By Brown Chimezie

December 3, 2022, will remain evergreen in the minds of the Igbo in Benin Republic. It was the day that Eze Ndigbo Benin Republic Gburugburu, Eze Chimdum Chukwuebuka Onunkwo, celebrated the Igbo Cultural Day. The event, which coincided with Onukwo’s 52nd birthday, as well as his seventh Ofala as Eze Ndigbo Benin Republic, was an opportunity to promote Igbo culture to the outside world, and particularly give Ndigbo in Benin Republic a sense of belonging.

The event, which took place at the main bowl of Hall Des Arts, Cotonou, under the chairmanship of Chief Francis Okafor, Ogbuefi Chinwata Buru-Uzo 1 of Utu, attracted several Igbo personalities, as well as Onunkwo’s friends and well wishers from far and near.

Some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Nigeria Ambassador to Benin Republic, Amb. Olukayode Aluko; NIDO president, Alhaji Muniru Garba Nakura; King of Allada, Sa Majeste Ajahuntonon Kpodeggne Toyi Djigla; members of the Benin Republic Council of Traditional Rulers and the Igbo leader, Chief Mba Mathew, among many others.

Igbo culture was at its best. In what could be described as the most elegant and glamorous form, the five Southeastern states of Nigeria – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, as well as the Igbo speaking part of Delta State, prominently displayed their scintillating cultural dances to the admiration of the colourful guests. The host country was equally not left out in the cultural dance as their king and his guests were copiously treated to the country’s gbeze cultural dance.

Eze Onunkwo officially set the ball of the event rolling with the breaking of the kolanut after he had prayed for abundant blessings, peace and unity among the Igbo in Benin Republic. In his remarks, he thanked God for keeping him and the Igbo in Benin alive to celebrate the 2022 Igbo Day, which also coincided with his birthday and his Seventh Ofala since his coronation as Eze Ndigbo gburugburu in Benin Republic.

He said: “I am delighted to see the mammoth crowd of admirers from different walks of life, tribes and countries. The heterogeneous nature of this audience, which includes dignitaries of international repute, is reminiscent of the December 5, 2015 carnival, when the Igbo kingdom in Benin was born. The ceremony has been long overdue but God in his infinite wisdom knows why he made it possible in the seventh year. Seven as a number signifies perfection, and no other time would have been better for this ceremony than today which coincides with my birthday.”

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He listed some of his achievements in the last seven years of his reign to include the peaceful resolution of the Seme Kpodji Market crisis. He noted that the achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation of his cabinet members. “Today, Igbo traders in that market have come together under one strong Igbo union to make the market reflect the goal for which we established it,” he added

He thanked members of his cabinet (Eze in Council) who had held forth for him whenever he was absent in the kingdom. He also commended the efforts of Igbo executive in Cotonou, Portonovo, Parakou, Save, Bohicon, and Savalough Djougoun for leading the Igbo right outside their ancestral homeland.

As part of his usual philanthropic gesture, 100 bags of rice were given out to scores of people who attended the festival, while cash gifts were equally doled out to his numerous followers on Facebook and Instagram.

For many years, Eze Onunkwo has continued to pay the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examination fees for students in his home town, Ihembosi. He also has a list of students in various institutions of higher learning, who are on his scholarship scheme.

When it was time to cut the anniversary cake, he was joined to do that by his adorable wife, Lolo Ugogbe Eze Ebuka Onunkwo, Amb. Aluko, and other dignitaries.

The high points of the event were the conferment of chieftaincy titles on Ndigbo who have proved themselves exceptionally good in their service to humanity, as well as the conferment of a doctorate degree on Eze Onunkwo by the African University, Benin Republic.