By Ikemefuna Ikem
The Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Asadu (Igwe Ogadagidi) has said that efforts must be made to document indigenous festivals as a tool for cultural sustainability and national unity.
The monarch said this in Nsukka on Thursday while delivering a public lecture titled" Ofala Festival and Heritage Preservation in Igboland: Implications for National Building."
The lecture, organized by the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), tagged: Special Museum Exhibition in Commemoration of the Maiden Ofala Festival of HRH Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, with the theme "Igbo Cultural Heritage in Time Past.'
Asadu decried the rate at which Igbo heritage is gradually turning into things of the past, saying "Ofala festival stands as a monumental pillar in the preservation of Igbo cultural heritage within the community acting as an annual, profound reaffirmation of the ancient monarchical order."
According to the monarch who is also the traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, "Ofala festival is a cultural preserve of the Igwe, the traditional ruler, and spiritual leader of traditional communities in Igbo land.
"The presence of such authority which has been passed down from one ruler to another through multiple generations reinforces the role of the Igwe as a reader, community steward and a continuum of ancestral connection.
"In a country like Nigeria which advocates for nationalism and Peace, they shared sense of responsibility and security arises from individuals' understanding that individual and collective discipline is important to maintain peaceful social interaction and resistance.
"These are drivers of national tolerance, harmony, unity and this can be translated to national socioeconomic growth and productivity in the long run.
"Hence, preservation of cultural heritage like the Ofala festival will be a vital tool to drive national building even in the time of economic crisis and security qualms, more so now that the upcoming generation is being influenced by western culture," he said.
Igwe Ogadagidi commended the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies for organizing the special museum exhibition in his honour, this was even as he paid special commendation to Prof White Nwakwo, former Head of the department for facilitating the event, as well as Mr. Ambrose Ezema (MC Wakete), a Senior Curator at the department for guiding and explaining each artwork and artefacts in display to the audience.
The traditional ruler who is the immediate past Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers donated N2m to support the department.
In her remark, Princess Chetachi Ecton, Member of the World Honor to Humanity of Saint George who chaired the occasion said that Igwe Asadu
has touched lives and has been a beacon of hope to many especially the less privileged through his leadership.
She described the Ofalla festival as a time of harvest and a time to give thanks to God, commending the traditional ruler for upholding the culture and tradition of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient kingdom and Igboland in general.
Ecton donated the sum of N2m for the maintenance of the museum as well as another N3m to support Igwe's Ofalla festival celebration.
Early in a remark, Dr Chioma Ngonadi, Head, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, UNN, said that Ofala festival is one of the cultural traditions of the Igbos of Southeastern Nigeria, which has distinguished them from other cultures within the African cultural space.
"Today's special museum exhibition was designed to interrogate the role of the Ofala Festival in Igbo Cultural preservation and nation-building.
"More importantly, it is a monumental event to celebrate the 2025 Maiden Ofala Festival of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, Igwe Ogadagidi of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient kingdom, Nsukka that is slated for Saturday, November 15 2025, at his Palace.
"This Special Museum Exhibition is the first of its kind in the trajectory of UNN. Igwe Ogadagidi has distinguished himself not just as a traditional ruler with a difference, but also as a motivator, philanthropist, community developer, peace builder, nation builder and a true son of Igboland," she said.
The traditional ruler was accompanied to the event by his wife, Her Majesty, Lolo Eberechukwu Asadu, some of his children who returned from the United States of America,
Dominic Asagwa, Deputy Controller General of Immigration, Retired, Igwe's council members, Executive Members of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Town Union, Traditional Rulers, among others.
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