According to the Umuofian Progress Union (UPU), the cultural issue that is the source of the dilemma being faced by the main character, Okonkwo, is the clash between traditional Igbo values and the encroaching Western culture and colonial administration. The UPU, being a progressive organization, believes in adapting to the changing times, particularly through Western education, to ensure the community's advancement. Okonkwo's dilemma stems from his rigid adherence to the old ways and his inability to reconcile his traditional values with the new influences, which the UPU would likely see as a resistance to necessary progress and adaptation.