A group photograph of Anioma people at the event.
Story by Dili Utomi.
It was Socrates that said over two thousand years ago that a life not examined is not worth living and by extension, this also applies to a group, community or country. It was in this vein that the Njiko Ndi Anioma, a socio-cultural group that aims to preserve, protect and advance the culture of the Igbo speaking people of Delta state had its Lagos branch gathered on Sunday to take stock, update their knowledge of the area and also honour deserving sons and daughters from this unique area and people. The name Anioma simply means good land as the people from this area pride themselves with the richness of their land as well as its peoples.
Hon. Ben Davies Chukwunenye, centre with his wife on his right being awarded at the occasion.
The occassion which had the venue fully packed with members and well wishers alike had three pronged programmes in one namely, a general assembly, lectures and coronation/honouring of members. The lecture had the themes: The History and Philosophy of Anioma People and Anioma Socio-Cultural and Economic Development Strides. Majority of the people at the venue wore the traditional Anioma attire known as the Akwa ocha, the hand woven white cloth material used in celebrating special occasions just like this event. Most of the women actually wore their Akwa ocha with red blouses and matching red scarves making it look like the unique occassion that it truly was.
Obuzor Chuks Smith, the president-general of the Njiko Ndi Anioma presenting his speech at the occassion.
The president-general of the Njiko Ndi Anioma Worldwide, Obuzor Chuks Smith in his opening address stated that the association was “founded as a non-partisan, non-political, but a socio-cultural organisation with formidable presence across states of Nigeria as well as in the diaspora to harmonise and articulate our socio-cultural values as well as harvest cogent and progressive vision of our opinions and those of our leaders”. He detailed part of their aims and objectives as peace missions at grassroot level in Anioma communities and across Nigeria, sustaining moral and cultural instructions, caring for the less privileged, enhancement of dialogue and the mechanisms for peace and of course being good ambassadors of the Anioma people everywhere.
Obuzor Chuks Smith also said that over 1,000 women have been empowered with One Hundred Thousand Naira (#100,000.00), relief materials to 300 women, job opportunities to about 175 persons and the group’s presence all over Nigeria and indeed in diaspora.
In the first lecture presented by Pastor Olisa Daniel Dieyi, he noted that the Anioma people occupiy a total of nine local government areas in the Delta North Area of Delta state. He made an anthropological assessment of the people of the area and stated that these are people who have evolved under similar traditions, cultures, practices and shared identity. Pastor Dieyi also urged that the nation would benefit more from the intelligence, industry and positive social endowments of the Anioma people and so they should be treated with more fairness and equity at all levels.
The second lecturer, Chief Anonyai Ojei looked at the history behind the present day Delta state and the intrigues behind its creation, he noted that the largely agrarian population of people from this area known as Anioma have contributed immensely to the development of the nation and should be further encouraged.
The event saw the award of honours to several sons and daughters from Anioma namely Hon. Ben Davies Chukwunenye as the patron of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo of Anioma people in Lagos, Chief Mrs. Nneka Christie Orisafele as Image Maker of Njiko Ndi Anioma; Chief Mrs. Lillian Amakor as Matron; and Chief Mrs. Chioma Mbaoma as Ada Chimeremeze of Lagos.
At the end of the event, the patron of the Association, Hon. Chukwunenye spoke to us and said that the Anioma people worldwide gathered to celebrate the people of Anioma. He added that the Anioma people are in all aspects of the nations life and that the country can benefit from the energy of these people noting that governments should learn to use occasions such these to bring people together. He appealed to the Lagos state government to have a Lagos cultural day where different ethnic nationalities could gather to showcase this kind of event.
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