From Ijeoma John, Nnewi
Mbanese clan in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State had on Saturday, honoured fifty illustrious sons and daughters out of 1,260 members for their various contributions towards the development of the area.
Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream Communications Ltd, Ogbuefi Akwudoleze Ifeme while presenting the awards, said the task of rallying the indigenes of the five autonomous communities of Akwaihedi; Ebenator; Ezinifite; Osumenyi and Utuh was a herculean one.
He, however, noted that the event that took place at Utuh town hall was to celebrate Mbanese’s best and brightest, through the honours and award series which he called the clan’s Hall of Fame.
The Mainstream Communications Ltd CEO who is the facilitator and initiator said the criteria for the selected recipients were based on concrete personal achievement, outstanding performance in one’s chosen career, profession or industry.
Others are unwavering commitment to the common good, education and intelligence as well as intergrity.
“The set goals of the honours, lecture and award series is to recognize merit in the land, offer a veritable platform for Ndi Mbanese to reflect on their exploits and failings, as the case may be.
“In other words, while the people celebrate their best, they, at the same time through the lecture, challenge those who have not lived up to expectations to borrow a leaf from the club of the recognized and aspire to be part of the next edition.
“The 50 indigenes are being honoured with the Mbanese Noble Achievers Award (M.N.A.A.). But more importantly, the package will afford us the life-time opportunity to know Mbanese academics in the ivory towers impacting knowledge to the children, the clan entrepreneurs, our children who have excelled in various universities across the globe with First Class Honours.
“We will know Mbanese women of substance, distinguished professionals in different sectors, politicians, and leaders with intergrity.
“Mbanese clan has thousands of enterprising and distinguished personalities, therefore, selecting fifty out of the 1, 260 nominees for the award was tasking.
“However, the fifty awardees are those who scaled through our rigorous selection hurdle, “he said.
He said going by the listed order of selecting the awardees and projecting the right role model, that the selectors felt a deep sense of honour and pride to fly the success flag of Mbanese. He noted that it was a responsibility they took seriously, as a call to serve and bring to fore concrete achievements of a unique people.
“Our business here today, is, therefore, to celebrate and jaw-jaw (talk and talk) on the ways and means forward. Let me at this juncture seize the opportunity to commend the efforts of the founding fathers of Mbanese unity of old, the likes of Chief Samuel Obidike (initiator and pioneer president); Hon Chief Simon Ezenwa Obi (pioneer secretary general); Chief Lazarus Akuezue; Hezekiah Onwuzuluike; Chief Anthony Nwajiaku; Nze Dimagwuagwu A.N. Okoye; Chief Felix Amaefima (Dim Oruchalu); Chief Fabian N. Okafor; Chief Sylvanus Ezeokenwa Ezeobi and Chief Jerome N. Okafor.
Others are Hon Chief Stephen Ezenga (Ehi Ogbenye ta-akwu); Gabriel Udemba; Mark Okonkwo; Sylvanus Nwokolo; Christopher Akam (Kawawa); Chief Mathias Edochie; Fabian Onwugamba; Chief Emmanuel Odike; John Obidike; Sylvester Ogbuehi; Ben Onebunne; Ezekiel Onuegbu; David Ahujiak; Reuben Ebonighe; Chief Hyacinth O.Ezimora all of the blessed memory not forgetting Papa Christopher Okechukwu, pre-independence president, Mbanese union from Ebenator, “he articulated.
He clarified that Mbanese project was a non-political organization, adding that it might be regarded as a pressure group with membership open to citizens of Mbanese with visible means of livelihood.
The facilitator said marketing Mbanese is no tea party. He explained that the organizers were confronted largely with the problem of finance and late submission of credentials on the part of the awardees.
He explained that the core value of the initiators remained excellence which he said meant they could not compromise standard to accommodate everybody.
“I will not end this piece without venturing into the imperative and urgent need for the formal political integration of Mbanese for purposes of meeting today’s challenges as thrown up by the dynamics of the politics and governance of Nnewi South Local Government Area (since its creation), Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
“We have to get ourselves ready to ward off the threat of the big-brother-syndrome each time it rears its ugly head in our relationships with other parts of the Local Government Area, “he said.
The initiator and facilitator of the event appreciated the efforts of Hon Chief Joel Ndubeze Ezeani; Hon Frederick Ugo Anagwu; Hon Paul Uzor Ezeobi; and Comrade Barr Emmanuel Mbazuluike who were said to be the latest political entrant from Mbanese.
In the same vein, he gave kudos to Ikukuoma Nicholas Ukachukwu; Hon Dr Harry Oranezi; Hon Engr Felix Odimegwu (Omus) and the glamour boy of Nnewi South politics, Hon Barr Egwuoyibo Okoye (Ozoigbonine) for flying Mbanese flag high politically.
He disclosed that the unveiled Mbanese change agents were fifty people basking in the euphoria for their meteoric deeds and phenomena. He recognized the President General of Utuh Development Union, Prof Cynado Ezeogidi who he described as a man of wisdom and vigour, saying that development overflows in his native Utuh community.
He also noted that the President General of Ezinifite town union, Engr Geoffrey Onuchukwu had demonstrated uncommon courage, passion, innovation and unalloyed commitment in service delivery thereby rendering maximum benefit to the community.
He recognized other Presidents General and a whole lot of other personalities in the Mbanese for their contributions in one way or the other towards the development of the area.
Some of the awardees include the Chairman and CEO of ZOBIS Electrical Wires and Cables, Mr John Ezeobi as the industrialist of the year, among others.
