By Chukwudi Asoya/Magnus Emuji
The Ugoani of Okpanam Kingdom, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, has called on the people of the community to support the proposed 2024 Okpanam Day Celebration, saying that the initiative would help in promoting the rich cultural heritage of Okpanam community.
Dr. Ogbolu made the call in his palace , Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State when the planning committee for the event paid him a courtesy visit to unveil the programme of activities lined up for the celebration.
Represented by the Ihonor of Okpanam, Chief Dominick Anyasi , the Okpanam monarch said that the initiative would benefit the community.
In their separate remarks, the Ikejiani of Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor, who was the chairman of the planning committee 30 years ago said that the last edition was a successful one. The Eze-Udo of Okpanam, Chief Emeka Ogwude and the President -General of Okpanam Youth Organization, Comr. (Hon) Lucky Okolo also said that the proposed Okpanam Day Celebration was in the right direction and commendable.
Comr. Okolo , who is a member of the planning committee for the event , assured the President -General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr. Robert Ogonenwe that Okpanam Youth Organization under his leadership would collaborate with the Union for the upliftment of the community.
Earlier , the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Ogbueshi Innocent Uchibuolu listed activities lined up for the Okpanam Day Celebration to include unity cup tournament, heritage day/cultural exhibition, symposium, ancestral day , homage to Ugoani and gala night.
According to Uchibuolu, indigenes and non-indigenes in the four quarters in the community would participate in the unity cup tournament.
He stated that during the heritage day celebration, each quarter in the community would showcase their identity as warriors or any other representation that may choose, stressing that the day would also include performances of important cultural dances such as Aguba and Odende dances.
While saying that there would be a symposium on a topic that would reflect on the past , present and future directions, Uchibuolu maintained that the symposium would create room for comprehensive discussion on the history, current abd future prospects of Okpanam, focusing on strategies for progress and development.
Uchibuolu noted that there would be Okpanam Economic Summit, emphasizing that a topic to address the menace of narcotics among youths in the community was also captured in Okpanam Day Celebration.
He said that a day was set aside for the Okpanam Ancestral Day, which according to him was a unique event that would bring together, each villages in the community.
In an interview with newsmen, the President -General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr. Robert Ogonenwe explained that the proposed Okpanam Day Celebration was designed to showcase to visitors and residents in the community the cultural heritage of the community and their togetherness.
