By Alex Ibeh
The Imo State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe and other lawmakers were present to honour Mr and Mrs Stanley Udochukwu Eze as the couple dedicated their two sons to the alter of God.
The Thanksgiving Service which was held at St. Mathews Catholic MCC Road, Owerri on Sunday 6th April, 2025 where Ryan Munachimso and Richard Austin Chibueze Eze were Rev. Fr. Samuel Udeji dedicated them to Almighty God.
Shortly after Thanksgiving Service at the Church, family members, friends, club members and other relations rallied at Dussel Hotel to be lavishly entertained by the host.
While speaking in the thick of the event, the toast of the town, Mr. Eze described the event as a memorable one, saying he was the most happiest man on earth.
He used the occasion to thank his parents for their encouragement in life. He further appreciated his father in inlaw, Hon. Austin Agbarakwe, JP, for been supportive, describing him as a worthy relative.

Speaking further, Seedorf as he is fondly called by his United Friends FC circle said he was celebrating his two son’s dedication because of his unavoidably absence when the first son was born.
He said, ” it is a thing of joy to celebrate my two sons today because I was not around during my first son birth so I decided to celebrate both of them together today”

In her appreciation speech, the wife, Mrs Adanna Prisca Eze thanked the guests for finding to time attend the Thanksgiving of their Children
Lawmakers other accompanied the Speaker during the occasion were Member representing Ehime Mbano, Owerri North State Constituencies Hon. Bernard Ndubuisi and Hon. Kelechi Ofurum respectively.

Other dignitaries include Chief Theodore Okorochukwu-(de Senator), Hon Chief and Lady Cy Osita Emedom, Comrade Ben Akuegbu, Sir & Lady ADC Uche-(Odiuko), Barrister and Worship S. I. Azuama, Hon Okey Unam, Lady Franka Okoro and Hon Dr Ebiziem Jude Ebiziem. Hon Chief Cosmas Osuji, Hon Austin Goodman Iwouha, Hon Mrs Jecinta Ukoha, Mr & Mrs Chris Egbe, JP, Mr & Mrs Chinedu Elelia, Hon Chima Iwuagwu, Chief Godson Osondu-(Iyi) Chigozie Austin Agbarakwe, Engr and Mrs Frank Enyioko, Pastor and Deaconess Joel Okere,( Akaekpuchi Onwa)

By Alex Ibeh
An Isiala Mbano born abroad based, Dr. Tableth Onuoha has pour encomium on the Traditional ruler of Isiama Autonomous community in Isiala Mbano local government Area of Imo State, HRH Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Obi gburugburu.

Eze Ohanwe who celebrated New yam (Iri ji) festival in his Wisdom Palace, Umuihim, Isiama Autonomous community on Saturday 26th October, 2024.

Speaking with Journalists at the reception ground, Dr. Onuoha who described the monarch as an epitome of Igbo Tradition, said he was in the country just to honour the Iri ji festival of the first class Traditional ruler.
According to him, this is my first time of honouring such an invitation of Iri ji festival of any Traditional ruler.

“I honour the invitation because of how dear he is to me and the value I attach to his personality and his stool.”

“I must to confess that I am so delighted to see a man who promotes Igbo culture. I am very proud to be part of this epoch making event,” he affirmed

Earlier in his speech during the event , the Obi gburugburu explained that the significance of Iri ji festival in Igboland, saying it signals the new yam harvest.

According to him, it is a significant cultural event in Igboland together with its associated farming calendar. It signals a new yam harvest, representing abundance and fertility.

He noted that yam is acknowledged as the king of all crops, adding that it is celebrated in Igboland as no other crop.

He further stated that the celebration strengthens social ties and promotes unity among members of a Community, noting that it is a means of preserving Igbo cultural identity, tradition and customs.

However, the monarch admonished government at all Levels to ensure that they provide basic necessities to better the lives of her citizens.

He said: “when government at all Levels provide the basic necessities of life like good roads, light, functional health care facilities, proper funding of education so that even the poorest can access to education, provision of jobs, entrepreneurial skill acquisition centre, Insecurity will be reduced.”

He used the occasion to appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu to grant a Presidential to pardon Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and release him, saying some people are benefitting from his detention.

Speaking also, the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) described the host as a Traditional Ruler with a high repute and a custodian of culture, even as he appreciated him for sustaining the tradition.
The former INEC Boss said: “I want to thank you for bringing us together to witness this occasion. ” I also want to thank you for the role you have played so far both in Imo State and Nigeria.
” You have been there in critical times,you have been there to ensure that our culture does not go into extinction.”

He also noted that New yam(Iri ji) festival is local because according to him, I am also a Traditionalist that is why it is important to say my full names which is “Okwara dibia” Maduakolam Maurice Iwu.

He explained that the reason to celebrate New yam is because God has kept us alive to see another season and it is enough to give Thanksgiving to God for all He has done for us.

On his part, the Senator representing Imo North at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Patrick Ndubueze who was one of the awardees as the
Distinguished Community Services expressed gratitude to the host and the Organizers of the occasion.

Ndubueze who used the opportunity to highlight some of the projects attracted to the zone, saying the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has granted them 1/60 substation which the local regulator in th area will provide electricity to Okigwe and other surrounding local governments and communities that have been in black out for years.

In an Interview with Journalists during reception, the Secretary to State Government of Imo State Chief Cosmas Iwu has urged the people of Okigwe zone to embrace peace, unity, in spite of the current challenges in the country.

Iwu called for a more inclusive progress, and sociopolitical growth and opportunities for all.

He also advocated celebration of the nation’s diversity and fostering a sense of belonging among the citizens.

He emphasized the significance of presenting a united front to nurture a new generation of purposeful society who are fully equipped to make positive contributions to the State.

“We need to share our ideas and become agents of reform and enlightenment in the State. Together, we can create a better tomorrow,” he affirmed.

Present during the occasion were the political class, Business men and women, Captains of Industry, Titled men, among others to mention

By Alex Ibeh

It was a joyous day and sweet memories as over 200 indigent Women and widows in Owerri Municipal and Yoruba Community living in the Municipality and its environs, Imo State throng to the Council Headquarters were feted to mark this years Independence day by a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, “Yoruba Political Support Group” (YPSG) in collaboration with “Noble Grassroots for Hope”

The celebration, held on 1st of October, 2024, been the Nigerian Independence day, came at a time when economic hardship is taking a toll in the country where more than half of the population are struggling to feed and failing below poverty line,

The food items included rice, spaghetti, indomie noodles, vegetable oil, tomato paste, among others.

Most beneficiaries, who spoke commended the kindness and philanthropic disposition of the
President of the NGO, Dr Deji Osinowo

As part of the bonanza, raffle draws were also carried out there and then to widen the scope of the palliatives, which also included a special package that found itself in the hands of a girl whose flyer contained a deliberately marked inscription by the group which earned her a sum of N300,000 naira cash on the spot.

Streaming with tears of joy when she was fished out of the crowd, she said she has a sick mother who had been down with stroke for some time.

The Chief Executive, Dr Deji Osinowo, an architect, explained that he was doing it to alleviate the sufferings of the women, with the understanding that it would trickle down to their children and husbands ultimately.

“I don’t have the money, but I have the heart of the people. And that is why I have love for the women, I love the mothers, I help the widows. Good has used us to start in a little way. This is something I have been doing for the past five years.

Osinowo, therefore, called on other Nigerians to emulate his gesture.

He urged those planning endless protest in the country to use the money earmarked for it to provide similar palliatives or empowerment for the indigent.

“If we want Nigeria to be a better place, we don’t need to start fighting the government. Some people are planning to protest against the Government.
“Why not use that money for protest to help the indigent, the downtrodden, or the poor?,” he stated.

Dr Osinowo who said the programme was tagged “Mass Mobilization Against Hardship,” informed that he would extend the palliatives to the nine local governments of Owerri Zone as well as other zones.

He thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma for according him the privilege of the celebration.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, for giving us the privilege to celebrate Nigeria today. And we’re saying: happy 64th birthday to Nigeria!

He also thanked the APC chairman, MacDonald Ebere in the state, the Executive Chairman, Engr Chidiebere Emeribe, the Vice Chairman, Sir Lawrence Okorie, and the councillors-elect, as well as his group members, for helping to make tha day a memorable one.

Also speaking with journalists, Mrs Chikwe Chiaka of the Noble Grassroots for Hope, described the palliative distribution as ‘a very big programme and one of their biggest since inception, nothing that her group was always collaborating with YPSG to empower the indigent, the widows, those that need something to eat “because the country hard!”

Mrs Chiaka said it was the first time she had seen a “Yoruba man in Imo doing this kind of thing. It’s wonderful. In fact, sometimes, I do pray for him because I know it’s not easy, bringing out to give other people, not to talk about a large number of people. People are too many.”

She also thanked the leadership of APC in the state for helping to ferret out the needy.
“As you can see, somebody has just picked N300,000, somebody whose mother has a stroke.

The young woman who picked up the ‘star’ prize! expressed a profound gratitude to Chief Osinowo.

“I pray God to continue to bless him. I wish him prosperity and everything good,” she said.