Yabatech students celebrate Igbo culture, Eze Nwajagu

By Simeon Mpamugoh

In recognition of his fearlessness and penchant for the defence of his Igbo people, Igbo Students Union, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, recently conferred the title of Onu Na Ekwuchitere Anyi Na Lagos (Our Spokesman in Lagos) to the embattled Eze Ndiigbo in Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), His Imperial Majesty Igwe Fred Nkemdilim Nwajagu.

The award was a major highlight of the cultural and coronation day of the 2024-2025 academic session  of the school and took place at the Horology frontage, beside the Art Complex of the institution.

Welcoming guests to the occasion,  the chairman, Mazi Chuks Nwosu, PhD, urged Igbo students in higher institutions in the country to imbibe the culture of using Igbo language and its rich proverbs in addressing their guests. He said this against the backdrop of one of the leaders of the union who gave his speech to the mostly Igbo language-speaking guests at the event in English.

Dr. Nwosu said, right from time, Ndiigbo’s identity had been associated with progress and development, adding that culture and tradition had been rich parts of whatever they set out to do and wherever they found themselves. He noted that the Igbo students in Yaba College of Technology and other higher institutions of learning were the hope of “our culture progressing from this generation to the next.”

He tasked Igbo leaders on supporting the students in skills and knowledge through apprenticeship schemes, which had remained one of the areas Ndiigbo had created a lot of successful entrepreneurs: “We can see that this has also  been espoused in the motto of the students union, which says: ‘Onye aghala Nwanne ya,’ meaning, ‘Don’t leave your brother behind’.”

The president of the union, Comrade Amadi Steadfast, disclosed that the event was significant in the calendar of the students’ union, describing it as cultural recreation day of the students and “a celebration of our identity, rich cultural heritage, tradition and values. Our cultural heritage is what defines and sets us apart.

“It is the fabric that weaves our community together and the foundation upon which we build our future. So, as we celebrate our cultural festival this academic session, let us be reminded of the struggles of our forefathers who fought tirelessly to preserve our culture and tradition by continuing to promote and celebrate our heritage,” he said.

In his response, Eze Nwajagu, who is one the monarchs with influence in two towns (Eze Mbanabu), Isiagu, in Anambra and Lagos States, said that he was excited to receive the award after being discharged and acquitted by a Lagos State High Court of trumped-up charges for terrorism, adding that  he had a responsibility as a monarch to protect his Igbo brothers when their lives and property are threatened.

He said: “This is one of the major functions of a traditional king of a community, and that was what I did in the prevailing circumstances and I’m happy about it.”

He regretted that, since his discharge and acquittal, only a few of the prominent Ndigbo in Lagos State had visited him in solidarity.

“I expected Ndigbo in Lagos to be united with one voice in literally welcoming the hawk’s return home. It’s true that Ndiigbo love themselves, yet some of us work against each other,” he said, adding, “It is unfortunate that some of the  Ohaneze Ndiigbo leaders  in Lagos State went to town peddling unfounded allegations that I was not a royal father, but I got my first chieftaincy title in the year 2000 under Apapa Local Government Area after fulfilling all the requirements of becoming an Eze. And since my sojourn to Lagos State, I have remained a law abiding citizen of the state and country at large.”

The Onataladike Mma commended Igbo students in Yabatech for mooting the idea of projecting Igbo culture and tradition in the school, saying that the award was an indication that he was treading on the right path. He prayed that God should help them finish their stay in the school and come out in flying colours to the benefits of their parents and society at large.

One of the special guests to the honouree, who spoke to Daily Sun, Chief Henry Unachukwu, Chairman Henjo Nigeria Limited, said: “Despite his discharge and acquittal, Eze Nwajagu is still who he is by virtue of his standing up for his people in Lagos State which is the reason the Igbo students union of Yabatech didn’t waste time in recognizing his resilience and steadfast. In fact he tread the path many Igbo leaders in Lagos State fear to tread.”

Over 10 prominent Igbo monarchs and supporters of the students union were presented different awards, including the royal father of the day, Eze John Nwosu, who performed the Iwa Oji (breaking of kolanut).