A socio-cultural Igbo Organization with the name Mbido Igbo Association has honoured a frontline politician, job creator and former governorship candidate of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), in the last concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo with Agboma Ndi award for his role in promoting Igbo language and culture.
Presenting the award, the national chairman of the group Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu said Ezeemo had distinguished himself from others through his burning passion for the promotion of Igbo tradition, genuine philanthropy and selfless service to humanity noting that the group would continue to reorganize and honour people like him (Ezeemo) for their exceptional love and dedication to the cause of Ndi Igbo.He said God bequeathed to them great tourism sites and they need people who would assists them in developing the centres even as he said federal government had thrown its weight behind them and decried lack of interest and support from the previous government led by Chief Peter Obi while calling on Chief Willie Obiano for support.
His words, ‘National New Yam Festival has come to stay; we are promoters of Igbo Cultural heritage; we are glad and can now beat our chest for the singular fact that Igbos are now serious with cultural rejuvenation and sooner that later our great culture will take place in the cultural milieu of the world.
Our ancestors, Chukwuabiama na Ezechitaoke have blessed us with sumptuous harvests which awaits them. Our great ancestors are happy with us that we took the right step towards reviving and sustaining our great culture for posterity. Therefore all hands should be on decks to make sure that no stone is left unturned in this vision. We call on all segments of governance to assist us in this onerous task,’ Okafouzu said.
He called on Igbo sons and daughters especially Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to kindly assist them in the following areas: Tarring of the entrance road to the Natural Yam House Building of a modern pavilion at the arena, provision of a functional bus and security van to the organizers, setting up of State Committee for the organization of the festival, provision of seed money to the committee and fencing of the National Yam House and its arena.
In their separate speeches the traditional ruler of Igboukwu, Igwe Dr. Martin Ezeh; HRH Raphael N. Offor (Igwe of Omogho) and their Ndi Okolo Counterpart, Igwe C.C. Okoli noted that the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria especially Hausa and Yoruba had invested so much in their culture and called on Ndi Igbo both at home and Diaspora to do so by investing heavily in Iri ji Ndi Igbo National New Yam Festival.
The monarchs while urging for support explained that Mbido Igbo Association was set aside to fight and have Iri Ji Ndi Igbo National Yam Festival placed in the world Map and enjoined all to join the group in their quest to bring back Igbo lost glory.
Responding, Mr. Ezeemo who is an industrialist, farmer, publisher and manufacturer thanked the group for recognizing him and promised to do more for his people.