To the people of the Ifite Ogbeadiji Ebenesi community in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the current festive period should be repeated, as the memories are too sweet to be forgotten.
With a golden flute for salutations and hearts filled with gratitude, they extended unreserved appreciation to one of their noble sons, Celebrity High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, for single-handedly sponsoring the celebration of culture and heritage carnival in the community.
Some indigenes of the community who simply identified their names as Amaka Okafor, Chinwe Okeke and Chukwunonso Obi expressed happiness that Ezeonu has brought peace, unity and smiles to the community as the carnival showed cased their rich foods, dance, identities and norms.
South East Reporters gathered that aside from staging the carnival, Ezeonu has empowered over 50 women in Nnobi to start their own businesses, roofed the Ifite Nnobi Town Hall, provided many commercial motorcyclists (Okada) with safety helmets and reflective jackets.
It was also gathered that Ezeonu, who is equally CEO of Hamthel Holding and HEX Consulting LLC, USA, and serves as the Director of Zybs Medical Group USA, equally renovated the Nnobi General Hospital, provided community security vehicles, and installed over 200 solar street lights in Nnobi.
South-East Reporters reports that prior to the carnival, Ezeonu installed solar power in the Nnobi General Hospital and Ifite Nnobi Town Hall, built and commissioned the first police tower in Nnobi, and completed three boreholes and a one-kilometer road in the community.
A closer look into the carnival proved that it showcased the rich socio-cultural existence of Ndi Nnobi, and drew people from neighbouring towns and diaspora to the St. Theresa’s field, Nnobi, venue of the showpiece.
The carnival sponsored by Ezeonu, who holds the title of Ikemba Nnobi, as gathered was the first time such a large celebration was being held in the community for such a long time.
Addressing his people, Ezeonu, said the carnival was targeted at showcasing the beauty and rich cultural heritage of Ndi Nnobi, talent exhibition, and harnessing potential among the community members.
Ezeonu added he single-handedly sponsored the maiden carnival to strengthen love and peaceful co-existence among the people to showcase Nnobi as a prominent community.
Facts gathered showed that Ezeonu’s exceptional contributions have earned him many awards from Tesla and Cablevision, and him successfully, single-handedly hosting of the biggest carnival in his town is a testament to his commitment to community service.
Speaking during the carnival, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commended Ezeonu’s commitment towards human and community development.
The Governor noted the event has added huge value to the administration’s vision of making Anambra a tourist and cultural destination in Africa.
Soludo who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi, said that making Anambra a cultural and tourism capital is core to his administration’s policy thrust which is why the state government has invested heavily in the construction of the Solution Fun City, Agulu Lake Resort, remodeling of Ogbunike Cave, among others.
Igwe Nick Obi, the traditional ruler of Nnobi said that the need to foster unity and love among community members necessitated the cultural carnival, encouraging other villages and quarters to key into such an initiative as a measure to sustain Igbo rich cultural heritage.
South-East Reporters gathered that the event was attended by the Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Hon. Don Onyenji; Chairman of Idemili South LGA, Hon. Amaka Obi, the Chairman of Ifiteogbeadiji Nnobi, Comrade Stanley Izuegbunem, Co-Chairman of the event, Chief Tochukwu Okafor, among other high-profile dignitaries.
Meanwhile, the carnival featured different dances, masquerades performances, presentation of laptops, cheques, and empowerment to deserving members of the community.
