Monarch Marks Historic Ofala, Honours 117 Outstanding Individuals After 15 Years

The traditional ruler of Oko Kingdom in Orumba South Local Government Council of Anambra State, Prof. Laz Edward Nnanyelu Ekwueme, celebrated his Ofala festival over the weekend after a 15-year hiatus. Prof. Ekwueme, the first professor of music at the University of Lagos, conferred Chieftaincy titles on 42 individuals and honoured 75 others with the […]

The traditional ruler of Oko Kingdom in Orumba South Local Government Council of Anambra State, Prof. Laz Edward Nnanyelu Ekwueme, celebrated his Ofala festival over the weekend after a 15-year hiatus.

Prof. Ekwueme, the first professor of music at the University of Lagos, conferred Chieftaincy titles on 42 individuals and honoured 75 others with the Diamond Award of the community during the celebration.

While conferring the Chieftaincy and Diamond Awards, Igwe Prof. Ekwueme stated that the honourees were carefully selected and urged those who were not recognized this year to wait for next year’s celebration.

Igwe Ekwueme, also known as the Eze Ijikala of Oko, emphasized the importance of unity among the people of Oko, stressing that genuine peace and unity are essential for attracting meaningful development to the town.

According to Igwe Ekwueme, the town can only move forward if everyone speaks with one voice as a united family.

The Chairman of the 2025 Ofala Festival, Chief Obi Okafor, commended the event, stating that the Ofala festival is a vital tool for creating an atmosphere of social bonding, interaction, and promotion of culture and values in the town.

Chief Okafor noted that the festival provides an opportunity to reward individuals who have contributed to the development of the society.

He regretted that the Oko community had not had the privilege of celebrating the Ofala festival for 15 years due to internal issues that have now been resolved.

“This 2025 Ofala provides an opportunity to fill the gap. The long absence of the celebration may have been responsible for the high number of honourees,” he said.

Chief Okafor appealed to those who may have merited recognition but were not honoured to be patient, as they would be recognized next time.

One of the awardees, the President-General of Oko and Mayor of Orumba South, Hon. Casmire Nwafor, commended the traditional ruler for honouring him and others in the community.

Hon. Nwafor called for the sustenance of the celebration to foster proper bonding among the people of Oko Kingdom.

He attributed the 15-year hiatus in celebrating the Ofala festival to internal issues, which have now been resolved.

“It took us years to have this Ofala because we didn’t have a complete town environment, but as peace has returned, we decided to observe the Ofala,” he said.

Another awardee, High Chief Reuben Muoka, Akajiugo of Oko, expressed gratitude to the traditional ruler for honouring him with the Chieftaincy title.

According to High Chief Muoka, the honour was in recognition of his contributions to the development of the community through his professional calling and other endeavors.

He stated that the honour is a call for more work for the community, and he is challenged to do more. “This kind of occasion brings us together to decide the way forward for the community, and we are at the point of consolidating and harmonizing for peace,” he said.