Nnesweoha Festival: Ebonyi Stakeholders Urge Preservation of Ikwo Cultural Heritage
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ebonyi State, Professor Ben Uruchi-Odoh, has called for deliberate efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of the Ikwo people, warning against the extinction of indigenous traditions.
Professor Odoh made the call during the celebration of Nnesweoha at Ili Nnoyo in Ikwo Local Government Area, describing the event as the cultural crossover from the old year into the Ikwo New Year.
He said the celebration provides an opportunity for the people to reconnect with their roots and transmit their cultural values to younger generations.
He also advocated the inclusion of localized cultural studies in the secondary school curriculum to strengthen cultural preservation.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ilang Donatus Chukwuma, said culture remains an important part of the people's way of life, noting that Nigerian culture is already incorporated into the educational curriculum at various levels.
Ilang said the Nnesweoha celebration demonstrates unity among the five principal communities in Ikwo and symbolizes peace, togetherness and the expectation of new blessings.
Also speaking, Commissioner II, Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Monday Nwigbo, described culture as the identity of the people, saying the celebration promotes unity and reconciliation beyond political affiliations.
He urged parents to teach their children cultural values, including respect for elders, greetings and traditional ethics, saying such values are often learned at home rather than in formal classrooms.
Similarly, the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ikwo Local Government Area, Elder Stephen Nwukwu, said the annual Nnesweoha celebration has continued to unite Ikwo indigenes across Nigeria.
He prayed for greater prosperity among the people and expressed hope that subsequent editions of the festival would be bigger, while urging Ikwo people to sustain the tradition.
Comments
Post a Comment