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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Good things and good times do not come always; they almost always sparingly come. Those who understand life’s trajectory, when such opportunities beckon, strive to have maximum feel of them.
For the family of late Pa Michael Okereke Ukeh of Ufuagbo, Ebiabia, Amaokwe Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, such rare opportunity came on December 27, 2025 when nature broadly smiled at them.
It was a day that was laced with celebration and recognition, a day the family painted Amokwe Item community red as it gathered relations, friends and associates for quadruple celebrations, returning glory to God for His grace and mercies upon them.
The day’s event began with the Ukehs’ family ancestral home dedication at Ufuagbo, Ebiabia, Amaokwe Item.
Shortly after the house dedication, the Ukehs moved to the palace of Eze Osoka Agwu, the traditional ruler of Amaba, Amaokwe Item, where the Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Ltd, Chief Onuoha Okereke Ukeh, and wife, Lolo Alexandra Ukeh, as well as his elder brother, Chief Ukeh Okereke Ukeh, an accountant based in the United States, were bestowed with chieftaincy titles.
While The Sun MD bagged the traditional title of Ome Nma, his elder brother received the title of Omekaribe of Amaba Ukwu Item.
Presenting the chieftaincy titles to the Ukehs, Eze Agwu said they were not randomly selected, but intentionally chosen based on their positive contributions to the community. He urged them to be good Ambassadors of the community and strive to do more for the upliftment of their place birth.
From the Eze’s palace, the celebrating train moved to the Ukehs’ country home (Watch & Pray), Uzor Mill, adjacent Library, Atanko, Amaokwe Item for the traditional retirement ceremony of the senior Ukeh and the celebration of the 85th birthday anniversary of the matriarch of the family, Ezinne Mary Nwannediya Ukeh.
Speaking after receiving the chieftaincy title, Onuoha Ukeh said
it was a thing of pride for him to be recognized by his community.
He said: “Eze Osoka Agwu takes time in awarding chieftaincy titles. He doesn’t do it every year, he looks very well and he ensures that he chooses people that he is sure have done something remarkable.
“So, I am happy I’m part of those that were selected to be so honoured by my community. I’m proud of my community, Item and I’m happy to be honoured by Item and I’m happy it was done by HRH, Eze Osoka Agwu.
“It is a great honour by my community and I cherish it; I respect it and would uphold the tenets and the honour done to me as somebody who holds a title in Amaba Ukwu, Amaokwe Item.”
The Sun MD said he accepted the chieftaincy title because there are things one can not reject. “For a community, your community calls you for honour, I see it as a great honour for me. I have turned down chieftaincy titles, but this one, I couldn’t resist it because it is from my community, that’s why I have to accept it.”
On how it feels being honoured with his elder brother the same day, Onuoha Ukeh described it as a great honour for the family for which they are very happy.
“For the traditional ruler to choose my elder brother and myself for the award of chieftaincy titles the same day, means he saw something remarkable about the family that he is happy about,” he said.
Ukeh promised that the family will continue to uphold the tenets of such titles and to stand firm and do more of those things that convinced the traditional ruler to confer the prestigious titles on them and will always strive not to disappoint his community and the traditional ruler.
Explaining why the family rolled out the drum for their mother at 85, Onuoha Ukeh said: “Some sons and daughters do spend millions of naira when their parents die. For the parents, whatever you have spent, whoever dignitary that might come and whatever noise you have made is immaterial because they don’t know about it.
“So, that is why we said, as long as our mother is alive, let us recognize her and that is why we organized the birthday for her. It is a mark of recognition and a thank you for all the sacrifices she made as a mother, training us from infants to this level. So, it is a thank you and a celebration of her life.”
He wished her good health, sound mind and many more happy years on earth. “Our father lived to a very old age. She is 85, we hope she will live up to 100 years and still be strong, healthy with sound mind. I wish her the best.”
The Lolo Ukeh thanked the traditional ruler for honouring her and her husband. She promised to assist her husband in doing things that will uplift the community to greater heights.
Onuoha’s elder brother cherished the award, although he believes honour comes from God, not really from human beings.
It was his view that the honour done them will not change the family’s way of life. He said: “The family is known for its humble disposition. We were brought up to be humble. Our father, irrespective of what he achieved in life, was very humble.
“Our mother is equally a humble person. When she visited us in the USA, despite our persuasion for her to stay with us, unlike what other women would love to do, she refused, but instead decided to come back to Nigeria to take care of the home front. I see a level of humility in that. Without humility, one is just wasting his time.”
On why they decided to celebrate their mother while alive, he said it was better to give their mother the flower when she sees it, and not giving her the flower on top of her grave when she is no longer alive.
“She has been a wonderful mother to us and we owe her everything that we have achieved and we chose to honour her at this time when she is still with us. We don’t know who goes first, but now she is still with us, we needed to celebrate her.”
He advised his siblings to keep on doing what they have been doing, affirming that they copied their good way of life from their parents and believe their own children will copy from them. He wished their mother many more years ahead.
Traditional dancers spiced the events with their scintillating display to the delight of guests.
