Ndume community Celebrates ILanka, Confers Awards On Deserving Sons

 

Ndume Otuka Development Union Federated (NODUF), has concluded its 2021 Ilanka ceremony/merit award to deserving sons and daughters of Ndume Otuka.

The event which attracted the presence of Ndume sons both home and abroad, took place at the Ndume Otuka Community School field, Ahiaeke, Umuahia North Local Government Area.

The chairman for the 3rd Ilanka/Merit Award ceremony, Royal High Chief Chukwudi Ndumele, said the ceremony is done basically to retire some age grade every four years.

He said the ceremony was an innovation of the Ndume Otuka executive led by Chief Sunny Nwakodo, which started in 2012.

Chief Ndumele further encouraged those that would be recognized by NODUF for their service to Ndume Otuka, to remain committed to the development of Ndume Otuka.

In his address, the president of NODUF, High Chief Sunny Nwakodo,while welcoming guests at the event, said the occasion affords them the opportunity to re-evaluate their people,as well as, a time to go back to their root and ask whether they are in the right path as a community.

Giving a brief of NODUF and its activities, the President said the Union has carried out some meaningful projects like the completion of NODUF Hall which Abia state CSDP helped to achieve.

He expressed joy that the development of Ahiaeke is rapid, owing to the contributions of community members, as well as age grades.

While congratulating the awardees for the honour done them, encouraged them not to relent in giving back to their community,stating that NODUF has resolved to settle all village misunderstandings,so as to attract more meaningful development to the land, as well maintain the name ‘Ndume Otuka’.

Speaking with some of the awardees, Chief Kingsley Offor, who is from Umunna Ndume, was honoured as the ‘Pillar of Unity and Peace of Ndume’, stating that his contributions to the development of Ndume otuka is second to none, as he has given out educational aids and scholarships to students, carried out infrastructural and health projects, with the building and equipping of Umuana health centre, empowerment to the youths, electrification projects among others.He added that the award truly depicts what he stands for, promising not to relent.

Chief Offor also advised the youth to pursue hardwork, as well as, leverage on any given opportunity to rise, rather than waste their time on frivolities.

Another awardee, Sir Innocent Nwachukwu KSM, said he got the award, as a result of the selfless contributions to his community, with paying of school fees for students in his community, as well, hospital bills for those who could not afford them.

According to Sir Nwachukwu, he has sponsored several community projects, stating that the award given him, would further spur him to do more, revealing that already his people have beckoned on him to represent them at the Abia State House of Assembly, assuring them of more developmental strides.

Mr Chibuike Akpokeme,an illustrious son of Ohokobe Ndume and a business mogul, was not left out in the array of awardees.

According to Akpokeme, it is a great honour to get recognized by one’s community. “It is not easy for your community to pick and honour you among others”.

Mr Akpokeme said he is appreciative of the award, stressing that he is ready to carry out more projects, as well as, continue to maintain the cordiality with his people.

Orji Forster Awomukwu, a Deputy Director of Information, Abia State House of Assembly, was honoured for his selfless community service.

Awomukwu who is instrumental to most of the development recorded in Ndume, recently, attracted the Abia CSDP to the completion of Ndume Otuka Civic Centre.

He said his people should expect more service,as he has devoted himself to the service of humanity.

In an interview, the Ofondu II of Ndume Ibeku, HRM, Eze Donatus Aguiyi,gave more insight about the Ilanka ceremony.

Eze Aguiyi stated that the ceremony is a yearly ritual of the Ndume Otuka, done every 27th of December, among the twelve villages that make up Ndume Ibeku.

According to the royal father, the Ilanka ceremony is one of the ceremonies that bring the villages in Ndume together and it is used to raise funds for the development of the community,such as the building of town halls, renovation of schools,markets and other social amenities.

He, however, wished his subjects a peaceful 2022, urging them to remain law abiding and sue for peace,unity and progress.

Highpoint of the event were cultural displays,as well as giving out of traditional gifts to retirees from different age grades in the community.