The Nation Newspaper

Tag: feast

  • Nigerian women converge on Lagos for love feast, thanksgiving

    Women from within and outside Nigeria as well as their husbands are currently gathering at the Faithful Women Intercessory and Interdenominational Ministry (FWIIM) auditorium, Lagos, for this year’s annual thanksgiving and love feast.

    The week-long event started on November 19 with the climax expected on 24 November.

    The annual thanksgiving coincides with the 19th anniversary of the founding of the celebrated women interdenominational Christian Evangelical group with focus on the well-being of families.

    The celebration, according to the General Overseer of the ministry, Pastor Comfort Luwei, is “for our various families to thank God for all His riches in glory, physically and spiritually, all through the year. I do not need to be reminded to count God’s blessings one by one because that is what we are doing”.

    He added: “As you and I know, the Lord can’t provide for us and still thank himself for all His goodness to us. It is our duty to return to Him in thanksgiving, praise and worship.  “Thanksgiving is not a new thing to the world as the world sets out a day to thank God before the end of the year. You can imagine how the children feel about us when we return home to them with gifts. It is the same way God feels when we shower Him gifts and thanks. The guest speaker on the grand finale is Bishop Richard Osuagwu.”

    She also said Faithful Women 2019 calendar will be unveiled at the occasion.

    The cleric added that guests are expected from Benin, Togo, Ghana as well as other West African countries.

    The Chairperson of the Organising Committee Mrs. Eucharia Ekweanua said: “Faithful Women members as well as our guests are promised the best in spiritual entertainment through drama, dances, praise and worship combined with ministration to the glory of God for a full week. The weekdays are dedicated to the five women groups in the ministry, including Deborah, Dorcas, Esther, Abigail and Jacobed.”

    Also, the Senior Pastor of Hephsibah Amazing Grace Warri, Pastor Uche Oluleye Jonah, who stormed Lagos with her crew, said: “It is a good thing to thank the Lord and show appreciation to God for all the goodies He showers on humanity all the time. Can humanity ever thank God enough? Thanksgiving is the right of God.”

     

  • Community rallies at yam feast

    Community rallies at yam feast

    Mbaise, a community in Imo State, relishes unity at a memorable New Yam festival, OKODILI NDIDI reports

    It is not just a tuber to be dug up, roasted or boiled and eaten. There is quite a feast when the first yam is eaten, signalling the onset of the harvest season. Residents gather, sporting their best clothing. Cultural troupes showcase their skills. Tourists pour in to witness the feast. The traditional ruler, surrounded by dignitaries, reaches  for a knife and slices it through the roasted tuber, and the crowd roars in applause. That was the atmosphere at Mbaise in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State during this year’s edition of Iri ji, the new yam festival.

    The festival, reputed to be one of the foremost tourist attractions in the state, invoked fond memories of greatness through hard work. A man is considered to be wealthy only when he can feed his family all year round and still has a barn full of yams, the king of crops.

    At this year’s edition in Mbaise, hospitality, friendship and industry were on display as visitors were treated to uncommon scenes, including the royal dances and the traditional cutting of the roasted yam.

    The traditional rulers equally added colour and glamour to the event with their unique dresses and sundry dance steps. It was indeed a time to relish.

    At the event, great farmers proudly displayed their prize yams, some of them so big that one could wonder if they were actually dug out from the earth or produced by a craftsman.

    Not just in Mbaise nation but in the entire Igboland, new yam festival or ‘Iri Ji’ as it is called, is one of the most significant and popular traditions. It is celebrated at the beginning of every harvest season to thank the gods of the land for blessing the people with a bountiful harvest and to mark the beginning of another farming season.

    In Igbo land, new yams are not eaten especially by titled men until the new yam festival has been celebrated as a mark of respect for the crop that is regarded as the king of all crops in Igboland, which can only be cultivated by men.

    Celebrated in the time of plenty, as the harvest season is known,  the New Yam Festival is associated with heavy eating and drinking. Friends and visitors are lavishly entertained with various yam delicacies like pounded yam, yam porridge and roasted yam eaten with vegetable soup and red palm oil and smoked fish.

    In the past, it was a time great farmers with large barns of yam were recognised and rewarded with traditional titles.  Nowadays, New Yam Festivals are no more the exclusive reserve of great yam farmers. It has become socio-cultural event where the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people is showcased.

    One of the greatest yam farmers, Ezeji Felix Onwere, attributed this year’s rich harvest to the benevolence of God who ensured that the elements were in farmers’ favour. He noted that yam farming is one of the most intricate aspects of farming.

    He said that Imo State has the potential of producing yam for the consumption of the entire country and for export.

    “Imo State,” he said, “has been known for farming and we have the capacity to produce enough yams for the entire country and for export purposes. You can see the sizes of the yams on display today that tells you what we can do. But we need the support of the state government to enable us go into large scale farming.”

    The Iri Ji Mbaise has continued to gain national and international recognition and sponsorship, an indication that when properly harnessed, the festival could boost the state’s tourism sector.

    Receiving the sponsors of this year’s edition Grand Oak Ltd, makers of Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps, in his palace at Obohia, the chairman of the Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers Eze Chidume Okoro thanked God for a successful and bountiful farming season.

    The monarch noted that the iri ji Mbaise festival is a cultural heritage of the people, which has been faithfully observed from generation to generation, adding that it was a time set aside to appreciate God for blessing the people with bountiful harvest.

    He seized the opportunity to commend the state government for encouraging farming through its numerous agricultural policies, especially the grants given to farmers for palm cultivation, adding that if the agricultural policies of the present administration are sustained, it would guarantee food security and prosperity for the state.

    The traditional ruler further thanked the state governor for the massive infrastructure development in the state, especially the flag-off of the Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Campus of Imo State University and the free education programme, which he noted benefitted the people of the state.

    Commenting on the contributions of the sponsors to the development of the annual festival, Eze Okoro, noted that the Seaman’s brand has stood out among the lot and has been consistent with its support in the last ten years.

    He said, “The Seaman’s brand has added immense value to the iri ji Mbaise festival through sponsorship and we are most grateful to the brand. In Mbaise, we don’t just see the Seaman as just a drink, it has a history with our people and it is part of our culture. For

    example there is this belief among our people that when we pray with the Seaman’s schnapps our ancestors will answer, so it is the drink of the spirit and we use it in all our traditional activities”.

    The state government while commending the good people of Mbaise for preserving the cultural heritage of Ndi Igbo, assured of government’s decision to improve on infrastructure in the area.

    Governor, Rochas Okorocha, represented at the festival by his deputy, Eze Madumere, Governor of Imo shortly after performing the traditional cutting of yam,  “Iwa Ji”, urged the people to continue to use the iri iji festival as a tool to unite the people and revive farming in the state.

    He described the iri ji festival as the height of the celebration of Igbo culture, which he said is universal in every Igbo community, adding that “yam remains the chief crop of Igbo land and mainstay of agriculture in the traditional Igbo society and it is worthy of celebration”.

    Madumere noted that the Iri Ji festival is a symbol of the enterprise spirit of the Igbo man.

    He also asserted that development of agriculture is one of the measures taken by the state government towards the diversification of economy.

    Speaking further, he revealed Governor Okorocha has directed that construction work will begin on some of the roads as soon as the rains are over. He also asserted that academic activities will soon begin in Mbaise-Ngor-Okpala Campus of Imo State University.

    It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha had promised to build Campus of Imo State University in Mbaise-Ngor-Okpala axis as proposed under the administration of late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, which became a mere political tool but was begun and 80 percent near completion by the Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission Government.

    He also used the opportunity to call for the support of the good people of Mbaise Nation, saying that Rescue Mission Government’s strength does not lie on force and might but on the love, cooperation and massive support it enjoys from the people including the people of Mbaise Nation.

    The high points of the event were the visit to the barn and “Iwa Ji and Iri Ji” ceremonies, which afforded the people of Mbaise and other guests to appreciate Mbaise Nation by making donations for the execution of some of the community projects.

     

  • A feast dampened by cash crunch

    A feast dampened by cash crunch

    Residents who wanted to celebrate Sallah outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were held back by cash constraints, reports GRACE OBIKE

    They wanted to celebrate the end of the Ramadan fast in their hometowns in the Northeast. Boko Haram is on the back foot, and it would have been a great idea to see their homes again and relish the return of peace there. It was not to be. Money was such a big obstacle that much as they wanted to travel for the feast, they could not. People travelling to other parts of the country during the period had similar challenges.

    Usually, Abuja is empty during the holidays and full again thereafter. But in the past few years, more people have been streaming into the city from the Northeast and other parts terrorised by the Islamist sect. However, with the weakening of the group, life is returning to the northern flank, with residents celebrating the Eid el-Fitri in peace. That was why many Abuja residents, especially those who hail from the region, wanted to travel home for the feast. Cash crunch stood in their way.

    Most motor parks in Abuja lacked the level of activities that were always associated with them during the holidays. The Utako motor park is an example. From there, people travel to virtually every part of the country. But during the Sallah holiday, it was a shadow of itself. Drivers complained of low patronage, while those who were bent on travelling, pleaded for fares so low the transporters could not accept.

    Secretary, Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Utako branch, Isaac Ishola explained that this year’s turn up of travellers was low because the economy is affecting everyone.

    “We definitely had the lowest turn-up of passengers this year; the present economy is affecting everyone mostly, we the drivers with the current fuel hike and the fact that we don’t have passengers travelling; it is making us suffer.

    “The problem with this country is that our leaders are always in a hurry to create laws that do not favour the poor man. They need to learn to implement such ideas gradually because the way they are presently going about things, they are simply increasing the hardship of Nigerians,” he said.

    Saadu Abubakar, a driver that plies Abuja to Jos route complained bitterly of how the lack of passengers was making them idle away at the park instead of working.

    “During this time last year, I would travel to Jos, return and go back for another trip before the day ends but now, I will be lucky if I can get enough passengers to make a trip.” he lamented. “There are no passengers this year. If you had come here last year, you will not meet any vehicle at the park at this time of the day but look at it, the car is filled with vehicles in the park with no passengers and no money.”

    A shop owner at the park, James Julius, who also attributed the low volume of passengers to the economic downturn, said that most passengers now prefer standing on the road and waiting for vehicles which they believe are cheaper than going into the parks where they are required to pay more.

    He said, “People are complaining of money, transport fare was not increased, it has not been increased since the last hike that followed the fuel price increase but drivers in this park are complaining of no passengers; they complain that when they go to some of these states, they don’t get passengers to drive back with and end up coming back empty.

    “One of our drivers that went to Sokoto for the last three days is not yet back because no passengers and most of the passengers that come here spend time begging for a reduction in the fare that is not even enough in the first place.”

    One of the passengers travelling to Zamfara, Isa Yusuf, complained of being at the park for hours due to lack of passengers.

    “I have been here since morning; there are no passengers and these drivers will not move until the car is filled up. I came to the park early so that I can arrive Zamfara early but now I might end up arriving home late due to the delay.”

    Most of the Eid observers that stayed back to celebrate the holiday in Abuja decided to take take their families out to most of the parks around town. The Jabi Lake Park, for instance, was packed with families and traders on hand to take advantage of the huge stream of people. Children had a field day playing the available games and some with money took fun trips on the boat rides around the lake.

    Activities at the Monalisa Amusement Park, Millennium Parks, Magic Land Amusement Park, the zoo, shopping malls and cinemas around town were jammed with families trying to give their children a good time.

    A parent of three having a picnic at the Jabi lake with her family, Aisha Mustapha explained that they could not travel for the holidays but decided to take the children out to make up for it.

    “Things are difficult, and these days, we can’t all do most of the things we usually did like travelling back and forth for the holidays, so we brought the children out to have fun and enjoy themselves.”

     

  • Soccer feast at UNIBEN

    The male and female teams of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have won the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup in the Inter-faculty Soccer Tournament. SUNNY IBEH Jr. (400-Level History) reports.

    Activities at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) literally moved to the Sport Complex  last week, as students participated in the Inter-faculty Soccer Tournament. It was another edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup, which involved male and female teams from all the 15 faculties.

    The contest started from the preliminary stages where the teams struggled for points to qualify for knockout. At the end of the knockout, two teams in each of the categories qualified for the final.

    In the female category, faculties of Arts and Education teams made it to the finals; the male category, faculties of Arts and Life Sciences battled for the trophy.

    The final matches started at 11am at the Faculty of Education football pitch. The atmosphere was colourful as the field was filled by supporters of the contesting teams. The female teams opened the match, which was a contest between the defending champion, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Arts.

    The game started on a mild tempo, with both teams taking possessions of the ball and exhibiting confidence. The tempo, however, changed 10 minutes after the match started. Juliet Chinwuba of the Faculty of Arts scored, disrupting the opponent’s defence to place the ball into the net. After regulation time, the female match ended 1-0 in favour of the Faculty of Arts.

    The final of the male category started immediately after the women’s game. The Samba Boys of the Faculty of Arts and the Red Devils of the Faculty of Life Sciences jostled for the trophy.

    Twenty minutes into the match, Oghenero Prince of the Samba Boys fell in the Box 18 after a hard tackle from the opponent’s defender. This resulted in a penalty kick, which led to the first goal against the Red Devils.

    The tempo of the game changed and the atmosphere became tense, as the Faculty of Life Sciences strove to equalise. The Red Devils’ hope was dashed when its player missed a penalty kick in the 86th minute of the game. The game ended 1-0, with the Samba Boys beating the Red Devils.

    The Faculty of Arts students literally shut down the field after its two teams won the male and female categories. The students mocked their colleagues from other faculties, declaring themselves as “unbeatable champions”.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Faraday Orunwense congratulated the winners and praised the defeated teams for their courage and sportsmanship. He decorated the players with medals, after which he presented trophies to the Faculty of Arts teams.

    Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Leo Otoide, described the feat as “double victory”,  saying his faculty’s male and female teams made history by winning the two trophies at the same time. The professor of Diplomatic History said: “I am happy because my faculty teams’ victory is my victory. As we all know it is the first of its kind in the history of the university. I commend all the players and staff of our great faculty for making us proud.”

    President of Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA), Sunday Iroegbu, could not conceal his joy on the feat achieved by the faculty’s football teams. He said: “This shows both male and female students of our faculty as champions. We have set a record that will be hard to beat by any faculty. We will remain unbeatable champions in future tournaments.”

    Captain of the Faculty of Arts female team Awele Nwanze was the highest goal scorer in the competition. She dedicated the trophy to God, who, she said, endowed her with soccer talent.

    She said: “I am happy we won the trophy at last. I am dedicating the achievement to God for giving me this exceptional soccer talent.”

     

  • Enugwu-Ukwu aglow at feast

    Enugwu-Ukwu aglow at feast

    The Obu Umunri Palace venue at Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu glowed with dazzling colours as the crème de la crème of the society mingled. The about 3000-capacity Umunri Palace was filled to capacity.

    The occasion was the 58th Igu Aro of Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and the fifth of their monarch, His Majesty, Igwe Sir Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh; the Okpalanakana-Ukabia Nri IV.

    The annual event affords the people of the community the opportunity to assess the past year and bless the New Year, even as their prominent sons who have contributed to the growth and development of the town and the society at large are honoured with chieftaincy titles. The planning of the event was coordinated by some members of the Igwe’s cabinet including Chief Dennis Anekwe, Omenyi, the Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Clem Nwafor, Odu, the Deputy Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Frank Nwokike, Ugogbuzuo, the Cabinet Secretary, Chief Tony Okeke, Akalanri, the Defence Minister, Senator Chief I.G. Abana, Ochikota, the Special Adviser on International Affairs, Chief Mike Nkwoji, Okpataozuora, the Special Adviser on Culture and Traditional Matters and Chief Hero Okoye, Udonri, the Treasurer.

    First was the Mmanwu Festival which was the display of the various masquerades from the 18 villages of Enugwu-Ukwu, and others from the visiting communities, succeeded by visit of the monarch to the town’s historical sites, namely: Obu Okpalanakana located at Uruekwo village, believed to be the ancestral home of Nri, the founder of Enugwu-Ukwu; and Mkpume Onyilienyi which is Nri’s shrine. This was followed by the 2nd Umunri Colloquium lecture series. At the occasion chaired by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr Nkem Okeke, former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji spoke on the theme: Anyukoo Nwamili Onu: Sustainable Development of Ndi-Igbo in the 21st Century as the keynote speaker. The 2016 Igu Aro which was organised in partnership with MTN Nigeria, saw many people winning fantastic prizes including microwave oven, standing fans and others from the telecommunication giant at the venue.

    The Iguaro event started with presentation of kolanuts to the Igwe by the Otu Odueze, wives of cabinet members led by Ocheze Lady Dorothy Ekpeh, the Igwe’s wife. The Igwe then poured libation and called on the spirit of Nri the father of Umunri Clan-Enugwu Ukwu, Nawfia, Enugwu Agidi and Agu Ukwu  and many other towns with Umunri traits to bless his people and provide for them in the New Year. He distributed Kolanuts to each of the 18 constituent villages in Enugwu Ukwu, he predicted that contrary to the economic hardship that many people expect the country will go through in the New Year the nation will rather experience hardship, abundance and prosperity, for after the rain comes sunshine. He traced the history of Nri people to Eri the son of Gad one of the twelve tribes of Israel who was said to have travelled from Egypt and settled at the confluence of Ezu/Omambala River.

    The Igwe thanked God for blessing the community in the past year and prayed for bigger packages in the New Year. He also thanked his subjects for their support and contributions to the growth of the community while urging them to keep maintaining the peace of the town. He specially appreciated the efforts of a prominent indigene of the town Sir Chris Okoye, Obunakueze, a former President General of the town Union in attracting MTN Nigeria to co-sponsor the event. He also expressed deep gratitude to the communications giant for encouraging the cultural and traditional activities of its host country.

    The first class monarch also cautioned the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo to put its house in order and stop the “cacophony of disgrace they heap on us by their constant disagreements and altercations,” insisting that “A national leader for the Igbo is overdue. Igbo should install or recognize someone as our national leader who is to speak for us. The scenario where every Igbo sees himself as the mouthpiece of the Igbo should stop. It breeds indiscipline and in the end, nothing is achieved.”

    He expressed sadness over the continued subjugation of the Igbo by successive Federal Governments; cautioning that “the marginalization of Igbo people at the Federal level must seize so that the nation under Buhari will know peace and enjoy more peace. If some states are not treated at par with others for the single reason that they did not vote for him, the way forward is to treat them well to enable them vote for him in the next election.”

    Apparently referring to the appointment of the former Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola who heads three “biggest” ministries, the monarch regretted that “In Nigeria where there is overflow of manpower, we cannot manufacture overnight a superhuman to handle three biggest Ministries of Power, Works and Housing. Inefficiency will set in. Nepotism will surface and corrode whatever might be the intention. Let the president not kill this good man with too much work when Nigeria has a surfeit of manpower.”

    He requested the Anambra State Government to start work on the Enugwu Ukwu Bye-pass, to ease traffic on the old road.

     

  • Lisabi Festival: A unifying feast

    Lisabi Festival: A unifying feast

    The Alake Palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was agog with lots of cultural activities. This year’s celebration of Lisabi Festival drew crowds from home and abroad, TAIWO ABIODUN reports.

    The  guns boomed intermittently, shaking  the whole environment and announcing  that the Hunters had come to celebrate. Men and women gorgeously dressed danced and sang in excitement.

    Banners hung on the walls. Stickers of various sizes graced the seats bearing diverse names of groups and titles of those who had come to mark the celebration. Some read: “the Baales, Ogbonis”, “Market Women”, “Chiefs”, “Baloguns” and more.

    It was the day the Egba people all trooped out to celebrate their most honoured festival- Lisabi and all roads led to the Alake’s Palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

    For the Egba people, this year’s Lisabi festival, which was in its 29th edition, is one of the major festivals that unites them, irrespective of their party affiliations, religious convictions and political differences. They all gathered to celebrate their legend, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala.

    The festival is a yearly event to honour their progenitor, Lisabi, a warrior, who fought and rescued them from oppression in the 18th Century. During the festival, Egba indigenes at home and in the Diaspora, usually remember and celebrate his legacies.

    And to celebrate him, hunters, in excitement, shot sporadically into the air. Their shooting added spice to the celebration. The occasion was interesting as it gave the opportunity to showcase various types of Yoruba woven clothes, styles, and caps as most of them were in white flowing  agbada.

    Juju maestro, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi,  thrilled the crowd. As he sang the praise of ‘Lisabi  Agbongbo Akala’,  they danced, ate and drank assorted wines.

    The weeklong festival started with the booming of guns at the legendary Olumo Rock to be followed by the cleaning of the palace by the youths. Football competition also formed part of the festival at the late MKO Abiola Stadium. Gifts and scholarships were distributed.

    The festival was attended by the governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who doubled as the chief host, royal fathers such as the Osinle of Oke Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso;  Olowu of Owu Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu;  Olubara of Ibara and herbalists, among others.

     

    Long list of obeisance

    At the grand finale were over 20, 000 indigenes and spectators thronged the place from far and near to watch the great event. Gifts were offered, while market women brought all kinds of fruits, and raw foodstuff to honour the king.

    Here the Baales came to pay homage irrespective to their age- they all prostrated

    Groups wer called upon to greet the monarch. As they all went up to the podium to prostrate for the king, one could see different  Yoruba styles of caps, the Ogbonis with their paraphernalia, the Baales, Baloguns, among others.

    Again, the hunters had a field day. The whole place vibrated to its foundation and the sky went in smoke as they shot into the air.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga said: “Today,  Lisabi Festival is a vivid reminder of these heroic exploits, which over the years, have shaped Egba ethos and values. These values, which include  hard work, honesty, love, patriotism, selflessness, integrity and commitment  are legacies being kept alive for posterity by the Egba. I heartily celebrate with all Egba sons and daughters on the occasion of this year’s Lisabi Festival, which is the 29th edition and the fourth to be sponsored by Globacom.  Lisabi Festival has been used as a rallying point to articulate issues germane to the development of Egbaland  and it’s good people.”

    The Alake, who was highly elated, praised the people, urging them to love one another. Praying for the hero of the year’s family members, Ogunbona, and for the community members, the Alake said: “The Egbas are always first in everything in Nigeria with very healthy rivalries. We should honour our people, who contributed to our community. We honour those alive too, it is not until one dies or after the demise of a hero before he is honoured. “

    The arrival of Senator Amosu added colour to the day’s festival as he was hailed to high heavens while prayers were rained on him and the place almost turned into a political campaign rally as his supporters went into frenzy.

    The Agbaakin of Egbaland, who was the  Chairman of Lisabi Committee said: “Twenty-nine years ago when the founding fathers of Lisabi festival were planning the first edition, the idea of collective responsibility featured prominently. Every Egba forebears sung and unsung, held religiously to their collective responsibility to liberate Egbas from the shackles of the Oloyos and moved through thick and thin during which many lives were lost, up to the new settlement to Abeokuta we are proud of  now. That period witnessed high level demonstration of sincere affection for the peaceful co- existence of the Egbas by those people who had to take decisions that left no room for any mistake , at the risk of their own lives”

    High Chief Kunle Shoyoye, the Aro of Ilawo of Egbaland, was highly elated and praised not only the indigenes but also the Alake of Egbaland, “who has been consistently marking the festival and remembering our heroes”. “This festival  is interesting and we love it  for  it showcase our culture, not only this giving out awards and honoring people by the Egbas should be emulated and not only this one could see that unity is gradually coming to Yorubaland  generally and this is best for the Alake of Egbaland,” he said.

    Pa Adebayo Sofolahan said he was so much interested in the festival more than anybody. ” We  always celebrate  Hero of the year  which shows how  important a family is, how important an individual is in the town. It also shows that  people are watching you and your contributions  from youth.  It showed what you have done so far and when they look at everything together then they pick you as a hero,” he said.

     

    The making of a hero

    While celebrating the annual festival, each year a hero of the year is selected from a family in Egba as the “hero of the town for the year”. This year’s anniversary fell on the Agboketoyinbo’s family in Ikija, Abeokuta. Balogun Ogunbona Mosunleka Agboketoyinbo was  honoured because  of his predecessor’s contribution to Egbaland.

    The Alake of Egbaland was there to honour the family. He praised the family for the roles their forefather played as a brave man, who confronted the whites in Egbaland. A giant picture of the monarch was presented to him by the family in appreciation of the Alake.

    According to history, he was a prince-turned warlord with uncommon patriotism for his fatherland. He was said to have died in active service of the Egba nation at Olokemeji on the 18th of June, 1861 during the Ibadan/Ijaiye War. He had 26 wives all blessed with children.

     

    Agboketoyinbo mini museum

    On a visit to the family’s compound, there is a mini museum. Kept in the museum are his costumes and instruments of war. Among them are his ‘ Special Hat’, his Dane guns and fire arms. He reputed as the  first to use such fire arms between 1821 and 1825. Also, placed in the museum are his bag (a gift from the whites), containing charms, his cap which he was fond of wearing. It was said the leather bag soon became his most precious property. He was accused of not appreciating the traditional Yoruba cap and other paraphernalia of office because his cap was also not locally made. A play was performed by some artistes in remembrance of the historical Agboketoyinbo.

     

    The visit to Olumo Rock

    The third day, the Oba Alake visited the Olumo Rock with some Obas and chiefs and selected people. They went to the top of the rock to offer prayers and rent the Egba anthem.

    The grand finale saw the Alake going to the bush, which according to observers, only meant for very few and initiated people. According to an indigene, they went up there to pray to the gods, and this is compulsory.

  • Community rallies youths at feast

    Community rallies youths at feast

    It was much more than merrymaking at the end of the year. The most revered masquerades were about. The teeming crowd kicked up clouds of late December dust. Muscular, bare-chested cultural dancers thrilled with as much good music as breathtaking foot work. Local delicacies were also abundant. Yet, the Item Cultural Day was not just about eating and drinking. Nor of meeting dignitaries who, though, were not in short supply.

    At the Jane Oteh Mini-Stadium, Amaokwe Item, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, where the event held on December 30, Item community evaluated its progress over 12 months, addressed challenges and tired to peer into the future. Perhaps, the best part was the focus on youth development, on which the feast theme was based.

    Not only indigenous people turned up. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was honoured on the day, as was host state Deputy Governor Chief Emeka Ananaba.

    The day provided the opportunity not only to showcase a rich cultural heritage, but also for the people to take stock of their progress in the outgoing year, come to terms with their challenges, and, perhaps, proffer solutions.

    The people saw huge gaps in growing their youths, and moved to fill them. For instance, it was noted that the community was not leveraging on the potentials of youths due to their lack of skills. How to correct this? Apart from their academic qualifications, Item people made a case for helping youths to acquire skills and become entrepreneurs. This will enable them to feed themselves and their families, employ indigenous people and develop their land.

    Item natives who distinguished themselves were honoured. Apart from Dr. Alex Otti, former Managing Director, Diamond Bank, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia, Rear Adimral Emeraku Ijioma (rtd), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former Deputy General Manage,r Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) and Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa were equally decorated for outstanding service.

    The performance from various traditional dance groups, the entrance of Item masquerades into the venue of the event, shooting of fireworks at the event, made it even more interesting.

    One of the unique things about the event was that it provided visitors the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the community and as well serve as a boost to the economic life of the people of the area as volume of trade increased by over 50% per cent. For instance, the reporter visited one of the local delicacy outlets with a view to sampling one. Sorry, the attendants said, everything has been eaten up. The reporter left disappointed.

    The suya spot and bars were agog as connoisseurs inundated attendants with demands.

    Many indigenous Item people  especially those from the Diaspora who spoke with the reporter, said that the event offered them the opportunity to meet their loved ones and also appreciate their culture which they hoped to pass on to the next generation.

    Commending the organisers for organising the programme and  choosing the theme: Youth as Enduring Asset in Community Development, they expressed the hope that the programme would be sustained and youth activities incorporated to make it more colourful and attractive.

    In his address, the President General of Item Development Association (IDA), Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha said the programme, which holds every December 30 since its inception in 2007, serves as a unique platform for the community to celebrate God’s goodness in the affairs of Item people in the outgoing year. Equally important was the imperatives of taking stock and ascertain the progress the community made in the outgoing year as well as plan for the New Year.

    Onuoha thanking Governor Theodore Orji for getting contractors back to site to complete the Akanu and Okai Item roads. He also  lauded the efforts and contributions of their sons and daughters who used their positions to attract development to the community.

    The cleric described the community as one of the most peaceful in Abia State and promised that they will continue to work with the police and other security agencies to maintain peace in the community appealing to well spirited individuals to assist the officers and men of the police force in the area to work optimally by providing them with logistics.

    He also used the opportunity to appeal to Governor Orji to reconstruct the Alayi-Item-Nkporo roads as a parting gift to the community,  recalling that many parts of the road especially the Amukabi, Amaokwe Item and Iyechi-Ugwu School Amaeke sections have failed.

    The Methodist Bishop also called on the federal government to provide the community with potable water, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure the speedy completion of the Amaokwe-Akanu-Okai and Okoko road projects.

    On the award to be given to some individuals the IDA president said “I must draw the attention of the awardees of today, that IDA as a cultural and non-political organisation; her awards are designed to recognize tangible and verifiable contributions of the recipients to social and economic progress of our community and Nigeria at large, the ultimate aim being to encourage them to do even more. Most of those honoured under this platform in the past seven years, have always vindicated us their further superlative performance in service to humanity. So we urge all our awardees of today to know that we are throwing them up for greater service to humanity and additional recognition and elevation in future”.

    A guest lecturer, Dr. Emole Oteh in a paper which discussed the youth as an enduring asset to community development, described them as the most vibrant segment of every population with vast potentials that need to be harnessed. He said that by getting them involved in developmental efforts in the community, they will contribute meaningfully towards attaining the goals and aspirations of the community.

    Oteh identified some of the challenges facing the participation of youths in community development efforts in Nigeria to include insufficient training, lack of encouragement by chiefs and elders of the community, intermittent change of government and selfishness among youth leaders opined “As a way forward, it is hereby suggested that adequate awareness programmes should be put in place to encourage youths participate more in community development projects.

    “Outside the formal educational system, the youths should be encouraged and assisted to acquire skills that will enable them to be self-reliant. This could take the form of sponsoring them to undergo training in various vocations, with the view to equipping them to become entrepreneurs. Their energy should be channeled into productive ventures. They should not be abused. Parents should under no circumstance allow their children to be used as thugs by politicians seeking elective posts”.

    In his remarks, former MD of Diamond Bank thanked the Item community for deeming it to recognize them, stressing that the recognition would spur him and others to do more in their different capacities.

    Otti however used the opportunity to urge youths in the state and the country at large to reject being used to cause breach of peace or political thugs, reminding them that as leaders of tomorrow and ambassadors of their various homes, they should be conscious of their actions and avoid anything that would tarnish the image of their families, communities and country at large.

    He also prayed that 2015 elections in the state and country would be fruitful.

  • Feast of soccer at NIJ

    In what could be termed a harvest of goals, the National Diploma (ND) II team has thrashed their senior colleagues in Higher National Diploma (HND) in a football contest organised by the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos.

    The match, which was the grand finale of the NIJ Inter-level Soccer Competition, ended 9-0 in favour of ND students.

    Students abandoned lectures to watch the match, which was played on the field at the Institute. A few minutes into the match, Moses Isikalu, scored the first goal, leaving the opponent disorganised. In quick succession, the HND team conceded goals without being able to return one.

    Other scorers for the ND II team are Shina Omolola, Samuel Paul, and Jide Idris.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the captain of the ND II team, Moses Isikalu, hailed his team, saying they won the match because of team play and co-operation.

    He said: “No one claims credit for the victory, but the co-operation within the team mates us to win the match. The team played well, but we had more chances in the first 45 minutes. Had we utilised our chances in the first half, we would have scored more goals.”

    The HND II team captain, Ayobami Odunayomi, blamed his team’s loss on lack of co-ordination among the players.

    He said: “We didn’t have strong boys to play the match. It was only two players who were fit; others were called to assist.”

    Odunayomi, however, hailed the ND II team, saying they displayed good skills on the field.

  • A feast to save Arochukwu culture

    A feast to save Arochukwu culture

    A memorable fair has been scheduled for a remarkable community in the region. On December 30, indigenous people of Arochukwu in Abia State will defy their notoriously horrible road to seek a recapture of their fast-eroding culture, SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    The details have been sorted out. The name has been chosen and so has the venue. Everyone is looking forward to the maiden edition of the Arochukwu cultural carnival likened, in impact, to the famous end-of-year Calabar fiesta. Aro natives hope to halt the slide of their culture and begin to recover the glory of a city, which, among others things, once stood out as a formidable slave depot. But, first, they must overcome the impassable Arochukwu-Ohafia Road.

    The road, a federal government project, has been a sore point for as long as the people can remember. It links Abia to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states but despite its importance its users have been left in pains. In the dry season it is very bad; in the wet period it is impassable. The situation has robbed this cultural and tourist haven of revenue, among other things. Many lives have been lost on the road, just as several vehicles have been wrecked there.

    The community’s monarch, Eze Aro Vincent Ogbonnaya Okoro leads the outcry for the redemption of the road. He has drawn the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to the fact that the local contractor handling it has failed to do anything even after being mobilised. Not much has happened to relieve the Aro people but they say they will honour the December 30 carnival if only to save their disappearing culture and, perhaps, even consider what they can also do about the road.

    Arochukwu is about 120km from Umuahia, the Abia State capital, if the road is good. It is the third biggest city in the state after Aba and Umuahia. It shares common boundaries with Ohafia, Akwa Ibom State and some parts of Cross River.

    Apart from the fact that the city has produced great Nigerians such as Nwankwo Kanu, Mazi Sam and Mao Ohuabunwa, among others, it is also noted for its richness in staple foods and artifacts, a cultural value which has enrolled the city as one of the tourist attractions Abia State can boast of.

    The Aro Kingdom has played a great role in the pre- and post-colonial era. Anyone acquainted with Nigerian history will remember  the Aro slave trade route and market.

    The influence of the Aro-Okigbo people in Igbo and Nigeria history was so evident that there is no state in the Southeast and beyond that doesn’t have Aro settlers because the slave era found most Aro people migrating to every part of Nigeria. Wherever they went, they took their culture with them, naturally.

    The Aro Okporoenyi, Aro Ndizuogu, Aro Ikwere, Aro Yoruba, Aro Ngwa, Aro Izombe, Aro Cameroun, Aro Ajalli, Aro Oru, Aro Nkwesi, Aro Ajatakiri, Aro Ndi Ikelionwu and other Aros settled in different parts of  the country.

    However, the city with 19 villages and about 30 different traditional songs and dance steps is now in danger of losing its cultural identity. Some say if nothing is done to urgently salvage the situation, Aro heritage will in no time be swept off by a rampaging Western culture that is gaining popularity and comfort iamong the youth.

    It was based on the established findings that the Aro ancient kingdom was gradually losing its cultural heritage or identity after a careful study, that a concerned group of Aro sons and daughters in partnership with the 19 Ezeogos has agreed to recover the identity of the kingdom and prevent it from going into extinction.

    As part of the activities to mark the maiden edition of the event billed to take place at the Obinkita Square, Arochukwu, the mascot which shall serve as a symbol of the event was unveiled.

    According to the initiator of the carnival, Mr. Ndionyenma Nwankwo, the event will provide the opportunity for the revival of the Aro Kingdom’s culture which was going into oblivion.

    Mr. Nwankwo said that he was worried that the people of the area was losing its cultural values and if not properly checked, will die out  in no time.

    He said that over 3,000 Aros in Diaspora have already endorsed the programme with the backing of the 19 Ezeogos, expressing optimism that the programme will grow rapidly in years to come because of its positive in the community.

    He said, “The Aro carnival is going to restore some of our cultural values that are going into extinction. There were songs that we had in the past that are no more today. The carnival is going to bring them back. Like the Calabar and other notable cultural carnivals, it is going to revamp economic activities in our area as it will encourage our sons and daughters to come home and invest. Aro is a town anyone can come to spend his or her vacations. The carnival is going to attract tourists who will use the period of the festival to explore some of the cultural and historical sites in our place. This is the first edition of the programme and as the event progresses we are going to add values to it.

    “We have a lot of cultural values. We have to keep our culture and also use the opportunity the carnival will provide to impact it on the outside world. It will create job opportunities for the unemployed youths as we expect that many of our sons and daughters will come back to invest in Arochukwu. They will come to build hotels and among others which will in turn provide jobs for our people.

    “We are expecting that over 30 groups will be performing on that day and by the time the event progresses, more groups will be incorporated and probably the number of days for the carnival extended. But we are sticking with the December 30 plan and we believe it is going to be a huge success. We want to be remembered by our generations to come as a people that initiated this project of peace and economic boom for the people of Aro Ancient Kingdom. It is not politically motivated, but to assist our people to reawaken the cultural consciousness of the Aro people which is gradually going into extinction,” he said.

    Ndionyenma informed the audience that after the unveiling exercise, the mascot would be taken to some selected parts of the country to replicate a similar ceremony, notifying the audience that invitations had already been sent out to her sons and daughters in Diaspora and other parts of the country to honour the invitation in numbers.

    Eze Aro Vincent Ogbonnaya Okoro represented by Prince Joshua Kanu Orji after unveiling the mascot urged Aro sons and daughters not to abuse the mascot, but to protect it very well as the mascot serves as a symbol of the Aro Ancient Kingdom.

    He expressed hope that the upcoming event would bring peace, love and new hope to the people of the area and their economic lives.

    Highlights of the event included the unveiling of the mascot by the Eze Aro’s representative, as well as a good dose of entertainment supplied by a cultural group at the event.

  • Feast of soccer at FUTO

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, has organised a soccer competition for all departments of the institution.

    It was gathered that the competition was aimed at promoting extra curricula activities on campus.

    After several knock-out stages, the final match was played penultimate week by Environment Technology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering departments.

    The game ended in a penalty shoot-out with Environmental Technology edging out Electrical and Electronics engineering with seven goals to six goals.

    Prof Asiabaka awarded the sum of one hundred thousand naira to Electrical and Electronics Engineering deprtment while Environmentl Technology got fifty thousand naira.

    Principal officers of the university attended the event including the Registrar, Mr Orje Ishegh-Nor; Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof M. C. Ofoh among others.

    Iorhula Nathaniel, 200-Level, Electrical and electronics department said: “I am very happy, having EEE emerge as the best department in FUTO, in both academics and extra curricula activities”.