The Ikwerre Traders Association Iketa has honoured some deserving sons and daughters of Ikwerre extraction for their hardworking, businesses, leadership among others.
The association has also presented certificates to eight sons and daughters of Ikwerre indigenes as patrons of the association with Chief Sampson Aguaru as the chairman.
The ceremony took place at Rumueme Civic Centre in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State during the IKETA Agricultural exhibition/credibility award and secretariat appeal fund.
Those presented the credibility award include, Chief Godswill India Okoha JP the Eze Igo Charuacha I of Ogbakiri land, High chief Sunny Isaiah Onyeukwu Eze Akajiakwu, Elder Christopher Ogonda Wike, chairman/CEO, Wike Electrical Limited, Mrs. Ego Manda, Hon. Welenda Agbagbue, Executive Secretary Emohua local government area, Mrs. Grace Nchelem David JP, Mrs. Chinyere Patience Dike, Leader ThankGod Ikechi Ebere A Wojiowhor, Mrs. Christaina Ulie woke, Elder Michael Woke (alias Alhaji) Chief Godwin Ejikeme Wonwu, Chief Godwin Omunakwe Adele the Eze Iyiaka of Oropotoma.
Those who were presented certificate as the patrons of the association include, Hon. Allen Nma, Emohua local government chairman, Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo, Mayor of PHALGA, Hon. Welendu Chijemezu Amadi, Chairman Ikwerre local government, Chief Prince Paul Wanodi, former chairman Emolga, Chief Mrs. Oroma Nmerukini, wife of former Mayor of PHALGA, Hon. Emmanuel Chinda, Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Mrs. Blessing Amadi, Lectuer U.S.T and Chief Sampson Agbaru, the President General of Ikwerre Cultural Organization worldwide as the chairman of the patrons.
In his opening remarks, MR. Linus Awute, MNI, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Finance who lauded the Ikwerre traders association for the ceremony, recalled the importance of agriculture to the state and the nation at large, noting that there was full participation of Ikwerre people in agriculture in the past.
He regretted that nowadays they are less concerned in the cultivation of agriculture and preferred white collar jobs.
Mr. Awute who was represented by Mr. Friday Owhonda called on all Ikwerre sons and daughters including Rivers people to make a rethink and participate in agriculture to ensure abundancet of food supply in our state and the nation.
Similarly a lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua in the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Andrew Uchendu, in his speech while commending the Iketa for the ceremony, urged Ikwerres to be proud of themselves for being blessed with natural resources.
Chief Uchendu who was represented by a former lawmaker representing Emohua constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Azubuike Odum advised Ikwerre not to abandon their agricultural heritage, rather should participate actively to ensure abundant food in the state.
In his address, the President of Ikwerre Traders Association, Deacon Kenneth Eze noted that the presentation of the credibility awards to some deserving Ikwerre sons and daughters was in keeping with the association’s promise to appreciate and encourage success earned through hardwork and determination.
According to him, “we shall today honour our deserving sons and daughters of Ikwerre who in our humble estimation have by shear determination and hard working left their foot prints in the sands of time in their various areas, ranging from business, leadership, philantropism, agriculture, human capital development among others. The true essence of the award is to spur many other Ikwerre sons and daughters to touch the lives of others and impact on their world positively.
He further stated that some Ikwerre sons and daughters would be presented certificates to be association’s patrons which would go a long way in sustaining their success journey.
He said the association was founded 16 years ago to give pride and dignity to the few and lonely Ikwerre sons and daughters in the business world previously dominated by other tribes.
He recalled that the association was made up of 12 members, but today it has over 4, 000 registered members spread across the nation, adding that the membership is open to every Ikwerre sons and daughters who wish to be members of the association.
Mr. Eze enumerated some of the achievement of the association which include, unification of Ikwerre traders, training and empowerment of Ikwerre indigenes in various businesses, assisted over 150 young men and women from Ikwerre by granting soft loans to them, assisting the less privileged by supporting them in their education pursuit in secondary and tertiary institutions among others, adding that the association’s dream was to acquire land and build a modern IKETA Secretariat (Obiri IKETA) and appeal for assistance to enable them achieve their desired goal.
The president who commended governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State for his development stride across the state, appealed to him to assist traders and farmers from the association by providing them with fertilizers, soft loans, land to boost agriculture in Rivers State.
He also appealed to the four Ikwerre speaking LGAs’ Chairmen to assist them as well.
In a chat with journalists, one of the awardees, Chief Godwill India OKoha (JP) the Eze Igo Charuacha I of Ogbakiri land while commending the association for the honour done him and his colleagues expressed delight, stressing that the award will spur him and his colleagues to do more.
Chief Okoha who noted that the secret of his success in life was hard working and God almighty, dedicated his award to God.
Okoha appealed to governor Amaechi to assist farmers and traders of Ikwerre to do their businesses and farming effectively.
The highlight of the ceremony was drama presentation, cultural dances, agricultural exhibition and awards.
By Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
