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 (ncnc), 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.