Ibagwa Nike autonomous community in Enugu State, under the traditional rulership of Igwe Dr. Emmanuel Ugwu, the Eze Okwe 1 of Okwe Kingdom, was agog, as they celebrated their 2017 New Yam Festival, tagged, “New Yam Festival for National Unity”, with pulp and pageantry.
The annual celebration was to show gratitude to Almighty God and also pray for peace and display the rich cultural heritage of the good people of Ibagwa Nike; and as expected, the occasion re-echoed the need for peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups in the country since our strength lies in our diversity.
Igwe Dr. Emmanuel Ugwu used the occasion to confer chieftaincy titles on some notable personalities as well as inducting some respected friends, as approved by the Igwe-in-Council and cabinet members; and the honourees included DIG of Police in charge of Logistics and Planning, Chief Valentine Uzo Ntomchukwu; Chief Dr. Mandy Ernest Okechukwu; Alhaji (Barr.) Kabiru Tanimu; and Chief Nkem Owoh (alias, Osuofia), among others.
In his goodwill message at the occcasion, the Head, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Enugu State Office, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Associate Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, eulogised Igwe Dr. Emmanuel Ugwu and the good people of Ibagwa Nike, for bringing the major tribes in the country together, thus, promoting the culture of national unity, which Nigeria needs most now.
The event attracted traditional rulers and heads of several government agencies across the country, just as the Tiv Community in Enugu State and the Surveyors’ Council of Nigeria presented awards to HRH Igwe (Dr.) Emmanuel Ugwu, as their Grand Patron and for his exceptional detribalised nature in his administration, respectively.
It was grand event, which was culturally spiced by performances of different kinds of masquerades and dancers as guests were well entertained.
Kingsley Ngoka
Corporate Affairs
Enugu State Office