By: Ijeoma Sandra, Nnewi.

The  Nnewi community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State has celebrated the elderly people while still alive from 80 years and above.

The maiden event, which was organized by the Nnewi Forum for Justice, at the St Andrew Anglican Church, DCC Nnewi, on Wednesday, December 31, turned out to be a wonderful festival known as Ito Ogbo Ndi Okenye Nnewi.

The Chairman of the Forum, Hon.Osita Paul Obiasonganga, in his address, said the celebration, which was rooted in thanksgiving and committed to preserving the values, wisdom, and cultural identity that define them, was born from their collective pride as Nnewi people.

He disclosed that today, they celebrated the lives and resilience of their elders, honoured their contributions and legacy, and reinforced their culture, identity, and communal bond.

“Ndi Okenye, you are not elders, you are our compass. The wisdom you preserve, the heritage you uphold, and the lives you have shaped through your counsel are the foundation upon which Nnewi continues to thrive. We celebrate you today and always,” he noted.

Obiasonganga revealed that since the establishment of the Forum, they have witnessed the rise of Young Nnewi Indigenes and their meaningful contributions to the growth of their economy through their clear mission, which has remained: Justice, Equity, empowerment, and sustainable community development.

He stated that the Forum needs financial support of approximately 700 million Naira to actualize their plans to establish a medical centre where elderly persons aged 70 years and above would receive free medical care and attention, and one acre of land for the construction of the proposed medical centre.

Finally, Obiasonganga appreciated the Royal Father, His Royal Highness, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, their Sponsor, Chief Chinedu Jude Okwuosa, and Hon. Lotanna Ogujiofor (Ogini Anu Uria Nwa), the founder and Chairman of the Nwakaibeya Ogujiofor Foundation for generously providing food and drinks to cater for the guests and free medications from United States administered to over one thousand elderly persons by his medical team.

The Sponsor of the Maiden Ito Ogbo Ndi Okenye Nnewi, Prince Chinedu Okwuosa (Nwachinagbaluogu Nnewi) St. Jude expressed his profound joy for the maiden event, adding that the event was power packed to honour their elders, to reflect deep sense of community and respect for tradition.

He said the elderly in the society should be celebrated as it kept them going.

Mr.Alphonsus Anosike, from Nnewichi, one of the octogenarians honoured expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the maiden event, and prayed that they would live to be celebrated.

There were various cultural displays, award presentation to some of the distinguished sons and daughters of Nnewi and distribution of plasma television and other items to the elderly.