From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The traditional ruler of Ogidi Kingdom in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State Igwe Alex Uzo Onyido (Ezechomuagha) will on November 25, 2023, during his 4th Ofala festival bestow a chieftaincy title to honour the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for renaming Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport after his late illustrations son and literary icon Prof Chinua Achebe.
Other prominent Anambra people to be honoured by Igwe Onyido at the Ofala festival for their contribution to the growth of the industrial and manufacturing sector in Nigeria include; the Chairman of Innoson Motors Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, the Chairman of Dozzy Oil Chief Dr Daniel Chukwudozie, the CEO of Juhel Pharmaceuticals company Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, the Managing Director of Beloxxi industries limited Chief Obi Ezeude, chairman of Comestar Cable manufacturing limited Chief James Udoji.
Igwe Onyido who disclosed this in a pre-event press briefing in his office appealed to non-governmental organizations, corporate bodies and agencies to sponsor the Ofala festival because Ogidi is large with a rich cultural heritage.
“Our Ofala festival starts on November 23 and November 24 when we will give chieftaincy titles to some prominent people in Ogidi who made remarkable achievements in Ogidi and we will have courtesy calls from home and abroad who pay me homage at the palace and on November 25, 2023, which is the main Ofala day we will give awards to the Governor of the state Prof. Soludo for renaming our airport to our late brother and literary sage Prof Chinua Achebe. Other beneficiaries in this category include the Chairman of Innson group, the Chairman of Dozzy Oil, the CEO of Juhel Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, a manufacturer James Udoji and the CEO of Beloxxi Industries among others will be bestowed them on November 25th.
“It will be like a carnival because age grades in Ogidi will parade, the Ogidi women will also parade and all titled people will parade. We are calling on non-governmental organizations, corporate bodies and agencies to come and sponsor the Ofala Ogidi is large with rich culture and we are calling friends and associates across the whole to sponsor the Ofala festival. The Ofala will be a global event, not a local event.
“My advice to the people of Ogidi is that the stool of Ogidi has come to stay and we are able to peace in Ogidi. I advise everybody in Ogidi to maintain peace in Ogidi. We were able to conduct an election for the Ogidi Union peacefully without any rancour. Ogidi people should sustain the peace in the two and our youths should not involved in social vices capable of ruining their lives like victims, and kidnappings! armed robbery, drug addiction and prostitution. There is no gain in causing violence but engaging in one work or the other to earn a living” Igwe Onyido stated.