…..As he gives N100,000 to 10 Students in Amuwo Odofin.
……. Celebrates New yam festival in style.
Emmanuel lkpeama
The Eze Ndigbo of Amuwo Odofin,HRH Eze Augustine Sunday Ojukwu (Eze Udo ll),has urged students to be diligent in their studies in order to better their performance and secure their future.
Eze Ojukwu gave the advice on Saturday 26, October 2024 during his New Yam Festival where he presented the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira cash to ten students in Amuwo Odofin through his Eze Ndigbo Na Amuwo Odofin Foundation, stating that the gesture was to reward academic excellence and encourage students in his domain to work hard.
The traditional ruler who went further to state that the essence of giving the cash to the students was his own little way of supporting the educational career of the children in his domain and to encourage them to work harder in their various career.
He opined that the support which is in conjunction with the Chinese community in Amuwo Odofin would be a continuous event as his foundation would be visiting schools in Amuwo Odofin to assist children who are in dire need.
Lending his voice,the Chinese representative in Amuwo Odofin, High Chief Eric Ni stated that the Chinese community is known for assisting children in Nigeria especially those who are eager to learn and does not have support.
He noted that the Chinese community has given out over 150,000 scholarship, renovated 40 different schools and built 16 schools in Nigeria.
High Chief Ni who goes with the title “Nwannedinamba”said that he decided to extend this love to the people of Amuwo Odofin because he is a residents of the area and wish to give back to his community.
The Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Hon Engr. Valentine Buraimoh who was ably represented by his Vice Chairman commended Eze Ojukwu for such initiative, while urging the children to make good use of the opportunity to read and become somebody in the society.
” Let me use this medium to commend Eze Augustine Sunday Ojukwu for coming up with such initiative,not minding the economic situation of the country and to add flavor to it,he decided to extend his hands of giving to non Ndigbo,this is showing oneness and it means that he is a patriotic Nigerian.”
” To the children who are beneficiaries today, make use of this opportunity giving to you, many would say “Education is a scam”, but l want to correct that impression that Education is not a scam, it is something that will help you to mould your life so that you can become somebody in future. With this support, make your parents proud and do not let your sponsor regret his actions “he submitted.
The Executive Director Lagos international trade fair, Chief Dr Mrs Veronica Ndanusa noted that lgbos generally are enterprising, resilience and accommodating, while encouraging them to continue with the strive of unity and oneness.
While acknowledging the award giving to her by Eze Ojukwu, commended him for supporting the less privileged and the widows in the community, pledging her unalloyed support to his foundation.
Those who benefited include Onyekwere Emmanuella, Ifeanyi Williams Nwadiala,Aisha Musa Maina, Victoria Ngozika Amagolu,Saba Areef Taiwo, Good luck lkenazor,Hajara Sulaimon,Remi Enayon,Eze Anita Adaugo and David Chiemena ikediala.
Investigator news reports that those who also benefited from Eze Ndigbo Na Amuwo foundation include 700 widows who were empowered with cash award to boost their various businesses.
Earlier,the New yam festival with the theme ” Onye Ayala Nwanne ya,” (Be your brother’s keeper) attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, traditional rulers, members of the lgbo speaking community,the Chinese community, Ohaneze and the yoruba community.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Prince lwuanyanwu stated that New yam festival is an annual event of offering and celebrating immense thanks to God almighty for making the yam yield possible as well as offering a better harvest in subsequent planting season.
Prince lwuanyanwu urge parents to always teach their children the cultural heritage of Ndigbo so that they would be able to know the culture and traditions of their forefathers.
Speaking to Investigator news,the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo Amuwo Odofin Chapter , High Chief Lawrence Chikwado(Akaoma Anazigwe) stated that New yam festival is one of the biggest festival celebrated by the lgbos in which they used the occasion to exhibit the rich cultural heritage.
He commended Eze Ojukwu for putting smiles in the lives of various families in Amuwo Odofin by giving cash award to ten students and empowering 700 women through his Eze Ndigbo Na Amuwo Odofin foundation.
The Ogbuefi nwata nacho nkeya went further to urge the beneficiaries to focus on their education,pay attention to their teachers and take their studies seriously so that they can be a better fellow in future, while appealing to the youths to shun cultism and drug abuse, rather they should protect, project and promote the origin of the lgbo man.
Eze Chukwuakalikemadu Emmanuel,Eze Ndigbo of Oriade LCDA pointed out that New yam festival is a symbol that lgbos are appreciates God almighty for his faithfulness, guidance and provision over the lgbo community, noting that celebrating New yam festival attracts God’s blessings to the lgbo nation.
While calling on parents to imbibe the attitude of teaching their children igbo tradition and culture as lgbo leaders and custodian of lgbo culture are making plans to bring back the traditions of the forefathers that has been forgotten.
His counterpart,Eze Chukwuemeka Sylvanus Onuoha,the Eze Ndigbo of lba land noted that New yam festival is part of the lgbo identity, which is celebrated once in a year and showcased to the children so as to teach them the traditions,customs of lgbo community, stating that it is a taboo for an lgbo child not to be able to speak his/her mother tongue.
The Eze Ndigbo in Riverine Community Oriade LCDA ,Eze Chinedu Muzia called on all lgbo parents to always make out time to teach their children their root,as anyone who does not know his culture, does not have an identity.
Lending his voice,High Chief Okechukwu Ekweozor,the Onwammemme Atuegwu na Umuawulu kingdom describe the celebrant as a man of many parts whose vision and aim as a custodian of the culture is to help the less privileged in the society, noting that Eze Ojukwu has always stand tall in terms of helping the needy in Amuwo Odofin and beyond.
While urging other lgbo leaders and traditional rulers to emulate his kind gesture in assisting those in need in their various community.
Investigator news gathered that the event witnessed an array of cultural display by the people of the community and dancers from Ohofia war dance,china dragon, Women from Ohaneze Ndigbo Oriade chapter, including ldiagbo Umuchu masquerade thrilled the audience.
Those in attendance include Eze Uche Dimba(Okpotemba 1 of lgberin),Eze Lawrence Eze(Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho),Lord Mayor Solomon Aguene (President General Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos), Chief Dr Mrs Veronica Safiya Ndanusa (Executive Director Lagos lnternational Trade fair),Eze Sylvanus Onuoha (Eze Ndigbo of lba land),Eze Chukwuakalikemadu Emmanuel (Eze Ndigbo Oriade LCDA), Ambassador Chief CFC Obi(President United Market Traders Association),High Chief (Hon)Okechukwu Ekweozor(Onwammemme Atuegwu na Umuawulu kingdom),High Chief lk Ochiagha (Chairman Council of Chiefs Amuwo Odofin), Otunba Akpoyibo (Nwannedinamba of Alimosho) among others.
Highlight of the event was the sacred cutting of the New yam symbolizing that they can now eat the yam and presentation of award to the Executive Director of Lagos lnternational Trade fair,Dr Mrs Veronica Ndanusa
