Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra was on Oct. 11 agog with many
\ncultural activities as its traditional ruler, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred
\nAchebe celebrated his 18th Ofala Festival.<\/p>\n
The festival was preceded on Oct. 5, with Onitsha City Marathon and on
\nOct. 9, an Art Exhibition began; on Oct. 10 a youth carnival took the
\ncentre stage.<\/p>\n
The carnival depicted the different cultural heritage of the community
\nas well as those of settler communities with the town.<\/p>\n
The event was also used to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the
\ncommunity.
\nSpeaking during the ceremony, Igwe Achebe who noted that the annual
\nevent was aimed at appreciating God for his protection throughout the
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He prayed for peace, unity and progress of Onitsha in particular and the
\nnation at large.<\/p>\n
Igwe Achebe commended Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for all his
\npeople-oriented programmes and policies, especially his effective
\nsecurity, educational and agric development initiative had yielded
\npositive dividends to the people of the ancient kingdom.<\/p>\n
In an interview, Onowu Onitsha, Chief Joseph Okey Ononye, said Ndi Ichie
\nwere solidly in support of the event and prayed God to grant Igwe Achebe
\nmore wisdom to lead his people.<\/p>\n
He described Igwe Achebe as a Man with heart of Gold and enjoined called
\nNdi Onitsha to remain committed and supportive to the throne in the
\ninterest of the Ndi Onitsha.<\/p>\n
According to Ajie Ukadiugwu, Chief Peter Osita Adibuah, a retired
\ncommissioner of police, Onitsha Ofala was one of the highest festivals
\nin Igboland.<\/p>\n
He urged Ndi Igbo not to allow their rich cultural heritage to wane.<\/p>\n
President-General of Onitsha, Sir Chike Ekweogwu, said Ofala was a
\nyearly activity and an opportunity that people used to pay homage to
\ntheir Igwe by thanking him for his good works.<\/p>\n
He prayed God to grant all their invited guests journey mercies to and
\nfro.<\/p>\n
President, Agbalanze, Nnabuenyi Uchenna Mbanefo, enjoined the people of
\nthe community to be law-abiding, in addition to respecting constituted
\nauthority.<\/p>\n
He thanked God for success of the event, urging members of the community
\nto become apostles of peace and love.<\/p>\n
Member representing Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD),
\nAbuja, Mrs Olive Onono said they were in Onitsha to set up Complaint
\nDesk, because of there were many pensioners from Onitsha community.<\/p>\n
“Our coming will also help pensioners who missed the nationwide
\nverification to come for theirs,\u2019\u2019 she emphasised.<\/p>\n
She noted that in all communities in Igboland, I think Onitsha has more
\nof pensioners than those of other communities; that is the reason for
\nalways coming to the Ofala.<\/p>\n
Onitsha North Health Educator, Mrs Ogochukwu Mmaduabu said that Ofala
\ngives them opportunity to come and sensitise and mobilise people on
\nfamily planning.<\/p>\n
Dignitaries at the occasion are Anambra State Deputy Governor Dr Nkem
\nOkeke, minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, who
\nrepresented President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Information Lai
\nMohammed, Minister of State, Environment, Ms Sharon Ikeazor, and
\ntraditional rulers from different communities in Anambra and beyond.<\/p>\n
Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra was on Oct. 11 agog with many cultural activities as its traditional ruler, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe celebrated his 18th Ofala Festival. The festival…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n