Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
It is a day that will go down memory lane in history, it was the second edition of Umuduruchukwu Umuocha Ikembara in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State Day celebration held on Wednesday January 3rd, 2024. Umuocha Kindred under the leadership of hon. Michael Udobueze Ekemezie celebrated their 2023 edition of Umuocha Day.
Umuocha Day was conceived by the President, Hon. Udobueze and the aim is to promote peace, love, togetherness and foster mutual understanding among members of the Umuocha Kindred in the community.
There was large turnout of happy, delighted indigenes of the community, and their invited guests were there to witness a well planned event. The event witnessed prayers for the growth and reformation of the community by invited clergymen.
To boost the celebration, there were several colorful, cultural dance displays by the women, the maidens of the kindred as well as a prominent sons of the soil in attendance.
There were a lot to drink and eat to the satisfaction of everyone around. The chairman of the occasion honorable Uche Obi, the Youth President of Ikembara autonomous community who expresses delight that such celebration was taking place in the community, he commended the organizers of the event to keep it up.
In his remark, an illustrious son of Umuocha, one of the pillars who has been very supportive of the celebration financially and morally, honorable Cosmos Emeka Isiguzo Ekemezie aka (Agalaa far) an Indonesian base shipping, clearing and forward business man has said
“I thank God Almighty for todays occasion, I did made my input as a son of the soil like every other person who has been making sure the program keep getting stronger by the day so that this occasion does not fail short of standard, the committee had plan well and by the grace of God Almighty the next edition will be greater than this”,
“I am very very excited to be here today as this program is ongoing and I do encourage our brothers and sisters home and abroad to key in, identify with this developmental program to lift our kinsmen and as a Christian who believe in God through faith I will do my best to make sure it is a success. and I wish the younger generation to contribute more in any way they can in making sure that poverty is eradicated in our kindred as our slogan states (Onye Anyala Nwanneya)”.
In the sideline, Tentacle Magazine reporter met another son of the soil, a young philanthropist, Engr. Chidi Agu who has been one of the pillar behind the development successes recorded so far, responding he says.
“What we witnessed today is marvelous, infact bigger than what we have during the maiden edition which is what we prayed for in Jesus Mighty Name Amen. Now that we have seen that the committee entrusted in organizing this program are capable, we will now invite our friends from far and near to the next edition”.
In a chart with honorable Udobueze Isiguzo Ekemezie the Chairman Umuduruchukwu Kindred home and abroad.
TM: May we know you Sir?
ANS: My name is Michael Udobieze Ekemizie, the President General Umuduruchukwu Umuocha Ikembara autonomous Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
TM: Chairman Sir, under your leadership Umuocha day was initiated, can you shield more light?
ANS: Thank you, as God may have it when we started this program it looks like it is not going to work but at the long run everything fall in place even more than we have plan it, so, I feel great tha this event was a successful one and to god be the Glory.
TM: In the first edition of this program. You were calling on the members of your kinsmen and from the look of things on grand it seem you have more invited members than your kinsmen, what is yours take on this?
ANS: By every indication the plea I made in the first edition did yield a positive result, all my kinsmen men home and abroad did supported us morally, financially and other wise some of them are present here today, the respond were very encouraging.
TM: At the end of your tenure as chairman with all the efforts you have made to promote peace, unity and harmony among your people naturing this program for the love of your community, do you think the next person taking over from you can sustain the level and standard?
ANS: Yes, that is the main reason we are grooming others mainly the younger ones and the idea of bringing other from different location to be part of the leadership qualities so that even when we are not there any one of them can carry on from the foundation and legacies we have layed down so it will be a thing of joy if after today am not longer the chairman infact a lot of stalk holders can sustain the tempo when the time comes.
TM: In the first edition of this program you did promise to train and empower the youths of your kindred in various capacity in other to take them away from crimes, at as today how many of these youths have benefited from the Human Capital Development to change their lives?
ANS: Yes, if you have listen to my address and remarks earlier, I did mentioned it that we are championing that cause and from our records we have been able to empower many to learn various types of handwork and have initiated plans to take our people outside the shores of the country genuinely, at least within the first year of this program we have been able to send two of our sons out of the country and by the special grace of God three of our son’s have been listed to pursue their life carriers abroad and we will sponsored them cutesy of HCD.
TM: The idea of this program is going smoothly, what your message to your kinsmen?
ANS: My message is to whom much is given much is expected, I encourage us all to keep the pace, maintain the standard foundation we have laid so far, let us work together, if you listen to our motto which goes like this duruchukwu. Peace, Unity and Brother hood and to maintain that by carrying everyone along, bringing families together which is our watch word and goal, we are confident that this standard will be sustained with peace and unity.
The point here is that It is a big previledge given to me to serve my people and am not taking it lightly as I will do my best in conjunction with my team to ensure that we succeed to bring meaningful development projects to our community.
