Onitsha ‘Glos’ as Igwe Achebe celebrates 21st Ofala
L to R: Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Founder, NESH Foundation, Senator Tony Nwoye and Mr. Olumide Akpata, immediate past NBA President, greeting His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, as he stepped out from his throne to greet the crowd at the Ofala Arena on Saturday
By Emma Ogbuehi, Onitsha
It was once again a glorious outing for His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, the 21st Obi of Onitsha, as he marked his 21st Ofala anniversary over the weekend.
Igwe Achebe ascended the throne of his forefathers on May 14, 2002 when he emerged the Obi, succeeding Obi Okechukwu Okagbue who reigned between 1970 and 2001.
In Onitsha folklore, the Obi is not crowned, he emerges.
And it was a regal outing for the 82-year-old monarch, a trustee of the National Traditional Rulers Council, who doubles as the Chairman the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Aside marking his anniversary, the festival is used by the monarch to perform certain obligations, and to celebrate his emergence from seclusion, during which period he successfully negotiated the fortunes of the kingdom.
It is also used to e-enact the joy which the traditional ruler shared with his subjects at the discovery that yam is non-toxic, and is a valuable source of food.
This year’s Ofala, sponsored as usual by the digital solutions provider, Globacom, kicked off on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
Youth cultural groups such as Agbalanze (Ozo title holders), Egbenuoba (warriors of Onitsha), Egwu Edo (girls dance group), Di Okpa (family heads), Omu (bearers of children) and Otu Odu (women title holders) participated in the carnival, dancing through the streets of Inland Town, Onitsha, in celebration of Igwe Achebe.
The carnival was also used to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha indigenes.
Nigeria’s diverse cultures were also on display as different youth groups dressed to represent the Yoruba, Fulani, Edo, Igala, Ijaw, etc. There were also “Obi of Onitsha,” “Oba of Benin” and “Oni of Ife” among the youths.
The Ofala celebrations continued on Saturday with the Iru Ofala, and culminated with the Azu Ofala on Sunday, October 15.
Globacom will also host a Royal Banquet in honour of the Obi of Onitsha on Tuesday, October 17, at the Golden City Events Centre, Residency Drive, Onitsha.
Many sons and daughters of Onitsha, their friends and associates from within and outside Nigeria, joined the Agbogidi at the Ime-Obi, Onitsha, to commemorate this year’s Ofala.
Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his wife, Nonye Soludo; Mr. Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of the State; Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North at the Senate; HRM Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu, chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council; Prof Uche Azikiwe, wife of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Owelle of Onitsha; Mr. Obi Asika, founder, Dragon Africa and an indigene of Onitsha; and Mr. Olumide Akpata, immediate past President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Labor Party gubernatorial aspirant, Edo State, were some of the distinguished personalities at the Iru Ofala on Saturday.
Soludo praised Igwe Achebe, Onitsha people and the sponsors of the Ofala for their efforts in promoting the festival, adding that it would complement government’s efforts in bringing development to Anambra State.
On Sunday, at the Azu Ofala, a visibly elated Igwe Achebe commended Globacom for its relentless support for the Ofala Festival of Onitsha Kingdom.
READ ALSO: Glo-sponsored Ofala Festival begins in Onitsha with youth carnival
The monarch noted that the telecommunications giant had consistently sponsored the festival in the last 12 years and helped transform it into a tourist destination.
“Globacom as our principal partner has remained steadfast with us even with the present economic challenges. We thank them exceedingly and trust that our mutually beneficial partnership will continue to grow,” Agbogidi said.
Globacom, which began sponsoring Ofala festival in 2011, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last year with the Palace to extend the partnership for another three years from 2022 to 2025.
In 2019, Igwe Achebe had also commended Globacom, Africa’s leading telecommunications multinational, for introducing several innovations to the historic festival, thus making Ofala a huge tourism spectacle.
Attesting to Globacom’s contributions to the advancement of the Ofala festival, especially, the company’s sole sponsorship of the Oreze International Arts Exhibition, the highly respected monarch said the company’s partnership had been very beneficial to the festival.
The Oreze International Arts Exhibition which was introduced to the celebrations in 2012 has so far led to the exhibition of the work of over 5,000 artists at the annual event.