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The maiden edition of Ngwa Day has come and gone, leaving indelible memories in the minds of participants who were predominantly from Ngwa extraction both home and in diaspora.
Ngwa Day 2024, held at Abayi Umuocham Primary School on Saturday, provided an opportunity for the creme de la creme in Ngwa Land: politicians, academia, captains of industries, traditional institutions, women, youths and cultural groups to fraternize as Ngwa people with rich cultural heritage on display.
Corroborating the rich cultural heritage which Ngwa people have in abundance, the Vice Chairman of the organising committee, Ngwa Day, 2024, Lady Vivian Irondi, in her address, noted that the Ngwa nation is blessed with rich cultural heritage, stressing that it is in this light that it is imperative for all to come together and share ideas together.
She said the maiden edition of the Ngwa Day which will be held every 28th December, will avail all Ngwa sons and daughters opportunity to widen the bond that has existed among them over the years, decrying that lately, there seem to be division among brothers and sisters of Ngwa extraction, hence the need to organize an annual event like this to re-enforce the Ngwa identity as well as harp on the need for unity.
Lady Irondi expressed satisfaction with the turn out of the creme de la creme for the event, maintaining that subsequent editions will be more mouthwatering, adding that much has also been achieved by teaching the younger generation what is expected of them as Ngwa people.
Addressing newsmen, a Professor of Law, Sam Erugo SAN, appreciated the organisers of the event, saying that the Ngwa Day is coming at a time when the upcoming generation has failed to adorn and hold dear the customs and traditions of Ngwa land.
He threw his weight behind the Ngwa Day celebration, stressing that it will go a long way in encouraging bonding among the Ngwa nation while urging fellow Ngwa brothers and sisters to ensure that they impact sound morals to their wards as future custodians of the culture of the Ngwa nation, emphasizing the need for them to know the cultural nuances of the Ngwa nation.
He expressed optimism that future editions will be more exciting, as it will allow them march through the streets of Aba to announce and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Ngwa people.
On his part, a Legal Practitioner, Barr. Chukwuemeka Nwaogu, decried the disunity among Ngwa people, heaping it on politics cum party affiliations, religion, among others.
He, however, noted that even though that was the case, the Ngwa Day celebration, offers an opportunity for the Ngwa people to come together, establish bonding and come up with ways to remain one united front in everything they do, pointing out that Ngwa people are known for their rich cultural heritage.
Contributing, Dr. Eric Opah, who observed proceedings with his amiable wife, Mrs Christy Opah, stressed the need for re-awakening of some aspects of the Ngwa culture which, according to him, is going into extinct, noting that occasions like the Ngwa Day, if done annually, has the potential of restoring those aspects that are key to the progress of Ngwa people.
He also called on all the custodians of Ngwa culture to ensure that all are carried along in this cultural revival, while also calling on parents to ensure that their children are well tutored for them to fully understand the Ngwa culture as future custodians.
Earlier, the President, Ngwa Social Club and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), said the essence of Ngwa Day, is to promote and revive the Ngwa culture, maintaining that subsequent editions will be mouthwatering.
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