Maiden Omabala Cultural Day: A historic success+video by Nick Ibeh - ITREALMS

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The much-anticipated Omabala Cultural Day Celebration, held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Otuocha Township Stadium, has come and gone. To God be all the glory for an eventful, colourful, and peaceful exhibition of our rich cultural heritage.

The rain that fell on the penultimate night, rather than dampen expectations, turned out to be a divine blessing. The following morning ushered in bright sunshine and clement weather - a perfect atmosphere for what became a memorable outing.

Awka indigenes in Lagos to celebrate rich cultural heritage, tradition @12th biannual Awka Day 2024 - ITREALMS

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Umbrella body of Awka indigenes in Lagos State, the Awka Development Union Nigeria (ADUN) has outlined series of events to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the town at its 12th biannual Awka Day, reports ITREALMS.

The events lined for this year’s celebrations are weaved together with tradition, regality, and opulence.

Apomu Day: A celebration of cultural heritage - ITREALMS

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The people of Apomu in Nigeria and in Diaspora came together to celebrate Apomu Day on February 10. Apomu day is an eagerly anticipated event that showcases the rich cultural heritage and investment opportunities in the town.

The event was organised by Apomu Descendants Union (ADU) in Nigeria and Diaspora.

Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association: Origin & Developments - ITREALMS

BookReview@ITREALMS: 

Agbalanze! Ogbuevi Ogbuevi nu o!

Onye na nk’ie, Onye na nk’ie o!

Nke onye chi, nya ze kw’oo!


[PROTOCOLS]

Title: Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association: Origin and

Developments

Published: 2019

Publishers: Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association

Consultant/Author: Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu

Research Assistant: Ugokwe Tobechukwu Etukokwu

Editors: Zelugo Joe Bel-Molokwu & Nnabuenyi Chiedu Ofodile

Contents: 211 pages; 17 chapters



This seminal work is at once many things rolled into one – an educative narrative, a historical record, an academically authoritative output, an essential routine reading material, and a cultural vade mecum for every Onitsha person, and for all who have interest in the essence of Onitsha, this enigmatic city on the eastern bank of the Niger. It is also eloquent testimony to the intellectual potency and cultural depth of Agbalanze Onitsha, a unique component of Onitsha society, and its membership. Agbalanze Onitsha has drawn its membership over time from the crème de la crème of Onitsha. From Zik to Professor Chike Obi. From Justice Louis Mbanefo to Chief Modebe. From Engr. Willie Achukwu to P. N. C. Molokwu, MBE. From Justice Emmanuel Araka to Justice Omenye Nwokedi. From R. M. C. Chukwurah to Ajie Ukpabi Asika. From the lowest to the highest.



Conceived, planned, researched, written, edited, proof read and produced by components of Agbalanze Onitsha, this book is one to be proud of. That it took time in coming is well justified by its presentation to the world today. It answers virtually all questions there are about the mystique of Agbalanze Onitsha as a revered institution, misunderstood by many, viewed with suspicion by some, reviled by others – but respected by ALL.



Prior to this book, there have been numerous works that touched – albeit tangentially - on Agbalanze Onitsha and what is stands for. Indeed, there is hardly any work that has ever been written about Onitsha that does not talk about Agbalanze Onitsha and Ichi Ozo Onitsha. But none has dwelt on the institution as its sole theme; none has been as well researched as this; none has traced the history of Agbalanze Onitsha in as much painstaking depth; and, above all, none has had the imprimatur of Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association. This feat is to the credit of the leadership of Nnabuenyi Uchenna Mbanefo, under whose presidency this initiative was actualized. It is also to the credit of Chinyelugo Dr. Osita Anionwu that he was able to put so much time and energy into bringing forth this legacy of a book.



Prior to this, there was the production of a video documentary under the presidency of Nwakibie Dr. Henry Molokwu, a project directed by Akunnia Col. George Molokwu. There have also been individual efforts here and there to unravel the innards of Agbalanze Onitsha, so to say.



The positioning of the book under review today is elevated with the inspiring Foreword by none other than the Obi of Onitsha himself, His Majesty Alfred N. Achebe, mni, cfr, whose voice captured the all-importance of a book of this seriousness and breadth. This is in line with his vision of the emergence of a neo-modern society out of the rich traditional setting of Onitsha. The Agbalanze President, Nnabuenyi Mbanefo, also highlights the critical purpose of this work in his Preface, with the words: “…that the values and integrity of Ozo and Agbalanze in Onitsha will continue to rise to greater levels.”



Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association: Origin and Developments is a blend of quite a rich repertoire. It is well written and is complete with referencing, making it as useful for scholarly work, as it is for casual or inquiring reading. It seamlessly migrates from its deep effort to locate the origin of Ozo title taking in Onitsha, to identification of landmarks in Ozo title taking, to detailed description of sequences, paraphernalia, processes, songs and chants, protocols, ceremonies, regalia and the structure of the association.



Works of scholars like anthropologist Dr. Richard Henderson, who did and continues to research into Onitsha and its people since 1961, his wife and fellow researcher Helen, Ojinnaka R. I. Chukwurah, Jerry Orakwue, Dr. Chudi Okwechime, Onuora Nzekwu are among the sources of back-grounding.



This work traces the growth of Agbalanze Onitsha from its roots that date to the 16th Century exodus from the Benin Kingdom (or maybe even earlier) when it had no specific name beyond the description of “ichi Ozo”, through to the beginning of the 20th Century wherein it is captured from research that there were “about 200” members, on to modern times. Indeed, today, Agbalanze, now well structured as a registered trustee association, has between 800 and 900 members in all parts of the world. From the primordial ichi Ozo within small family units, there are today 37 Agbalanze Ozo kindred units, and the number most likely could have exceeded that, but for initiatives to minimize further splintering of Ozo units.



In 211 pages broken into 17 chapters, the book does a jolly good job in marshaling out the significance of Ozo and its spirituality, as it does with its treatment of the meaning of Agbalanze, Ozo titles and names, rites of passage, administration of the association through a seven-man Executive Council, the processes leading to the development of a Constitution, interviews, and the opening of a befitting headquarters. The book is also well illustrated with photographs, which apparently took great effort to assemble. It also has a chapter on suggestions!



One high point of the book is the rich essay on Ugo, the Eagle, the regal bird, around which Ozo title taking revolves. The eagle’s feather is a sine qua non in the entire process and significance of Agbalanze Onitsha. There is a nostalgic reference to the early days when the Ugo (the feather) was daintily stuck into a specially grown tuft of hair on an initiate’s head. This with time gave way to sticking the Ugo in gold or silver wire thread embroidered caps that we know today.



In all, this work has done justice to the concept of Ichi Ozo Onitsha, something that has continued to confound non-members and non-Onitsha indigenes at large.



Is Agbalanze Onitsha a cult? Is it a cabal? Is it a religious sect? Is it a coven (okwu alusi)? Is it an exclusive club for millionaires? Is it a segregated society? Is it a political pressure group? Is it a power bloc?



Or, is Agbalanze Onitsha a sacred institution founded and operating on lofty principles of honour, dignity, pride and incorruptibility? Is it a deep-rooted ancestral institution that promotes high values and moral principles? Is it an organization that dwells on the elevation of moral standards, social ethics and clean living?



Will the “outside” find answers to these posers in this rich book?



My answer is:



Icho ima ife di n’Ozo, bia chi e l’anyi Ozo!







Dr. Joe Bel-Molokwu

Zelugo

November 16, 2019





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Oganiru urges Ndi-Igbo to be vigilant, defend themselves

ITRealms:

A socio-political and cultural organization of Igbo speaking people in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States of Nigeria, the Igbo Improvement Union (Oganiru Ndi-Igbo) has urged Ndigbo to be vigilant and ready to defend themselves, life and property by any and every means possible, reports ITRealms.

A communique issued by the group and made available to ITRealms on the gruesome attack on Ukpabi-Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State, and endorsed by 14-man signatories led by its President-General, Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah and Secretary-General, Chief Edozie Njoku, made this known after a closed door meeting with Igwe John Ikemefuna Akor, Agaba Idu XXIV of Ukpabi-Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.

The group expressed shock and disbelief on the wanton destruction of lives and property in Ukpabi-Nimbo, the Union said it is scandalized that such ethnic cleansing and palpable act of brigandage could take place in a 21st-century Nigeria.

The Union was dismayed over inability of the joint patrol team stationed at Uzo-Uwani LGA in arresting these criminals in spite of all reports to the law enforcement agencies about the impeding attack.

Oganiru Ndi-Igbo reaffirmed its earlier position taken at Umuahia, Abia State on April 23rd 2016, “That the entire Igboland should be excised from the proposed grazing reserve/ranch, noting that this latest invasion is a proof that the Fulani herdsmen are the greatest threat to the corporate existence, territorial integrity and structural indivisibility of the Nigerian State.

The Union further admonished the Buhari-led Federal government of Nigeria for its inability to use security forces in apprehending Fulani herdsmen who unleash mayhem on communities all over the country and wondered why it is only Fulani herdsmen that are allowed to carry AK47 all over the place without police ever  arresting any of them.

“The genocidal activities of the Fulani herdsmen are most injurious to the Nigerian state than the activities of secessionist organization,” the union said.

Ike Okeugwu/GEE

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Samsung, UNESCO partner to bridge Digital gap at Oban Community

ITRealms:

Rural dwellers in Oban community, Akamkpa local government of Cross River State has breathed an air of relief as Samsung Electronics West Africa partners with United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to launch its Digital village project which will provide access to the world’s most advanced information and communication technologies, education and health services to under-resourced areas, bridging the digital divide and serving as a catalyst for local business development and government service delivery, ITRealms reports.

In a report presented by UNESCO at the launch, ITRealms learnt that out of 100 million children who are school dropouts, 58 million did not complete primary education, while healthcare in remote areas is non-existent due to shortage of facilities and urban-rural gap.

Mr. Brovo Kim, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, speaking on the initiative said that a sizeable proportion of rural areas across the continent do not have access to electricity, resulting in isolated communities with limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity, which are necessary components of socio-economic development.

“We are not only bridging the digital divide but also providing a facility that meets the most critical health and education needs of the rural community,” he said.

ITRealms gathered that the components of the Samsung Digital Village include: a Solar Powered Internet School, built to accommodate up to 24 learners; a Solar Powered Tele-Medical Centre, and a Solar Power Generator that powers up the Admin Centre which can be used as office space for local entrepreneurs and any other nearby school or community centre personnel with limited electricity supply.

Equally, in addition to providing the appropriate technologies, Samsung is also working to ensure that people of the Oban community take ownership of the Digital Village and receive adequate training to optimise use of the facilities.

ITRealms learnt that Samsung Electronics Company Limited is a global leader in consumer electronics and the core components that go    into them and has through relentless innovation and discovery, transformed the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions.

Daniel Nsolibe/GEE

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