Dr. Uche & Rose Iheme and Family Cleveland, OH toOwerri NchiseUSA(ONUSA) onthecelebrationofOru OwerriFestival2022
Congratulations
Oh,saycanyousee, Bythedawn'searlylight, Whatsoproudlywehailed, Atthetwilight'slastgleaming?
1. Arise,Ocompatriots,Nigeria'scallobey Toserveourfatherland Withloveandstrengthandfaith Thelabourofourheroespast Shallneverbeinvain Toservewithheartandmight Onenationboundinfreedom, peaceandunity.
Whosebroadstripesandbrightstars, Throughtheperilousfight, O'ertherampartswewatched, Weresogallantlystreaming.
2. OhGodofcreation, directournoblecause Guideourleader’sright Helpouryouththetruthtoknow Inloveandhonestytogrow Andlivingjustandtrue Greatloftyheightsattain Tobuildanationwherepeace andjusticeshallreign.
Andtherocket'sredglare, Thebombsburstinginair, Gaveproofthroughthenight, Thatourflagwasstillthere.
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 1
Ohsaydoesthatstarspangledbanneryetwave. Forthelandofthefree,andthehomeofthe brave.
ANTHEMS
2 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Chief Joe Nkwodinma Chief Captain Max Uzoegwu Engr. Kelechi Njiribeakor Board Member Board Member Board Member Amawom Umuororonjo Umuoronjo Chika Odimara, Ph.D. President Chairman Board of Directors Chief Betram Elekwachi Chief, Sir. Noble Linus Ebere Dr. Gloria Anukam Azubuike Chief George Okereke Board Member Board Member Financial Secretary Public Relations Officer Umuonyeche Umuoyima Princess Clarice Opara Tina Ohuabunwa Chief Boyce Emeharaole Ogbonna Agamanu Treasurer Secretary Adviser/Former President Asst. Secretary
As an Owerri man, it has been my pleasure to serve you as president through your unanimous selection and also to preside over the deliberations of this great organization of Owerri Nchise. I have continued to be cognizant and sentient of the fact that you have not done so because of any astonishing and extraordinary attributes in me, but because you choose to. I have come to comprehend and realize I am not the oldest among you, nor the shrewdest, nor the well off, nor the most experienced, nor the most learned. I am therefore grateful to you for enriching me to thishighplinthofthepedestal. Ladiesandgentlemen,prayerworks.ThankGodthatwe're all alive today to witness this great occasion, not because we're better, or more righteous than the dead. So, we shouldateverygivenpointintime,keepappreciatingGod, who not only has kept us alive, but has also given us all roundvictoryineverycircumstance.
From The PRESIDENT
OWERRINSHI-ISEUSA
The Chairman, Board Members, Traditional Rulers; Chiefs, Spiritual leaders, his Temporal; distinguished ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed. It's my pleasure and privilege to welcome you all to this tenacious gathering. IwishtousethisopportunitytothankGodforsafearrival. It is with profound gratitude that I welcome all of you here tonight. I appreciate your coming despite tied schedules, and I cannot thank you enough for being part of this convention. Indeed, you're the most beautiful people on earth. Honestly, you made me proud through our laudable achievementsduringtheyearsasyourPresident.Kudos!
You're aware that this year's Oru Owere cultural festival has added more value to the culture bycreatingpublic awareness, aimed at galvanizingcivicinterest inpopularity.Aside fromthis, the Unionhasmade enormouscontributions toward societaldevelopment suchasintegrating thefivevillages,andotherburdeningissuesthataffectthecitizenry. Above all, I appreciate individuals or groups who in one way or the other assisted the mother branch in celebrating the Oru Owere festival, such a benevolent gesture, has proven your emissaryambassadorship.AspresidentofOnusaandChiefinOwerri,Ihavebeenprivilegedto knowthefundamentalsocialproblemswhichconfrontthosewhoareprivilegedtoruleothers. Ialsorealize theimpossibility ofchanginghuman nature in particular areasofsocial activities. But any organization which makes the slenderest affectation to be democratic must prove itself equal to its responsibility by ensuring the application of the rule of law in the maintenance of order in a stable society, and by guaranteeing to its citizens the enforcement offundamentalrightswhichinvolvesalotofselflesssacrificesbymembers.
On my part, I'll not let you down for any reason and will continue to work with the collaborationoftheentireCommunity.
CHARACTERISTICSOFANOWERRIMAN
A real Owerri man contends; that he is transparent, does not support evil; he is friendly to everybody, and values his mankind. Owerri man worships the true living God, not idols; he believes in equity and justice; he does not cheat, but rather anchors fate on gods of karma, whom he always believes fight his battle. He's accommodating and does not shed blood. Finally,anOwerrimanisindispensable,farfromthetruth.
Onusa my people keep praying for Nigeria, especially Imo State: Insecurity, notably, is at the high pick; killings and kidnapping have become the order of the day. This is the time to pray for total restructuring and transformation of the system in Nigeria. I do not doubt what God can LET'Sdo.RISE
AND OBSERVE A MINUTE OF SILENCE, FOR THE DEPARTED ONES. (Chief Barrister Ozobia Alvin Ozuzu and David Mbachu). We will also pray for the sustainability of the United StatesofAmerica;peace, cannotbe over emphasizedin theUSAasGod continuestodirect its Wepaths.have come a long way as an entity, with surmounted trial periods like every other community. I must congratulate your efforts on issues resolved during those days, months, and years. This portrays your cooperative exertion. I must reiterate in affirmative your immensesupportandcommitmenttothegrowthofourcommunities.
Istrongly believethat nothingdeters our unity.Our anchorapart fromGod liesinthe ability to understand and tolerate. I urge you not to relent in keeping faith in us. We should try as much as possible to resist all forms of acrimonies, capable of disintegrating our unity as Owerri people.
CHALLENGESANDSOLUTIONS
ARE YOU AWARE THAT: Culture helps build social capital, the glue that holds communities together?Bybringingpeopletogether,culturalactivitiessuchasfestivals,fairs,orconventions create social solidarity and cohesion, fostering social inclusion, community empowerment, capacity building,enhancingconfidence,civicpride,andtolerance.
PertinentQuestions
The social capital created through culture increases with regular participation in cultural activities. This is in line with the Oru Owere street procession in Owerri municipality, and abroad, in conjunction with the NGBUGBUZO festival which holds in three weeks after OruOwereatadesignatedplace. LadiesandGentlemen,byGod'swill,wewilllivetoseeandwitnessthenextconvention. OnceagaincongratulationsandwelcometoPhilly,2022.
Chief, Sir Chika Odimara, MS, MA, PG.D, Mphil, Ph.D.
It is high time to emphasize how to enhance and promote Oru Owere culture in a more diversified manner. The idea is to work on a template for how to proffer lasting peace in the community and reawaken peoples' subconscious minds on culture. Culture cannot effectively be participated in a fierce atmosphere. Are we not aware that unprecedented crisis blow up communities in Owerri? Such crisis has eluded us with benefits, for instance, issues of Ezeship tusslehavealmosttornaparttheentireOwerriNchise. This gradually is eating deep into the marrows of the people, spreading across the board. I want you to believe in us and the ability to handle the problem just for the sake of our children yet unborn. Meanwhile, it's good to educate people about the danger in ostrich politics (a style of politics that evades rather than addresses problems); also totally avoid the infiltrators' sledge hammer. Let's restore our lost dignity and ignominy to the glory of God. Our dignity has been the yardstick by which the success or failure of our community as a peoplecanbemostaccuratelyassessed. WhyweshouldholdontoOruOwereasthepeoples'culture?
Thehistoryofourpeople(ndeOwere)datesbacktothe14thcentury.Historicallyspeaking,the central figure of the founding of Owere was a man named Ekwem Oha, who fled his ancestral home Umualum in Umuorii, Uratta when his life was threatened by his younger brother, Ndum Oha.The threat tohislife arose fromadispute over the sharingofparts ofthe cowslaughtered when their father died. Custom demanded that the cow for the burial be provided by the elder son Ekwem. Ekwem was not able to fulfill this obligation. He requested his more affluent brother Ndum to buy the cow. Ndum obeyed. After the burial ceremony, Ndum demanded the essential parts of the slaughtered cow be given to him on the grounds that he bought the funeralcow.Ekwemobjected,andabitterquarrelarosebetweenthem. The elders (Oha Uratta) were invited to settle the quarrel. In their judgement, they allowed tradition to prevail and in support of Ekwem, stated "Oji Aku lie nna ya, owuhu opara gburu ya." In other words, hewhohasthe meansshould bear the costofafather's funeral,because it is not the first son that killed him. Ekwem, therefore was given the essential parts. Accepting the essential parts of the cow, Ekwem happily exclaimed, "Ewerelam ihe maram aka"i.e. I have taken what is rightfully mine. The elders in support explained, "Owerela ihe mara ya aka." This occasionedEkwembeingnicknamed"OWERE."THEORIGINOF"ORUOWERE" Angered bythe decisions of the elders, Ndum hatched aplotto attack Ekwem and his family at dead of night. When Ekwem got wind of the plot, he quickly gathered his family and fled into the bush. Traversing the jungles, Ekwem ("Owere") reached Egbu, where one of his sisters was married. The Sister provided them with "owa"(native torch) and urged them to continue their journeyinfearthatNdumwasinpursuitofthem. ByTheTraditionalLeader Chief/Sir.MaxOzuzuUzoegwu[OfoKaAjaOwere]
Finally, they arrived andpitched at ahill (today known as ugwuEkwema).In jubilationfor their deliverance from a vengeful brother ,and their Passover from Uratta to a new haven, Ekwem sounded his Royal trumpet (Odu) as he and his family feasted on roasted yams, praising their god(chi),andsang "OruAnyi e?,Orughianyi o,"meaning,Isitourfault?Itisnotourfault. This feast of Passover from Uratta to a new haven (OWERE) has since become an institutionalizedannualevent celebration.
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Chief Sir Chika Odimara, Ph.D. President
Chief Sir Nwaneri Chairman Board of Directors
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10 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Adandieze Lady VictoriaOparanoziOrisakwe Ad Journal Coordinator for ONUSA Convention 2022
Stanley
Mbata (Chocho Nwokeoma) Ad Journal Coordinator for ONUSA Convention 2022
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 11 CongratulationsOwerriNchi IseUSAontheirannualOruOwerrifestival. OwerrioruoOruOwerrioruooruOwerri.
Venue: RadissonHotel,Trevose,PA 9:00amto10:00am: Arrivalandregistrationonconventionparticipants
10:00amto10:30am: Openingprayer,presentationofKola nut andappointmentofconventionofficials
Venue: RadissonHotel,Trevose,PA
12:30pmto1:00pm FundRaising
11:00pmto11:30pm: LateDinner
PlenarySession
10:45amto11:30am ChiefMauriceMbata
9:00pmto10:00pm: ReviewofONUSAConvention 10:00pmto11:00pm StateoftheAssociation
10:30amto10:45am CitationoftheKeynotespeaker
Theme: WhereisOweremanrelevant?
8:15pmto8:30pm: TheONUSApresidentwelcomesOwerriPeopletoPhiladelphia
6:00pmto8:00pm: Arrivalandregistrationofconventionparticipants
12:00pmto12:30pm LunchBreak
8:00pmto8:15pm: PresentationofKola nutandwelcomeremark byconvention chairman/hostDr.ChikaOdiwara
8:30pmto9:00pm: Minutesofthelastconvention
BusinessSession Date: Saturday,September3,2022
Date: Friday,September2,2022
TechnicalSession
ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT 2022 ONUSA CONVENTION AND ORU-OWERE FESTIVAL ONUSA PROGRAM OF EVENTS
2:00pmto3:00pm Awardceremonyandvoteofthanks
11:30amto12:00noon ChiefEzeUbaonScholarship
HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA August29,2022
Sincerely, Mr. Benard Ejiogu (President) Chief Maxwell Uzoeqwu (Traditional Leader) Mrs. Juliet Obi (Secretary)
Attention: Dr. Chika Odimara ONUSA,Philadelphia OnbehalfofthemembersofOwerreNchi IseFamilyAssociation(ONIFA),Houston,Texas, U.S.A.,wecongratulateOwerriNchi IseUSA(ONUSA)ontheir2022ONUSA,Philadelphia InternationalConventionandOru Owerre”annualfestivalonSeptember3,2022.
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 13 OWERRI NCHI-ISE FAMILY ASSOCIATION(ONIFA)
14 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
Iwanttoseizethisopportunity to congratulateONUSAonthis grandoccasionmarkingour biennialconventionin PhiladelphiaonSept3,2022. Ialsowanttoexpressmy gratitudeforthehonor bestowedonmetopresentthe key noteaddress.Thethemeof thisyear’sconventionis UNITYamongstourpeople. Weshouldnottake unityforgranted. Weshouldworkcontinuouslyonit. Maurice O. Mbata
Chief
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION OwerreOruo,OwerreOruo,OruOwerre…WethankGodforthepeacefulcelebrationofthisour culturaleventyearafteryear.WeasktheAlmightyGodtograntourpeoplegoodhealth,unity, love,peaceandprosperity.InJesusnamewepray. Hon. Chief Sir Sebastine & Lolo Nkechi Unanka For The Unanka Family
Chief Noble (Dike Omereoha of (Ezinwanyi Ma Obi Diya of Owerri) NobleLinus OmereohaofOwerri) MaObiDiyaofOwerri)
Sir
Linus Ebere
TheentirefamilyofChiefSir
Ebere(Dike
and EzinneLoloLadyEstherEbere(Ezinwanyi
16 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
heartilycongratulatetheentiremembershipofONUSAontheoccasionofthe10thbi annual conventionholdingonSeptember2022atPhiladelphia. Maypeace,unityandGod’slovereignforeveramongus. Owerriwuokemba!!!!
Owerri) & Ezinne Lolo Lady Esther Ebere
’L CONVENTION Chief&Chris Lolo Ada Nwaneri Akudo Owere LongliveONUSA! LongliveImoState! LongliveNigeria!
18 OWERRI NCH ThefamilyofChief/Capt.Max andLoloStellaUzoegwu congratulatesONUSAonthe occasionoftheirconvention andOruOwerefestivityin Philadelphia2022. Chief/Capt. Max Lolo&StellaUzoegwu
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
Dr. Mrs. Ursula Odimara Dr.UrsulaOdimaracongratulatesherhusband ChiefDr.ChikaOdimara, PresidentofONUSAonthisyear'sONUSAconvention,Philly2022. LongliveOnusa,LongliveOwerri Nichise.
20 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION ThefamilyofSirOchiezeAlexandLadyDr.GenevieveOnyiriohacongratulate Sir Ochieze Alex & Lady Dr. Genevieve Onyirioha
ThefamilyofChiefEzeandLoloFlorenceUbahcongratulateOwerriNchi IseUSA ontheir2022InternationalConventioninPhiladelphia,USA. Thoughfromfivedifferentstrongautonomouscommunities foreconomicadvantages,weremainstrongasoneunitedOwerri Nchi Ise.
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 21
Chief Eze & Lolo Florence Ubah
L CONVENTION
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OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Sir & Lady Akujuobi Ajoku (Ksc) WeextendourcongratulationstoONUSAConventionholdingin PhiladelphiaandwisheverybodyapeacefulORUOWERRI.
MywifeandIcongratulateOwerriNshi IseUSA(ONUSA)anditsmembershipfortheir celebrationofOruOwerriAnnualfestival,September2022.
MayGodremainthesourceofONUSA’sstrengthasitstrivestoworkon,andachieveitsoverall objectiveofsupportingitsmembersandpromotingthewellbeingofOwerriNshi Ise.
Chief Udo Mba Kalu, CPA & Elder Mrs. Roseleen Kechi Mba-Kalu Ph.D.
26 CongratulationstoONUSA2022ontheirconvention Adandieze Lady Victoria Orisakwe Oparanozie
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LongliveOwerriNchi Ise LongLiveONUSA! Lady OhuabunwaTina and Family
LadyTinaOhuabunwa &her congratulatefamily,thePresident Dr.ChikaOdimara andthe memberswonderfulofONUSA, atthecelebrationof cultureinthe Convention2022atPhiladelphia.
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MaxandGladysOparanoziewishtocongratulatealltheONUSAfamiliesandtheplanning committeeforputtingtogetheranothersuccessfulONUSAfamilyconversation. WeprayGodcontinuestoblessusallinourendeavorsbothasagroupandindividualfamilies.
LongliveONUSA…LonglivetheOwerrecommunityworldwide.AMEN.
30 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Nze & Mrs. Titus.O. Ibe BigCongratulationstoONUSA forthecelebrationofORU OWERRI atPhiladelphia2022. Longlifetomyownpeopleand Godblessyouall.
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 31
CongratulationstoallthemembersofONUSAontheir2022convention inPhiladelphiaonSeptember3,2022.
Kelechi Amadi Kam Environmental Corp
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION CongratulationstoallmembersofONUSA Antonia Mbachu
America Hon.
LongliveNdeOwerri LongliveNigeria God
Congratulationstothe executiveandtheentire membershipof ONUSAINC.USA forasuccessful 2022convention. MayourgoodLord continuetoguideand enrichuswithwisdomto navigatethroughthe roughroads. Letusbeashining exampleforothersto emulateus. bless &Eze Mrs.NjiribeakoUrsula
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Noble Ike & Lady Dr. AzubuikeGloria
2022toCongratulationsallmembersofONUSAforasuccessfulconvention.
ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 35 Congratulationstotheexecutivesandtheentiremembersof ONUSAINC.USAforasuccessful2022convention. Sir Chimauche & Lady Chiamaka Anukam
TheFamilyofProfessorEmmanuelC.OparaandMrs.ClariceA.Opara congratulatesONUSAontheir2022OruOwerriFestival/Convention.
Professor Emmanuel and Princess Clarice Opara
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OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 37 ThefamilyofMr.StanleyandMrs.CynthiaMbata heartilycongratulateOwerriNchi IseUSAontheirannualOruOwerrifestival. OwerriOruOOruOwerri Mr. Stanley & Mrs. Cynthia Mbata (Chocho Nwokeoma)
38 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION NDOMOWERRINSHISENJUSACONGRATULATES ONUSAONTHEIR2022CONVENTIONANDORUOWERRI. OwerriOruoooo!!!!OruOwerri!!!
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 39 WEthemembersof IKEMBAAGEGRADE,USABranch heartilycongratulateONUSA onthe2022Oru Owere andConventioninPhiladelphia. Honesty,integrity,andloveforAlaOwere areencouragedtojoin. Nwatakwohuakayaesorookia rie! Dr. Chika Odimara Uzoamaka Mbachu for the Association
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
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42 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Chief Damian C. Ozuzu JP, KSJI ChikereubaofOwerri Chairman/MD,Da ArugoHotels/DamozGroup Ex President OwerriCommunityAssociation OCA DA—ARUGOINTERNATIONALHOTELSLIMITED DAMOZGroupCompany 21TetlowRoad/UrattaStreet,Owerri,ImoState,Nigeria. MembersofOzuzuFamily InNigeriaAndInTheDiasporaandtheChairman ManagementofDarugo InternationalHotels/DemozGroup dowishtocongratulateOnusaontheirConventionthis3rdofSeptember2022.
ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION Chief/Hon. Oliver & Lolo/ Dr. Chioma Obiukwu Our congratulationsheartyto Mrs.VictoriaOrisakwe, andthegoodpeopleof ONUSAon CONVENTION/ORUtheOWERRI
44 OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION
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OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION 47 WewishtocongratulateDr.ChikaOdimaraandOwerriNchi Iseforthisyear's Oru Owerri/ConventionPhilly2022 Mr. & Dr. Mrs. Ken Ofoegbu
OWERRI NCH ISE USA (ONUSA) PHILADELPHIA INT’L CONVENTION PrincessAbigail M. Osuji Njemanze PrincessAbigailM.OsujiNjemanzeof NewJerseycongratulates OwerriNshi IseUSA(ONUSA) ontheir2022InternationalConvention andOruOwereAnnualCulturalFestival CelebrationinPhiladelphia,PA. OwerriNshi Iseis oneindivisiblecommunity. Maylove,peaceandunitycontinue toreignamongus. OwereOruo OruOwere OwereOruo OruOwere OwereOruo OruOwere OwereOruo OruOwere
Prince Soro Kay-Njemanze IPrinceSoroKay NjemanzeoftheNjemanzeRoyalDynastyofOwerriNshiIsecongratulatethe PresidentandallexecutivemembersofOwerriNchi IseUSA(ONUSA)fortheablewaytheyhave pilotedtheaffairsoftheorganizationwithemphasisonaccountabilityandmostimportantlythank youforyourprecioustime.FinallyIcongratulateyouallfororganizingasuccessful 2022conventioninPhiladelphiainUSA.Thankyouall. Seeyouallin2023.
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