On December 28, 2023 all roads led to the palace of His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr Kenneth Orizu III, Igwe Nnewi for his Ofala festival to celebrate his 60th year on the throne and 98 birthday.
The monarch, no doubt, is said to be the longest serving King in the whole of Africa if not beyond, with proofs. He is fondly addressed by his subjects and other admirers as “Igwe na eje uka” (a monarch who is a true Christian).
The event marked a milestone in the history of this great town, a day that called for rejoice in the industrial community otherwise known as the “Japan of Africa”.
Nnewi people and their well wishers marked the day as a day of thanksgiving to God Almighty for Nnewi, their happiest hour in the highway of struggle and devotion to Nnewi cause.
“We will say without equivocation that we did not arrive at this stage of Nnewi alone. We are here today because of the labours of our heroes past and the cooperation of all Nnewi people. We know our past heroes, but being that we are celebrating Nnewi for sixty years, we must mention a few of our heroes and give honour to whom honour is due. When we think back from the beginning of 1963 when we took the mantle as Igwe of Nnewi, we remember the immediate past Obi D.G.U Obi, the Obi of Uruagu, Obi Nnamdi Obi, the Obi of Uruagu, Obi Z.B.C Okafor, Obi Umudim and Obi J. H. 0. Onyekaba, the Obi of Nnewichi. These were the fathers of the present Obis of the three quarters of Nnewi. We worked with them all the years. A good number of other Nnewi people that must be mentioned include; Chief M.C.K Ajuluchukwu, Dr A.A Nwafor-Orizu, Chief D.E Ulasi, Dr Dozie Ikedife, Chief L.N.E Nsoedo, Chief A.E llodibe, Chief PJ.O llechukwu, Chief C.C Obienu, Sir L.P.Ojukwu, Chief Emma Izundu, Chief J.N.C Okoli, Chief Z. C. Obi, Chief Ben Nwosu. General Momah.
“The Nnewi we met in 1963 was at best a hub of a few hawkers at the present post office area with one petrol station. There was only one tarred road from Onitsha to Owerri. There were four secondary schools. Under our watch, Nnewi developed to its present day with majority of the roads paved and tarred by philanthropic Nnewi businessmen. The Government only came in later. We are proud to state that the Agbo Edo market is a product of community development extraordinary as it was established without Government intervention.
“We played a role in encouraging our sons and daughters to establish industries in Nnewi. We negotiated the building of houses and infrastructure in the newly established Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. By the way, it is a fact that the establishment of the Teaching Hospital at Nnewi was our effort and that of Nnewi people. Nnewi including us donated land for the establishment of the present College of Medicine at Okofia Otolo Nnewi. Thereafter, the Federal Government developed the new Teaching Hospital at Akamili Umudim.
“We recognize the establishment of Hospitals, pharmacies and laboratories at Nnewi by Nnewi people. We now have a private MRI laboratory at Nnewi thereby stopping our people and patients from travelling to Enugu to use MRI facilities. There are Government clinics at every nook and cranny of the town. Indeed Nnewi is now a centre of excellence in medicare, not only for Nnewi but for all neighbouring States and towns.
“Nnewi could not have been what it is today without the input of our industrialists, businessmen and traders. The Nnewi industrialists manufactured batteries, motor spare parts, brake pads, vegetable oil and other products related to motor and motorcycle spare parts. At the end of the Nigerian civil war, Nnewi market was the centre for motor spare parts.
“Today, the motorcycle market at Nnewi is one of the largest in the country. It is a fact that Dr Okonjo Iweala as co-ordinating minister of the economy in mentioning the foremost Nigerian industrialists listed Innoson, Cletus Ibeto and Chicason among the first five in Nigeria. Is it not true that Innoson vehicle industry is the largest of its type in the South East and one of the largest in Nigeria. It is at Nnewi and owned by an Nnewi person.
Conclusively, Nnewi as a town is the biggest Industrial town in Anambra state. The development at Nnewi made Nnewi to be named
“Right now, we have numerous secondary and Technical schools. It is noteworthy that the best Technical/Secondary school in Anambra state is the National Technical College (former N.S.S). This school was rated the 2nd best {BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL} in the 2022 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award {PTSEA}.
“This year alone, Chief Oseloka Osigwe and Barr. Chikosolu. Ojukwu were elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). They joined the other Senior Advocates from Nnewi including Ralueke Ulasi, Chijioke Okoli, Emeka Etiaba, Echezona Etiaba, Afam Osuigwe, Chuka Ikwuazom, Lotanna Okoli, Ikenna Okoli and Dr Kate Okafor.
“Earlier in time, Nnewi was under Onitsha Province, then Nnewi Division with other towns. Today Nnewi is the only one town Local Government
in Anambra state. Indeed, Nnewi has moved from Third world to First World in Nigerian terms. A look around Nnewi after 60 years of our reign is a story of glorious achievement that can only be possible by the Grace of God.
“The Royal Cabinet under the fearless Chief Dan Ulasi, Okeosisi Nnewi contributed immensely to our achievement with their indispensable advice. We also appreciate the BOTCON and all title holders. Nzuko Ora Nnewi are not left out in the development of Nnewi. The quarter President General and our Vigilante services are appreciated. The election of the Senator for Anambra South and Hon. Uchenna Elodimuo representing Nnewi in the state was peaceful.
“We felicitate with Engr. Emeka Agbasi as the new Chief Executive of FERMA and all other persons appointed or elected to position in Government including Mr. Christian Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industry and Hon. Sir Augustine Ike, member, Anambra state House of Assembly.
“Our sixty years of service to Nnewi, its challenges and turmoil, being human affairs, must have conflicted interested groups. Once there is conflict, there is politics. We are happy that whenever conflicting matters come up in Nnewi, they are settled and our ship moves on undisturbed. The patriotism and loving spirit of Nnewi people are peculiar. All the development in the town were on the land of Nnewi people. We thank all persons and families whose parcels land were used in building the Post Office, College of Medicine Okofia, the University Teaching Hospital at Akamili, NITEL building, the Prisons and all the public buildings in Nnewi.
“The Customary Arbitration Panel and Appeal Panel helped to establish and build peace to most Nnewi families by their untiring effort to mediate in customary family matters amongst citizen of Nnewi and those living at Nnewi. The introduction and establishment of the Nnewi Vigilante Group by both the Nzuko Ora Nnewi and the encouragement by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, CON is phenomenal. They are giving colour to security in Nnewi.
“Our prayer and wish is for all of you present here to be older than the Igwe in your lifetime, we wish Nnewi people well. We thank all those involved in community development of this town through selfless service to the community and wish them well. The God of Nnewi will bless you. We thank all those who through their finances and other contributions have sustained us and Nnewi, God will continue to bless you. We will continue to thank Prince Chinedu Orizu who got Senator Godswill Akpabio ( now Senate President) to build the Nnewi Museum.
“This area we are today was built by contributions of few Nnewi people, principally Dr Cletus Ibeto and Dr Chika Okafor (Chicason). We thank you. Other Nnewi people have continued to make contributions to the Palace. We recognize and thank you all.
In conclusion, we urge Nnewi people to continue in their commercial endeavours anywhere they are, to continue to be law abiding. Nnewi, the land of Gold, is topmost in accepting non-indigenes among us and we will continue to do so. Nnewi now and after will continue to be a land of Gold and peaceful community.
“May we specifically thank all Nnewi people for their loyalty to us. We urge them to continue extend the same loyalty to the other third Obis and our heirs for continuity. We must encourage our children to go to school. Nnewi people should endeavour to join the public service and
the uniformed forces. The Nnewi of today should have a stadium and a public cemetery.
The demise of Prince Emmanuel Iwuchukwu, who was one of our Private Secretaries, chairman of the Customary Court and the Chairman of our Customary Arbitration Panel touches us greatly and we wish him eternal rest. Other important persons were lost during the year and we extend our condolences to all families, “Igwe Orizu III said in his speech from the throne.
The monarch specially recognized and thanked Mr President for his top appointment of Engr. Emeka Agbasi as the Chief Executive of FERMA; the appointment of Dr Ifeanyi Ubah as Chairman of
Senate Committee on Petroleum, Downstream Sector; the elevation of two of their sons, Chief Oseloka Osigwe and Barr. Chikosolu Ojukwu as Senior Advocates of Nigeria
He appreciated the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph
Ugboaja, OON who he said is working relentlessly to elevate NAUTH to a centre of medical excellence. He noted that the Igwe Orizu ICT centre and the contributions towards the project were recognized.
Highlight of the Ofala event was conferment of chieftaincy title on scores of personalities by the Igwe.
