From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
In the beginning, it was known as Item Okpi. A community of nine large villages in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. If it were to be in some parts of the country, Item would have been a local government area of its own, having all it takes to be one.
•Dignitaries at the event
Every December 30, Item, the community that has produced many prominent sons and daughters, including those that made Aba in the 1940s and 1950s wear the toga of a commercial hub, celebrates Item Day.
Item Day is a day set aside by the people to promote communal bonds, unity and cooperation among all Item people. The day equally affords the people the opportunity to come together and thank God for His love and all He has been doing for the community.
At the leadership level, it gives the executive of Item Development Association (IDA), the apex socio-cultural-cum-community development association in Item, the opportunity to present its scorecard for the year and unfold its plans for the coming year.
This year’s Item Day was held on Saturday, December 30, at the Jane Egbichi Oteh Mini Stadium, Central School, Amaokwe Item. It could be said to be Item community’s day of glory.
Starting from the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti, who was ably represented by a prominent son of the community, Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, to the presence of the array of guests, it was indeed a day the people will not forget in a hurry. Speaking at the event through his representative, Otti showered praises on the leadership of IDA for ensuring that peace reigned in the community.
•Dignitaries at the event
Otti noted with joy the various community development projects the people embarked upon and said they were in tandem with the vision of his administration for a new Abia.
He said: “The infrastructural developments which, as it were, were as a result of your resourcefulness, I must say is in line with our new vision for Abia.”
The governor said he was optimistic that the gale of infrastructure renewal and development his administration is embarking on will surely not elude Item community. He lauded the people’s resourcefulness and equally commended the community for producing men and women who have made their mark in various spheres of human endeavour both nationally and internationally.
In his capacity as the chairman, board of trustees of IDA, Bishop Onuoha commended the leadership of IDA for putting up measures that have ensured unfiltered peace in the community. Describing peace as the wheel that drives development in society, Bishop Onuoha said, through the unflinching efforts of the IDA leadership, Item has remained one of the safest communities in the country and urged them to redouble their efforts.
The new president-general of IDA, Sir Onwuka Orji, said the theme of the 2023 Item Day celebration, “Celebrating excellence in service,” was a fallout of the theme of 2022, “Role of the people in ensuring good governance.” He showered praises on the people of Item for heeding IDA’s call in 2022 to make wise democratic choices, which he believes would impact positively on the community.
He said: “In ‘Celebrating excellence in service’ today, it is with the consciousness that we see and feel the positive impacts of a truly transformational government that is daily putting smiles on the faces of Abians.”
While thanking Otti for his good works in the state since he became governor some months ago, the president-general equally poured encomiums on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for their quality representation at the National Assembly. He also commended Otti for appointing some of their illustrious sons and daughters into positions of trust in his administration.
Orji enumerated some of the achievements of his administration, which took over about four months ago, to include enhanced support for IDA leadership by other arms in Item, devolution of power, peace-building, education support and restoration of power supply to the community.
He announced the focal points of his administration to include tackling the decay in their schools, strengthening homeland security and sustaining delivery of major infrastructure to the community.
While further appreciating Otti, the PG said: “IDA deeply appreciates our governor for working to further develop our homeland. We are particularly very elated at Item playing host to a large-scale agri-based modern industrial concern. We look forward to this project and many more in Item to be executed by Abia government.”
He also highlighted some of the challenges of the community, saying: “The name of IDA in the past has been the lack of financial clout to prosecute its envisioned developmental agenda towards the actualization of its mandate.
“The IDA neither has a statutory source of income nor independent revenue base. It has always been cases of making passionate appeals to raise money for one project or the other. It is expected that IDA will change this narrative, if we must succeed.”
He recalled some activities of the past year, the death of IDA’s founding grand patron, Prof. J.O. Irukwu, transition in IDA leadership and the survival of the community’s microfinance bank from the harmer of the financial regulating body in the country.
The immediate past PG of IDA, Chief Kingsley Ogba Nwokoro, disclosed how his team worked assiduously for the past five years to improve and better the lives of the people of Item. He enumerated some of the achievements made by the past executive and urged the new IDA leadership to continue from where the former stopped.
Chairman on the occasion, Prince Ndukauba E. Chukwu, hammered on the need for peace to reign supreme in the community.
He said: “Itemland, her friends and well-wishers gather again to celebrate another Item Day to enjoy the sight of each other, celebrate our culture and push to build a homeland worthy to be bequeathed to our future generations.
“But for us to build that homeland, it can only be achievable as one people. Item is one community bound by blood, the blood of our forebearers.”
He commended the former PG of the community, Chief Nwokoro, for his sterling leadership while in office and urged the present leaders of IDA to surpass what their predecessors did.
Chairman of Item traditional royal council, Eze Jerry Akpala Igwe, commended the new executive of IDA on their election. He assured them of the full support of traditional rulers from Item as they strive to work towards the realization of the collective goals and aspirations of the people of Item.
Some prominent sons and daughters, who spoke to the reporter, including Chief (Mrs.) Ijeoma Ogba Nwokoro, Chief Joseph Ogwo and Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, all expressesed optimism of greater things to come to Item community.
Highlights of the event were the reception for the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, decoration of the grand patron, launch of Item Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF), awards and recognitions to deserving sons and daughters of Item homeland.