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Panel Discussants at the Maiden Edition of the 2024 Ngwa Day, have called for change of attitude from Ngwa sons and daughters, re-awakening of the practice of being your brother’s keeper (Onyeaghala nwanne ya), while also calling for the relegation to the background of all stereotypes against the Ngwa nation.
The Panel Discussants including: Prof. Ogbonnaya Onuoha, former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Prof. Ezenwa Ngwakwe, Dean of the Faculty of Law at ABSU, and Prof. Sam Agwu, also called for a code of conduct handbook, that will be handed to the Traditional Rulers of Ngwa extraction which will ensure that they conform to societal expectations as well as guide their modus operandi, noting that a lot of them are into partisan politics while relegating to the background their duties as purveyors of the customs and traditions of the people.
Speaking while presenting a 17 paged paper on the Ngwa people which underscored among other things, need for unity of purpose among the Ngwa people, Prof Ogbonnaya Onuoha, advocated the principle of “Ngwaness” which hinges it’s tenets on unity of purpose, self contentment, solidarity just as he stated that the Ngwa nation has laid down rules concerning how women should stay in their husband’s homes.
He further identified that over the years, Ngwa people have been accused of cannibalism, stressing that these are all stereotypes peddled by nationalities who had been harboured and accommodated by Ngwa people.
Speaking further, Prof. Onuoha decried the betrayal and sabotage among the Ngwa people especially in political sphere, adding that these practices are a total negation of the Ngwa people who are known over the years for their contentment, mutual respect and co-operation as well as communal living.
He also criticized the attitude of Ngwa sons who have derailed in their physical appearances, failing to dress modestly, stressing that Ngwa people are not known for shabby dressing as these vices also attract derogatory remarks from people outside the Ngwa nation while also calling on parents of Ngwa extraction to ensure they impact sound morals into their children who are expected to be custodians of the Ngwa culture.
Contributing, the duo of Prof. Ezenwa Ngwakwe, Dean of the Faculty of Law at ABSU, and Prof. Sam Agwu, aligned with postulations of the paper, decrying the divisiveness, lack of unity, influence by external forces outside Ngwaland, betrayals among others.
They, however, stated that there is a brighter future if the Traditional Rulers of Ngwa extraction, begin to refrain from partisan politics and play their roles as custodians of the culture and traditions of the people.
The duo agreed that there is need to hand down handbook to the Traditional Rulers of Ngwa extraction to ensure they do not derail in their duties of preserving the culture, folkways of the Ngwa nation just as they lauded the Ngwa Social Club for organizing the occasion which according to them, has re-awakened the consciousness of the Ngwa people.
Earlier, the Chief Priest and Custodian of the cultural heritage of the Ngwa people, Paddy Chinkere Anyatonwu, in his usual way, gave attendees at the occasion something to cheer about following his entry behavior all to the excitement of the mammoth crowd who observed him calmly as he relished steps that typical announced that he is indeed the Chief Priest and the Custodian of the cultural heritage of the Ngwa people.
Correspondent reports that there were side attractions including Mbede dance, masquerade on display, cannon shots, while different cultural groups were availed opportunities to perform and spice up the arena.
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