The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, is set to celebrate the Ofala festival from October 18 in Anambra State.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the Ofala steering committee.
The festival is a celebration of the monarch’s annual emergence from seclusion, a period when he negotiates the fortunes of the kingdom.
This year’s celebration is themed: ‘Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance (Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe)’, to reflect the monarch’s message of hope and resilience in the face of prevailing hardship in the country.
“In line with usual practice, the Ofala will in addition to the two days of the festival proper and the ancillary traditional rites feature other events,” the statement said.
“These will kick off on October 8, with the 2024 edition of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations/Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Annual Lecture.
“Professor Pat Utomi will be speaking on ‘Achieving Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria: The Public Relations Approach’. The tenth edition of the international art exhibition (Oreze X) will be run from October 16 to October 21.
“Effective from this year, a Medical, health, and wellbeing community outreach which will be undertaken throughout the period of the festival has been introduced.
“Regrettably, the Ofala Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Youth Council (OYC), which is arguably the largest street party in southeast Nigeria will not hold this year as a mark of respect for the murdered leader of the OYC, and the driving spirit of the carnival, Kpajie Barrister Ernest A.B.K Offiah.”
Okechukwu Mike Areh, chairman of the Ofala steering committee, said the festival is a call to action, and urged the people to tap into their inner strength, collective resilience, and unwavering commitment to one another.
“We are proud to showcase our rich cultural heritage and promote unity among our people and invite everyone to join us in celebrating the 2024 Ofala,” he said.
Areh also expressed gratitude to Globacom Limited and International Breweries Plc (Hero Beer), sponsors of the festival, for their continued support.
Globacom said it is proud to once again partner with the Ofala steering committee to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
“The Ofala is a celebration of our nation’s diversity and resilience, and we are honored to be a part of it,” Globacom said.
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