42 years after Ahiajoku Lecture: Federal Lawmaker organized “Okpudo Ikeji” Annual Lecture Series 

. Clement Nnachi (abakaliki)

 

 

The Federal Lawmaker representing Afikpo North/South Constituency in the House of Representative Hon Chief Iduma Igariwey, has organized “Okpudo Ikeji” Annual Lecture for members of his constituency Ehugbo/Edda in Ebonyi State.

 

Addressing a large gathering of his constituents last weekend at Ebonyi Hotels Afikpo, comprising Stakeholders, Opinion Leaders, Youth organizations, Traditional Rulers, Women among others, Hon Igariwey who doubles as the Vice Chairman House of Representative Committee on Appropriation, said that the event was geared towards promoting the people understanding of their Cultural heritage as a tool for unification.

 

Chief Igariwey said that he convoked the “Okpudo Ikeji ” Lecture for the people to brainstorm and promote the people’s understanding of their heritage through a well planned forum where the past can be interrogated, reviewed and reconstructed .

 

“It is to revive the intellectual Research on the Cultural Heritage of the people of Afikpo and Edda, it is  my opinion that the Guest Speakers will cover the rich Cultural ties that binds the two communities.

 

“The Cultural heritage of the people were gradually fading away. without any formal platform, it is culture that forms our identity”

 

“I consider culture as very important, it supercedes the concept of building roads and infrastructure,  people want politicians and government to bring material things   culture is the significance of our heritage”

 

“Culture is the aggregate of the concept of the people, it reflects the fundamental character of ethics”

 

Delivering a Lecture titled “Festivalization of Yam Culture and Modern Experiences among the Ehugbo and Edda of South-Eastern Nigeria, the inaugural Lecturer Dr Arua Oko who doubles as the Director Centre for Igbo Studies at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ikwo, said that the Maiden Lecture Series was an opportunity to re-examine the Cultural Heritage of the people.

 

Dr Oko advocated for the Documentation of some important aspects of the culture of the people emphasising that sustainance of culture serves as the greatest legacy to be bequeathed to the citizenry.

 

“Abandonment of our Culture is a disservice to our people. it is an irony that when we want to study our culture, We look for the ones documented by Europeans”

 

” African Culture preaches Collectiveness, today’s event will revolutionise academic harvest that will form a think tank”

 

“New yam is the symbol of cultural heritage in communities in Igbo Land. Culture is about our people, we have destroyed some important aspect of our culture”

 

“Ikeji is a Cultural Festival that forms part of our civilization, no culture is an Island, it is dynamic ”

 

The Inaugural Lecturer expressed worry that the abandonment of Indigenous Language was a barrier to the survival of the cultural heritage .

 

“We are who we are because of our culture. there is no way we can transform our  self to become an European’

 

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee Dr Bismarck Unya, said that the Lecture has afforded the people of Ehugbo and Edda clan an opportunity to have a Collective Book that will detail the origin of the two communities.

 

Dr Unya said that the Annual Lecture was the first in the series initiated by Hon Igariwey stating that the people can now rediscover themselves by promoting their understanding of their past especially their Cultural heritage.

 

Dignitaries that graced the “Okpudo Ikeji” Annual Lecture Series included the Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone Chief Ama Nnachi, the Federal Lawmaker representing Ohanivo Constituency in the National Assembly Chief Livinus Makwe, Hon Ngozi Eziulo, the Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana Dr Ogbonnaya Ibe Enwo, Chief Mudy Erenede and former member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Hon Benard Ndubuisi Isu among others.