It was a day of glory for the Chairman of Marketing+Media Limited and Allianz Media Limited, Dr Theodore Okwu Ejike (TOE) Ekechi. The 28 communities of Ngor Okpala in Imo State conferred the title of Ugo Eji Ejemba (Eagle Worthy of Representing a Nation) of Ngor Okpala, on him. SANDRA EHIEZE writes. Ugo means an eagle in Igbo language. As the adage goes: When the eagle lands, other birds scamper for safety. The eagle dwarfs other birds and its power, vision and ability to fly long distance are unrivalled. When the 28 communities in Ngor Okpala in Imo State recognised the Chairman of Marketing+Media Limited as well as Allianz Media Limited, Dr Theodore Okwu Ejike (TOE) Ekechi and his wife, Tata Ngozi Benedicta, it was a day to remember. Ekechi was given the title of Ugo Eji Ejemba of Ngor Okpala (The eagle that is worthy of representing his people.) And surely, the leaders knew they could not have made a better choice. Not only has Ekechi made his mark as a successful businessman in Nigeria with interests in advertising and marketing communications, commodity brokerage, solar energy and consultancy services, he has also used his wealth and resources to empower many youths of the area. Many people in his community and neighboring communities believe he is a good ambassador of the clan who has done his best to bring positive development to the area. The conferment of the title was symbolic and instructive. It was during the annual Iri Ji, otherwise known as the New Yam festival. This year’s celebration came after a break of about 10 years during which the festival was not celebrated. Conferring the title on Ekechi, the chairman of the 28 monarchs that make up the Ngor Okapala clan, Eze Frederick Nwachuckwu, said they felt proud that it was during their own tenure and reign that Ekechi accepted a chieftaincy title. The reason is that Ekechi, being a reserved and very private individual, despite his reach and business concerns, has been turning down offers to confer a title on him for many years. “Gone are the days when chieftaincy titles are awarded to the highest bidders or those who patronise traditional rulers with gifts or cash,” Eze Nwachukwu said. “The new thinking in Imo State and indeed within the communities is to honour merit, character and integrity particularly when they are deployed to touch the lives of the people. Ekechi exemplifies these qualities. Whereas none of the 28 traditional rulers can point to any direct favour done to them individually by Ekechi, it is common knowledge that there is hardly any hamlet or village in the 28 autonomous communities where Ekechi has not empowered our sons and daughters,” the monarch said. He urged other successful citizens of the communities, in public, corporate or private service, to emulate him. He added that this is the only way development could be speed up and bring about socio-economic renaissance of the communities making up the Ngor Okpala. Eze Nwachukwu, who paused repeatedly to gauge the cheering mood of other Ezes, Chiefs and indigenes said he was speaking on behalf of all the Ezes present. He explained that Ekechi had rendered these services to the community with a sense of humility and dignity and as such a pride of the communities. He therefore argued, that the council, in unanimity, “agreed that not only was Ekechi deserving of a title from all the 28 autonomous communities but a special one for that matter that will distinguish him clearly from other title holders.” He added that they have been debating the kind of title they would confer on Ekechi to justify his services to the people. He explained that since the council did not have the powers to make him an Eze or something close to Eze, they decided to give him title of a High Chief which the Ugo Eji Ejemba signifies. The day of glory for Ekechi did not end with him alone, but also his wife, Tata, who was also recognised along with the husband as Lolo Ugo Eji Ejemba. Decked in a resplendent attire to match the occasion, Lolo sat on the podium, smiling, as she listened to Eze Nwachukwu pour encomiums on her husband. Ekechi, who was moved close to tears, told the gathering that he was humbled by the outpouring of love and encomiums being showered on him unsolicited, surprisingly by people who he had not touched directly in any way. He said such recognition of a person like him based on perceived merit indicated that things would be positive for the community. Thanking the Ezes and the chiefs and the cheering crowd, comprising of the old, the aged and the young, Ekechi said he was “encouraged and challenged to do more of those things that have earned me this honour.” He urged the youths to be vigilant so that the gains of the past two years in the communities’ quest for political and socio-economic rebirth would not be lost to the locusts again. posted on October 04, 2013 at 02:07AM jtnng.blogspot/
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 01:29:18 +0000
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