Brief history of Awba-Ofemili - OfemiliTimes

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Awba-Ofemili is a town in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The town has an estimated population of 15,978 according to the 2006 Nigerian Census. Awba-Ofemili has eight villages, each of which made up small communities of kindreds.

HRH Igwe Ezekwesili Maduagwuna,
Ofemili 1 of Awba-Ofemili

The eight villages in Awba-Ofemili today include Umuokpe, Umuchibu, Ezike, Akpana, Enugu-Agu, Umuosite, Enugwu, Umuezeavu.

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New dawn @ADU Lagos as Remmy Nweke emerges chairman

Ofemili Times:

The Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) Lagos has elected a set of new executive members to be led by international award-winning techmediaprenuer, Mr. Remmy Nweke as the chairman, reports Ofemili Times.

Nweke, who is the Lead Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa Media group, Ofemili Times gathered, takes over from former chairman, Mr. Kenneth Abulu Okoye and will steer the affairs of ADU Lagos for the next three years with his team.

The emergence of the new executive committee for Lagos ADU followed an election held on Sunday, June 4, at Satellite Town, with Mr. Joe Okoye stepping in as the vice chairman.

Announcing the outcome, the chief electoral officer for the 2017 electoral committee and Ideh of Awba-Ofemili, Ozo Agbogidi Benard Chidebe, listed other members of the new executive who all emerged unopposed to include Arinze Chidebe, a banker who emerged Secretary, Alex Akabueze as Assistant Secretary, Uchenna Muokwudo as Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Michael Monday Okafor, and assistant Financial Secretary, Emmanuel ChinedumEmeka Nweke.

Others, he said include the public relations officer cum welfare officer, Mr. Chike Aniebonam, he would be assisted y Mr. Monday Agummadu, while the provost is Adolphus Madubuko and to be assisted by Osita Nnake.

Ozo Chidebe also enjoined the new executive to ensure the sustenance of the peace in the ADU Lagos branch and at home as well as growing the branch to become the envy of all others nationwide.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the new executive, Mr. Remmy Nweke commended the electoral committee and members of the ADU Lagos for peaceful conduct.

He also dedicated the success of the election to God and members of the branch, urging them to feel free as his administration would run an open-door policy that is all-inclusive.

He further called for good concepts that will move the branch forward, which ultimately is to contribute meaningfully to the development of Awba-Ofemili town in Awka-North of Anambra State.

According to him, volunteerism is the beginning of leadership training and urged members to always volunteer as there are works to be done in moving ADU general and Lagos in particular to the next level.

The new exco equally pledged to endeavour at all times to project themselves and ADU in a way that will be very heartwarming and capable of bringing upliftment to the rice-producing town of Awba-Ofemili.

Onyeka Victor/ED, Ops

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Okemili to hold last Ofala

The late Igwe Samson Chike Akabueze, the Okemili 1 of Awba-Ofemili in Awka-North Local Government, Anambra State, on December 27 celebrate his last ofala festival.

According to a press statement made available to Ofemili Times by the family signed by Chief Moses Akabueze, he quoted the President General of Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) Chief Anthony Okafor, Secretary to the Igwe’s Cabinet/Ofala Committee, Chief Anaelo Nwanelo and Prince Uchenna Akabueze as endorsing the programme.

He also said that the final Ofala of Okemili would be held at the Central School field, Awba-Ofemili.

This final ofala, he said, would include the 21 gun salute, welcoming of the cabinet, parade by Iji-ele and Agunabo masquerades.

Additionally, he explained that there would be formal introduction of His Royal Highness (HRH) from over nine towns that made up the Awka-North local government.

Okemili, who was born in 1946 died on February 19, 2005 after a few years of coronation.

HRH Akabueze was born on October 21^st, 1946 at Umuokpa Village in Awba-Ofemili, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, to the family of Chief and Mrs. Akabueze Akabuko.

He attended the St. Paul’s Anglican School, Awba-Ofemili from 1955 to 1960, and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate there. He then proceeded to the famous Igbwebuke Grammar School Awka in 1962.

By 1965, he moved on to Iheme Memorial Grammar School Arondizuogu and completed his secondary education there. Also, he studied for the Higher School Certificate examination that institution.

Chike Akabueze began his working career in 1970 when he was posted to teach at the Emekuku High School, Owerri. He remain there until 1972 and by 1977, Okemili was involved in the Universal Primary Education Project, Women Training College, Sugu Tarba State.

As at 1978, Okemili went into full-time business and was largely concerned with civil engineering works with a registered company name: CHISAK Nigeria Limited. He successfully completed a number of government projects such as the Police College quarters, Yola; House of Assembly quarters, Yola, Ports Authority quarters, Lagos, and NEPA Power Room, Lagos among others.

He also has membership of so many social clubs including the Peoples Club of Nigeria, Bauchi branch and the Country Club, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Humorously kind, Okemili is humble, honest, generous and renders help to the needy. He has continued to contribute towards the development of Awba-Ofemili. It could be recalled that a few years ago when the two primary schools in Awba-Ofemili were hit by storm, he greatly assisted in the rehabilitation of the buildings to name a few.

Invariably, it was in recognition of many of his across-the-board contributions to the development of Awba-Ofemili that was easily selected and crowned the traditional ruler on April 14, 1998.

The choice of Okemili 1, Ofemili Times gathered was simple; namely that his people wanted a leader and not a ruler.

Igwe Akabueze was formally presented with the certificate of recognition by the former military governor of Anambra State, Group Captain Rufai Garba on July 29, 1998 as Okemili 1 of Awba-Ofemili.

Married to two wives, Igwe Akabueze has four children, while his leisure time is spent on lawn tennis and travelling.

Commenting on the death of Okemili, Ide Benard Chidebe said that though he is no more, but his contributions to the town cannot be forgotten in a haste, and commended the committee that put the final ofala together for a job well done.

Remmy Nweke

Awka-North petitions Gov. Obi over marginalisation

TEN Communities in Awka North Local government Area, Anambra State, have petitioned the state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi on what they called marginalization of the local government area by the government of Anambra state. The petition notes that Awka-North is the most neglected in the state, reports Odogwu Emeka Odogbwu.
The local government under the aegis of Igbo-Adagbe Development Association (IDA) in their petition copied to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 23 other eminent organizations and bodies regretted that there is no indigene of the local government appointed into any substantive position in the Government under Governor Obi .
The Petition made available to Daily Champion and signed by 10 different personalities from all the communities in the council area, including former House of Assembly members, Dr Chris Anagor , President of Igbo-Adagbe and Hon Louis Nkemdilim who doubles as Vice Chairman of Igbo-Adagbe , Secretary Hon Emma Igboemeka among others.
The petition queried to know whether communities in Awka North local Government are part of Anambra state or not as according to the petitioners the administration of Peter Obi had continued to pay lip service to the problems of Awka North despite that it is in the capital territory.
They prayed Governor Obi to look in the direction of the people of Awka North in appointments , rural electrification , road network and other basic amenities and employment as no indigene of Awka North is Head of Local Government Administration or heading the Local government Education Authority whereas , ‘the statutory allocation to Awka North are being frittered away without our people’s contribution, now how much of Awka North funds that have spent by your administration, we don’t know. This is criminal and immoral’’.
They decried that the Amansea-Ebenebe – Ugbenu-Ugbene –Awba-Ofemmili road he flagged off on May 2007 is not progressing as 18 months period of completion he promised has elapsed on March1 2009, and earth work had not gone beyond ten kilometers wondering why anybody should circulate tracts that the road has been completed. They lamented that the hospitals in the communities are in deplorable conditions and some communities without electricity ever since.

The Awka-North people said in the petition, “Awka North indigenes are hard working and law abiding citizens of Anambra State . It is our most sincere wish that we don’t resort to self-help in the present circumstances. We therefore as a matter of extreme urgency call on you to redress these injustices now. Specifically, we request that the following be graciously done.”
“Your Excellency should initiate an Affirmative Action for Awka North people to integrate them into government by giving employment to indigenes of our area who have over the years been excluded from appointments into the civil services because they have nobody at the helm of any government establishment.”

“Your Excellency is prayed to correct the imbalance in the appointment made by him and appoint an indigene of Awka North to serve in any Executive position in the administration. This will, to use the words of the constitution promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among our people.”
“Your Excellency should as a matter of urgency look into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba-Ofemili road construction with a view to ensuring that vital road is speedily completed.” The people wrote’’.
But the state government in a statement made available to Daily Champion and signed by the state commissioner for information and culture, Prof. Stella Okunna, mentioned some developments already going on in the area, as construction of 32 kilometer Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba Ofemili road.

According to Okunna, “The fact remains that Anambra State as a State was marginalized by her leaders until the coming of Governor Peter Obi. The other day, the Governor started the first road project in Anambra West since the State was created.”
“If you look back, you will see that even Awka North cannot boost of a single road until Obi became Governor. He is constructing the 32-Kilometers Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba Ofemili road, with a bridge over Ezu River . He is also constructing the 9.50 Kilometers Achalla junction-Adani Rd and the 13- kilometer Awkuzu-Igbariam – Achalla Rd. ”
“The Governor is simultaneously erecting eight buildings at the School of Agriculture Mgbakwu , where no previous Governor erected a block.”
“It may interest you to note that the place has been chosen for the Ethanol Plant, which will soon take off.”
“Besides, the Schools in the area, such as Community Secondary School, Isuaniocha, Community Secondary School Amansea, among others, were among the schools provided with Computer equipment and Laboratory equipment by the Government.” the statement read.