Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc – a leading socio-political organization committed to the emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa people celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
The historic occasion took place at the Oha Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council Hall (Ovu Ndi Eze Oha Ngwa), No. 1, Industry Road, Aba under the distinguished chairmanship of Elder Okechukwu Frank.
In his opening remarks, Elder Okechukwu Frank expressed profound gratitude to God for sustaining the organization in the past 25 years despite onerous challenges as well as the members of the organization for their unwavering commitment towards the emancipation of the Ukwa Ngwa people.
He appreciated them for their remarkable achievements in Abia State and beyond over the years emphasizing that the organization has come to stay.
In his address, the President of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc, Elder Eze Samuel Uhuegbu thanked God for keeping them together in the past 25 years despite all odds.
He appreciated the founder, Chief Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa, the pioneer president, Archiboy Duke Agbaigba of blessed memory and others for their tremendous contributions to the growth and numerous achievements of the organization since its inception 25 years ago.
He commended the strong support of other sister organizations such as Ngwa Social Club, Lagos, Aba People’s Vanguard, Owerri, Ngwa Bu Otu, The United Ngwa Daughters Association among others in their struggle for the political emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa people in Abia State over the years.
He expressed immense gratitude to former Governor of Abia State and immediate past Senator of Abia Central, His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji for supporting them to actualize their dream of producing the first Abia Governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
He applauded the tremendous support of the President General of All Ngwa Cultural Organization (ANCO), Elder (Dr.) Sunny Nwosu for providing their meeting venue free of charge as well as his useful advice.
According to him, the Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc has every reason to celebrate and give glory to God. He called all sons and daughters of Ukwa Ngwa to identify with the Organization in order to accomplish more notable feats in the years ahead.
In his keynote address, the Special Guest of Honour, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe represented by Hon. Solomon Adaelu, the immediate past member, representing Obingwa, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency congratulated members of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc on their Silver Jubilee Anniversary.
He praised the founder and BoT member, Chief Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa and others for their courage, doggedness, resilience and unwavering commitment towards the emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa people.
He paid glowing tribute to the late pioneer President of the Organization, Archiboy Duke Agbaigba.
However, he noted that the Organization appears to have lost its steam since his death and urged the present leadership to rekindle that spirit Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc was known for.
He tasked the present leadership of the Organization to launch its presence in all the nine local government areas of Ukwa Ngwa nation (Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ukwa East and Ukwa West) adding that nothing would be impossible for them to achieve if they come together.
Speaking, Elder (Dr.) Sunny Nwosu, the President General of All Ngwa Cultural Organization (ANCO), represented by Deacon Chidi Samuel (Chitex Electrical) congratulated members of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc on their 25th Anniversary.
He commended Chief Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa for allowing God to use her to champion the cause of the Organization as well as the successive leaders and the entire members for their commitment towards the emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa people over the years.
He also urged the present leadership of the Organization to ensure the existence of the Organization in all the nine local government areas of Ukwa Ngwa and expressed optimism that their Silver Jubilee Anniversary would herald good tidings in Ukwa Ngwa.
In her speech, the founder of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc and BoT member, Chief Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa appreciated their numerous guests, especially the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu, the Special Guest of Honour, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe represented by Hon. Solomon Adaelu among others.
She said that the journey began in 1999 with a bold vision to come together for the emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa people.
She described Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc as a child of circumstance and thanked God for the Organization’s rapid growth and achievements such as the emergence of the first Abia Governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and others.
She pointed out that their Silver Jubilee Anniversary would have been the talk of the town but for the burial of Elder Dr. Emmanuel Onyemobi Adaelu (MFR), a renowned personality, industrialist, philanthropist and indomitable leader of Ukwa Ngwa people on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
She described his demise as a colossal loss to the Ukwa Ngwa nation, Abia State and the nation.
She prayed that God would give them another good leader like him and announced that his memorial service would hold on the last Sunday of December 2025.
In his remarks, the alternate chairman on the occasion, Ezebunwa Ubani, PhD charged members of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc to remain united and shun pull him down syndrome.
According to him, nature abhors vacuum and if you pull your brother down, definitely another person would step in.
He described Ukwa Ngwa as a land flowing with milk and honey and called on the people to come together and think deep on how best to move Ukwa Ngwa to greater heights within and outside the state.
In his speech, Elder John Nwangborogwu, one of the torchbearers of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc highlighted the Organization’s pivotal role in fostering unity in Ukwa Ngwa and championing the struggle for their political emancipation in Abia State.
He noted that the going was not easy when the Organization was formed in 1999. He recalled that the number of people that attended their first meeting held at Okpuala Ngwa as well as other ones held at Owoahia Afor and Eke Akpara were so low and discouraging.
He said that even though there were doubts about the need for the Organization at that time they remained resolute and kept telling cynics among them that they were trying to create a consciousness that would overwhelm the people.
He said that prior to the formation of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc in 1999, Ukwa Ngwa people were like bystanders in the political affairs of Abia State but today he relishes with pride that they have changed the narrative and entrenched Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc as a force to reckon with in the state by the grace of God.
He disclosed that the Organization was instrumental in the emergence of Chief Adolph Wabara, PhD as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the first Abia Governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction including other notable achievements.
Contributing, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu extolled members of the Organization for sustaining it for the past twenty years despite numerous challenges.
He thanked God for bringing them together to actualize their collective interest and prayed God to continue to bless them.
The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa congratulated members of the Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc on their Silver Jubilee Anniversary.
He thanked them for keeping the struggle alive over the years and urged them to continue to remain united, peaceful and law-abiding as well as to sustain their support for Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s administration of Abia State.
In his speech, the Executive Governor of Abia State and Silver Jubilee Father of the Day, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) represented by Prince Uzo Nwachukwu, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs commended members of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc for their love, unity and unwavering commitment towards the emancipation of Ukwa Ngwa.
He told them to see their Silver Jubilee Anniversary as a Silver lining for the state and Ukwa Ngwa people because it came at a time they are experiencing the best of times under the quality leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR).
He reeled out a catalogue of Dr. Alex Otti’s monumental achievements in the state, particularly in Ukwa Ngwa such as massive construction of roads, flag off of Abia Airport Project at Nsulu, appointment of Ukwa Ngwa sons and daughters in his government among others.
He thanked God for giving them Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as the Governor of Abia State and urged them to continue to support his administration adding that they would witness more unprecedented developments in Ukwa Ngwa before the expiration of his administration.
Highlights of the occasion were the cutting of the Silver Jubilee Anniversary cake and cultural dance.
The occasion climaxed with entertainment and attracted the presence of notable dignitaries including the Commissioner for Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, the CEO of Living TV and Radio, St. Moses Ogbonna Esq, HRM Eze Sunday Udodirim Anyaumunna, the Alilielighi Mba 1 of Eziama-Amahia Autonomous Community, Hon. Richard Alaribe, the immediate past President of Oha Ukwa Ngwa Congress Inc, Nze Sunday Irondi, Evangelist Berna Ajuzie among others.
