Ezikeojiaku  applauds Uzodimma’s re-award of Umuguma Road,  celebrates Nta festival

By Nduka Val

A renowned philanthropist and a son of Ihitenansa in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo  State, residing  in Umuguma community over the years,  Sir Nnaomadiebube  Paschal Ezikeojiaku (Ogbuonyeisiogugu), has applauded the Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for re-awarding  the dilapidated  Umuguma road  to a reputable construction company, which has commenced work with a total  evacuation  of all the surrounding gutters, with a view to emptying all the contained flood into Nworie River, via the central   tunnel . He therefore assured the people of Umugumaof  the  true commitment of the contractor to  complete the work on or before the end of this year,  as  directed by the governor himself.

Ogbuonyeisiogugu, as he is traditionally known and addressed,   expressed his optimism that the said construction company will deliver a solid job when completed  and  the road  will periodically be followed with a maintenance exercise through the Imo Rural Road Maintenance Agency(IRROMA), where he serves as a member. According to the Ihitenansa born

humanitarian,  the expected  road maintenance to be provided by IRROMA will always enhance its durability.

Sir Ezikeojiaku made this disclosure to some newsmen last weekend during an interaction at the Umuguma Central School, venue of this year’s Igba Nta Umuguma festival that attracted a good number of people from various places to witness such annual celebration.

Stretching further, Chief Ezikeojiaku used same interaction to describe Igba Nta Umuguma festival as a special culture of the people which resembles the New Yam Festival of Mbaise which is   annually held on every 15th Day of August.

Reacting to the observed failure of the previous Planning Committees of Nta Festival of Umuguma to embark on some meaningful projects with the generated fund, he added that  Nta festival remains an acceptable culture in Umuguma which is not designed  for fund raising, but organized  to exhibit a culture that was bequeathed  to the present day generation by their forefathers, calling on the children of the community to join in promoting it. He, therefore submitted that any little money   realized from the activity can be used to support those Committees to tackle some of the incurred  financial expenditures during its celebration and not for project execution.

He added that this year’s turn out for the Nta festival was not truly impressive  compared to the previous exercise, advising the traditional ruler, HRH Eze George Ugorji, to constitute a timely Nta Planning Committee  for the next year’s celebration, so as to enable them have effective planning of programmes that will improve attendance.

The Orsu born Umuguma resident maintained that he was joyious with the contributions of the chairman of this year’s Organizing Committee, Elder Barr. Remond E. Onyemechara and his team for delivering a successful event.

Ogbuonyeisiogugu used same channel to express his continuous commitment in contributing to the cultural promotion and development of Umuguma community, being one of their  pioneer residents, stressing  his commendation to the people of Umuguma in giving him  uninterrupted  accommodation and acceptance over the years.

Ezikeojiaku posited that it was his proven overt kindness to the people of Umuguma  and beyond since his settlement therein that actually elicited their love and embrace for him, without any form of discrimination, asserting that such an open accommodation has provided him the opportunity of serving as both former and current Secretary to the Eze’s Cabinet. He re-emphasized that his integration into the activities of Umuguma community has prooelled him to know more about their traditions, promising not to deviate from it.