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…as Deputy Mayor assures of Transparency in Entire Process
Hon. Chinedu Enwereuzo, The Mayor, Umuahia South LGA of Abia, has stated that the essence of the 2025 Umuahia South Cultural Festival is to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people of Umuahia South.
Enwereuzo also maintained that culture which is the totality of the people’s way of life, defines a people, stressing the need for communities not to allow their culture go extinct thereby eroding the upcoming generations.
Speaking at the unveiling of the 2025 Umuahia South Cultural Festival at the Council Headquarters on Wednesday, Enwereuzo, who was flanked by his deputy, Chief Enyinnaya Nwosu, Ambassador Onyekachi Atuloma Loveday, HRM Eze Boniface Onyemachi, among other officials of the Council, stated that the event will be thought provoking as it will be loaded with a whole lot of activities.
Engr. Enwereuzo revealed that the essence of the epoch making event, is to bring the people of Umuahia South together, stressing that as the yuletide season is fast approaching, the Council through its various partners including the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria South-East zone, deemed it necessary to come up with the event to remind and teach the people the sacredness of the culture of the Igbos, particularly Umuahia South.
He said, “Why we have decided to do this is to ensure that as they come back home, they can have a place, an activity they can participate in, that will form a memory for them hereafter. And with the kind of package we have here, they will be part of the events, and wish to come back again next year. So one of the essence is bringing the people of Umuahia South together.
“Through this event, we want to show our people that we have tradition. There are traditions that we have been known for, or cultures that we have been known for over the years. It’s as if civilization and other activities have made us forget them. With what we’re going to do, our people will learn their tradition. So they’ll be able to know what their people have been known for. And hereafter, you see us and see them doing it.”
The Mayor revealed that going forward, the event will be held December every year to preserve the cultural heritage of the people as well as ensure that the culture of the people is passed on from generation to generation.
“This is going to be a recurring event that will happen on a yearly basis about the same period. And interestingly enough, we have been able to reach out to our ages. That is why you see the leader of the Umuahia South Traditional Council here. We have reached out to the bridges. We have reached out to all the community leaders, and ensuring that the two days we selected is left for the council. And by the special grace of God, it’s going to be successful.”
Engr. Enwereuzo, who stated that the purchase of the raffle ticket is not restricted to indigenes of Umuahia South alone, advised all to participate in the exercise and stand a chance of winning various mouthwatering offers including a Hyundai Sonata Car as well as cash prizes.
He assured that the Planning Committee for the event, headed by his Deputy Chief Enyinnaya Nwosu, will ensure that the entire process will be transparent devoid of favouritism, adding that the process of arriving at the Ist, 2nd and 3rd positions will be done in the full glare of the public.
On his part, Chief Enyinnaya Nwosu, the Chairman, 2025 Umuahia South Cultural Festival and Deputy Mayor, Umuahia South, assured of a hitch-free event, maintaining that the Mayor of the Council, has consistently briefed the committee on what is expected of them.
“The Council Mayor has provided us with everything we need to succeed in this mission. And we have traversed the whole communities. We’re working in collaboration with the Traditional rulers, President Generals, the women wing, and the youths to ensure that this event becomes a success.
“Even the market men and women and people on the streets. So we are not leaving any stone unturned to make sure that this will become a success. Everything the mayor does here is very transparent. And he has also given us that as a big instruction. We’re following that instruction very well to make sure that everything is transparent. Like he rightly explained, the process that we have adopted for the raffle ticket is fool-proof.
“You know, there’s no way anybody can rig that because it’s going to be done in the presence of all. And everybody will witness it’s fairness” he concluded.
Contributing, the Chairman, Umuahia South Traditional rulers Council, HRM Eze Boniface Onyemachi, lauded the organisers of the event for coming up with such initiative aimed out re-awakening the culture of the people.
He pledged the support of Ndi Eze Umuahia South at ensuring that the event is successful, expressing optimism that the lessons that will be learnt from the event will be massive.
Giving further breakdown of what will make the event mouthwatering, Ambassador Onyekachi Atuloma Loveday, the Vice President, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), South-East Zone, said the event will be a total showcasing of the culture of the people of Umuahia South.
According to her, “The event will be a worthwhile celebration, not just a one-off event. We promise that it will be an annual event, an annual carnival. And this is the first time in the history of the Umuahia South local government where we have a celebration of our people, our culture, who we are, and what we are known for.
“I believe that this event is going to have a whole lot of positivity in our people. Come out as long as you are from Umuahia South.”
Speaking on the dress code, she added ,”So, you must dress in the outfit of Umuahia South. We have our way of dressing. There will be no canopies. We are bringing all those things back to life.”
She called on Abians to come and witness this groundbreaking ceremony that will happen live here in Apumiri Ubakala, Umuahia South on the 28th and 29th of December 2025.
Southeastposts reports that the event is in collaboration with Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria South-East zone.
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