheritance of the throne based on patrilineality and sonship heredity. In Nnewi the traditional monarch is called the Igwe. The Igwe is born and not made or elected, and the institution of inheritance is the traditional right and primogeniture privilege. The position is neither transferable nor negotiable.

There have been 20 monarchs of Nnewi Kingdom (see List of Monarchy of the Nnewi). A Kingdom of Nnewi was formed around 1498 with the original settlement of Mmaku, the grandfather of Nnewi. The present reigning monarch is Igwe Orizu III is the 20th monarch in the Nnofo Royal lineage.