From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
People of Ogidi community, Idemili North Local Government area, Anambra State were in an ecstatic mood recently. It was their Ito-Aro 2025 Festival, a ceremony used to honour their senior citizens who have attained the age of 80 and above.
Sons and daughters of the community turned out in their large numbers for the festival. The celebrating octogenarians wore customized Ankara uniforms, their faces lit up in excitement even as various age grade groups in the community in their different costumes and traditional dance troupes filed out to showcase their skills and also pay homage to the traditional ruler of Ogidi kingdom.
Presenting a welcome address after performing the kolanut rituals, the traditional ruler of Ogidi kingdom, Igwe (Dr) Alex Onyido expressed pleasure and delight that the people gathered once more to celebrate the triennial fiesta which he described to be of great importance and significance to Ogidi community.
He said the festival serves as their vehicle for delivering love and a sense of belonging to this particular class of Ogidi indigenes noting that the intention was to serve as a platform for honouring and reassuring them that they are still recognised in the scheme of things, even as they have served out their active years.
The monarch, who is also a pharmacist by profession, expressed regret over the ephemeral nature of life and some unpleasant situations life can throw up sometimes and also prayed for the eternal repose of their people who died within the last three years of the previous celebration.
Igwe Onyido also talked on the need to stem the tide of abuse on their community culture and traditions. He emphasised that culture reflects the totality of the way of life of a people and charged parents to ensure that their children speak their native dialect and avoid other vices manifesting today in lifestyle and mode of dressing.
“The determinants of a people’s way of life included their language, mode of dressing, and their unique pattern of social behaviour. I charge our parents to step up their responsibilities in training our children, not just to speak the Igbo language but also the Ogidi accent. In the good old days, an Ogidi indigene could easily fish out another Ogidi indigene in faraway Sokoto just through his accent while contributing to a casual group discussion. I urge our parents living with their children in metropolitan cities and in particular, in diaspora to visit home with them as often as they can practically afford to do.
“We live in an extended family setting, therefore, our children should know all our family and extended family members. They should be made to understand that engaging in conjugal relationship with a relative is a taboo with serious implications. A true Ogidi son has a duty to uphold his cultural identity.
“Ogidi youths have copied and adopted what has come to be known as ‘saggy’ whereby the trouser is allowed to drop down, exposing half of his buttocks and his dirty inner wear. Wearing of dreadlocks among our youths is noticeably trending also. These are not typical of our mode of dressing as Ogidi people. In fact, the only gain I see in it is that it makes one look like a mad person and a ready target for police raid. Remember, your dressing and physical appearance tells who you are, but if you are a saint and choose to play the devil, you have yourself to blame,” the Igwe counselled.
Chairman of the Ito- Aro Ogifi Festival 2025, Chief Ikem Nwabueze pointed out that the ceremony is designed to showcase the diverse Ogidi socio-cultural heritage, primarily driven by related age grade system with a view to awakening some cultural consciousness in Ogidi people, including the youths.
President General, Ogidi Union, Chief Ikwuka Okoye (Anumiri) praised the traditional ruler of Ogidi Kingdom, Igwe Alex Onyido for being the brain behind the introduction and celebration of Ito-Aro Festival in the community.
The Ndi Ichie Imeobi Council of High Chiefs in Ogidi community, in a goodwill message signed by their Chairman, Okaro Ifeanyichukwu, noted that the Ito-Aro Festival has been able to recognise and bring to the fore the oldies in the community.
Members of the Igwe-in-Council of Ogidi Kingdom in their own goodwill message delivered through their Chairman, Chief Nonso Uchegbu and Secretary, Chief Chike Maduagwuna noted that the epoch making festival stands as a beacon of unity, strength, and continuity for the great sons and daughters of Umu Inwele and beyond.
Another prominent son of Ogidi community, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, Founder, United Nigeria Airlines, while felicitating the celebrating octogenarians and the traditional ruler, noted that the revered tradition of Ito-Ogbo Festival not only honours elders aged 80 and above but recognises their wisdom, contributions and legacy.
Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), Igwe Chidubem Iweka lauded the Ogidi community for deeming it necessary to organise such festival. He urged the young men to learn from the wisdom of the elders.
Eze Iweka who is the Traditional Ruler of Obosi community disclosed that Obosi is a pathfinder community in the celebration of the elderly through their Ito–Ogbo ceremony which he said has lasted for more than a century. He expressed delight that about eight communities in Anambra today have embraced that festival.
Chairman of Idemili North LGA, Hon. Stanley Nkworka, conveyed the felicitations of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to the Ogidi community.
He described the celebration as a sign that one has come of age while the community should accord such people their deserved respect and prestige.
One of the celebrating octogenarians, Emeritus Prof Sam Omenyi who retired at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka could not hide his excitement on the honour accorded to him and his fellow octogenarians.
“This is a very remarkable moment in my life” he said. His wife Prof Ada Omenyi, President, Ogidi Union Nigeria, Women Wing, said the milestone is a celebration of the husband’s past, a blessing for the present and a beacon for his future.
The community also bestowed special recognition awards to some esteemed individuals from the four village quarters of Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo and Ikenga. Among them was Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, state Chairman of APGA in Anambra State.
Chairman of the Ito –Aro Ogidi planning Committee, Chief Ikechukwu Ejelue expressed delight on the success of the festival.