Ifite Ogbeadiji Honors Their Illustrious Son, Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, as the Community Marks Ashaolu Nnobi

 Ifite Ogbeadiji Honors Their Illustrious Son, Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, as the Community Marks Ashaolu Nnobi 

By Ezechukwu Vincent

Ifite Ogbeadiji, Community during the famous Ashaolu Nnobi, festival (Iwa JI) honored some of their illustrious sons, including Chief Hamilton Ezeonu and his Wife, Dr. Mrs Thelma Ezonu amongst others.

The award was bestowed on the United States based billionaire business man in the cultural rich Iwa JI festival held at Ogbeadiji Village Square, Nnobi, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, during the weekend.

The Ashaolu Nnobi Community is a famous age-long annual New Yam festival (Iwa-Ji) with agricultural revolution and enhance food production as its main focus.

This year's Ashaolu which  was said to be the first of it's celebration in Ifite Ogbeadiji and was single handedly sponsored by their illustrious Son, High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu (Ikemba Nnobi)

Chief Hamilton Ezeonu during the festival was honored with Development Icon award while his wife was honored for her generosity as generosity icon of the year.

Others who were honored  alongside the Billionaire include Chief Obinna Ufudo, Prophet Ifeanyi Marcel Oguegbulu, Sir Rufus A.C. Onwuatudo.

Performing the Iwa-ji ritual, Ichie Ezechikwadolu, Chief Linus Umeh stated that he was glad to celebrate this year's Ashaolu Nnobi 2024, praying that it shall be well with entire Ifite Ogbeadiji village both at home and in diaspora.

He also prayed and predicted that next year's farming plantation would be greater than this year's plantation, asserting that any field of endeavors someone found himself is a profession, just as he described trading, civil service, farming amongst other as a profession.

He solicited for God's maximum protections to the Ifite Ogbeadiji people as well as abundance prosperity which he said was hallmark of the celebration.

Speaking shortly, the traditional ruler of Nnobi Kingdom, HRM, Engr. Nick Muodum expressed gratitude to God for this year's Ashaolu, saying it is a celebration of New Yam festival which their fore fathers celebrated.

He disclosed that Ashaolu and Iwa-ji festival is not idol worshipping, saying that the celebration is to commemorate the aims of their fore father's zeal in cultivating yam as the king of staple crop in Igboland. 

The monarch in a special way offered prayers to High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, saying that it shall be well with him for using his resources in developing the community, even as he equally prayed for the blessings, peace and love to the entire Community.

Equally speaking, the sponsor of the event, High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, Ikemba Nnobi said he decided to sponsor the event in order to promote Igbo Cultural heritage and Ifite Ogbeadiji Community in general.

He described the Ashaolu festival as a reminder to every Igbo Man to embrace culture as well as agricultural production in order to eradicate hungry in the Igboland, explaining that Igwe of a town would be the first to celebrate New Yam before other people.

Ikemba Nnobi noted that there is need to make New Yam festival in Igboland a regional affairs, a situation where they can specify a particular date when the entire Ndigbo across the five speaking state would celebrate the Iri-ji festival.

He suggested that it should a regional Iri-ji festival that could attract International attention to make it a tourist event and attract tourists from different parts of the world in order to expand tourism in Igboland.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ifite Ogbeadiji, Comrade Stanley Izuegbunamu lauded High Chief Ezeonu for saving the entire Community from contributing money for the Ashaolu, praying God to continue to bless him more.

He recounted roofing the village hall, building road amongst other as development which he said High Chief Ezeonu attracted in their community, just as Chief Frank Iyke Ezeanya hinted that Nnobi community do not joke with culture.

He praised stakeholders in the community especially Ikemba Nnobi who he said sponsored the event, describing New Yam festival as a thanksgiving to God for a successful plantation and harvesting of the new yam.

Other speakers comprising; Mr. Mmadunagu Chimezie and Chief Dr. Ike Edwin  averred that High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu is a great man who has attracted a lot of development in their community.

The transition council Chairman  of Idemii South LGA, Mrs Amaka Obi, President General of Nnobi, Barrister Dominic Okpala, High Chief Ikechukwu Azugo (Okenwa Nnobi), High Chief Sunday Ezeoke (Ikenga Nnobi), Nze Nwachukwu Uzuagu, 

Ichie Ojiukwu Nnobi

Ichie Ezechikwadolu

amongst other were dignitaries in the occasion.

The historic event featured; various women dancing troupe, masquerade outing, best yam producers competition which Mr. Chukwudi Ogbuefi emerged first posution with #100,000 reward.