By Vincent Ujumadu
Awka- All is set for this year’s prestigious Ofala festival of the ancient Onitsha Kingdom, during which the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe will deliver a message of hope and resilience in the face of prevailing hardships in the country.
The festival, which has the theme, “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance” will attract visitors from within and outside the country.
Chairman of the Ofala Steering Committee, Chief Mike Areh, who is the Onya Ozoma of Onitsha, said the theme resonates deeply with the people’s resolve to overcome adversity.
“As we navigate the challenges of our time, we draw inspiration from our rich cultural heritage and the timeless values of our ancestors. The 2024 Ofala Eze Onicha is a call to action, urging us to tap into our inner strength, our collective resilience, and our 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”, Areh said.
He expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the festival , namely, Globacom Limited and International Breweries Plc (Hero Beer), for their continued support.
In their separate statements, Globacom and International Breweries said they were delighted to be part of the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha.
According to Globacom, “We are 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 honoured to be a part of it.”
“In a similar vein, the Marketing Director of International Breweries Plc, manufacturers of Hero Lager, Mr. Bamise Oyegbami, said: “At International Breweries Plc, we believe in the sustenance of culture and tradition as ways of uniting and inspiring our communities. We are delighted to support the 2024 Ofala and celebrate the courage, perseverance, and self-reliance of the Nigerian people.
The Editorial Publicity Lead of the Ofala Steering Committee, Tony Nezianya said in line with the usual practice, the Ofala will, in addition to the two days of the festival proper and the ancillary traditional rites, feature other events.
According to him, part of the event will be the 2024 edition of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations / Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Annual Lecture to be delivered by
Professor Pat Utomi, who will speak on “Achieving Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria: The Public Relations Approach”.
He also said that the tenth edition of the international art exhibition (Oreze X) which will take place from October16 to October 21, is part of the 2024 Ofala festival event.
Nezianya added that effective this year, a medical, health, and wellbeing community outreach, which will be undertaken throughout the festival, has been introduced.
He said, however, that the Ofala Youth Carnival organized by the Onitsha Youth Council (OYC), which, according to him, 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, Kpajie Barrister Ernest Offiah, who was the driving spirit of the carnival.
“The Ofala has received national and international recognition, including endorsement from the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and a Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Culture from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
“Rooted in deep spirituality, the Ofala is an occasion for the monarch to fulfill certain obligations. It is primarily a celebration by the monarch and his subjects, the annual emergence from seclusion, during which period the monarch has successfully negotiated the fortunes of the kingdom.
“The Ofala is also a reenactment of the joy which the monarch shared with his subjects, at the discovery that yam is non-toxic, and a valuable source of food”, Nezianya added.
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