All nine villages that make up Item Okpi Ancient Kingdom, in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, will on December 30 celebrate the Item Day 2023 holding at the Jane Egbichi Oteh Mini Stadium, Amaokwe Item.
Accoring to a statement by Chief Emeka Davies Eke, Esq, Chairman, Planning Committee and Engr Udeagha Aja, Secretary, Planning Committee, the event, with theme: “Celebrating Excellence in Service,” will feature, among others, thanksgiving service; grand reception for the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, formal investiture of a new IDA grand patron; awards and cultural carnival.
The event has Prince Ndukauba Chukwu, Group Chairman/MD, Golden Rule Group of Companies, as Chairman, while Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti will be special host.
The Chief Guest of Honour is Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, with Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, senator representing Abia North and Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, as Special Guest of Honour.
The Diamond Guest of Honour for the event is Hon Ogbonna Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State, while Father of the Day is Chief Sir Akwari Ukpabi (Omekaozuoha 1 of Item).
HRM Eze Jerry Akpala Igwe, Chairman, Item Traditional Royal Council, is Rayal Father of the Day, with Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha, Chairman, IDA Board of Trustees, as Spiritual Father of the Day.
The thanksgiving service moderator will be Rev Dr Godswill Ndukwe, President, Latter Rain Pentecostal Assembly and Sir Onwuka Orji, President General of Item Development Association (IDA), is Chief Host.
The organising committee said that the grand reception for Hon Kalu was being organised for his execution of rural infrastructure facilities in Item, which is part of his constituency.
It noted that the Item community strongly identifies with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, as he has, in the past five years, reconstructed roads, built classroom blocks and provided solar lights in many communities in Item and beyond.
Governor Nwifuru of Ebonyi State is gracing the occasion owing to his launch of an empowerment programme for the poorest of the poor by addressing the needs of the most marginalised members of the society, which tallies with the ideals of IDA, the organising committee said.
It revealed that the IDA is engaging the government of Ebonyi State in its quest for the construction of a section of the Okai/Akaeze Road, which will expand the rural economic base of Abia and Ebonyi states and engender socio-economic advancement between the two neighboring states.
Deserving sons and daughters of Item as well as others will be honoured at the event in appreciation of their invaluable contributions to the development of the community in various spheres.
One of those to receive awards is immediate past President General, Elder Chief Ogba Nwokoro, who will be ceremonially pulled out as he formally hands over the leadership of IDA to Sir Orji.
There will also be investiture of a new grand patron, who will replace the late Prof Joe Irukwu, SAN. He is Chief Akwari Ukpabi.
The Item Day 2023 will also feature the launch N200 million Item Infrastructure Development Fund (IIDF) for community development projects.
The Item Day celebration started in 2007, with Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, as Chief Guest of Honour.
The IDA created the annual Item Day ceremony to draw attention to the poor infrastructure in the rural areas and to bring development at the door steps of rural dwellers who constitute the greater number of the populace.
The ceremony was also put together to bring Item people at home and in diaspora, their friends, inlaws and wellwishers together to thank God for His grace, mercies and compassion to the people in the outgoing year.
It also serves as a melting pot for Item people to take stock of their achievements, success and failures not just as individuals but as the largest clan in Bende Local Government Area as well as create a veritable opportunity for Item Homeland to set the appropriate agenda for the New Year in order to remain focused as a people.
The ceremony is also a golden opportunity for Item people to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Item Okpi.
Former governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, was special guest of honour at the maiden event in 2007. He was given an award for his achievements in rural infrastructure development.
Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was honoured by Item Homeland for his thoughtfulness in introducing the GSM during his administration, which bridged the communication among the rural dwellers in Nigeria, the urban and international communities, with its attendant economic impact.
Current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was also honoured in the past for his rural transformation agenda as Governor of Akwa Ibom.State.
The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaku Oloyode, received kudos from Item people for creating the Item JAMB Centre which has enabled students in the community and beyond to easily have access to JAMB facilities for higher education.
The organising committee urged all Item sons and daughters to attend the epic event.