From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
An International arts exhibition, Youths Carnival, Marathon race and a Public lecture by a Catholic Bishop have all been mapped out as part of activities to mark this years’ Ofala Festival of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The Chairman of Ofala Strategic Marketing and Communications Sub- Committee, Chief Nnaemeka Maduegbuna, who made this disclosure yesterday at the Imeobi palace, Onitsha during a press briefing to unveil the programme for the 2023 Ofala festival of the Onitsha revered monarch described the Ofala as the high point of the Onitsha ceremonial cycle.
He said the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe who is marking his 21st year in the throne this year is the chief celebrant of the Ofala spectacle which is rooted in deep spirituality and an occasion for the monarch to fulfil certain obligations.
He said the annual Ofala has grown steadily over the years in terms of its scope, social glamour, and intrinsic meaning for the Onicha people and disclosed that an international art exhibition, a youths’ carnival, a marathon and a post-Ofala banquet have enhanced the content and attractiveness of the festival while a lecture series will be introduced this year.
Chief Maduegbuna pointed out that with the strides that the Ofala has made, it continues to receive both national and international recognition such that the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has endorsed the Onitsha Ofala Festival as a major Nigerian festival and issued a specific mandate in its support.
“The Ofala has also received a Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Culture from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. This is in recognition of its Corporate Contribution to the development of culture. We believe we are on course to achieving the objectives of the Ofala attracting considerable national, West African, and international attention, and attaining the status of a major event in the Nigerian, by extension in the West African cultural/tourism calendar.”
“In twenty-one years as Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe mni, CFR, Agbogidi, has made giant strides. These find expressions in a number of areas. They include a modernised and revitalised monarchy, and a leadership the aura of which today radiates beyond Onitsha to Anambra State, the Southeast region, Nigeria and beyond. Furthermore, His Majesty has also articulated a vision for communal transformation hinged on a new value system for lifting the poor and most vulnerable in his domain from consumption and dependency to production and self-reliance.”
He also disclosed that this year’s Ofala and the associated events will run over a three-week period in the month of October and that even though celebratory, cognisance has been taken of the prevailing economic situation in the country in planning the various events though the main Ofala days falls within Saturday October 14 and Sunday October 15 being the Iru Ofala and Azu Ofala, respectively.
“The Ofala lecture Series scheduled for Thursday October 5, 2023 has been introduced recently and is promoted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University. Named the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations/Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Annual Lecture, the maiden edition of the lecture series, would be given by The Right Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese. He will be speaking on Traditional Institutions, Public Relations, and Good Governance in Contemporary Nigeria at the Education Trust Fund.(ETF) Hall, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus,” he disclosed.