180 Octogenarians To Attend Cultural Fiesta In Anambra

No fewer than 180 octogenarians will be participating in the triennial Ito Ogbo festival of the ancient Obosi Kingdom in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra.

Mr Hyman Udemba, the Chairman of the Ito Ogbo Obosi 2012 Organising Committee, disclosed this to newsmen in Obosi, near Onitsha, on Tuesday.

The Ito Ogbo festival is held to acknowledge old age at 80 years and the numerous contributions of the octogenarians to the development of the community.

Udemba said that the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, would be special guest at the celebration.

He said that the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Giles Lever and South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Kingsley Mambolo, would attend the fiesta.

Some of the other dignitaries include Sen. Chris Ngige and Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

He said that the festival, to be sponsored by MTN, would feature only octogenarians registered with the Udokamma age-grade.

Udemba said N400 million would be spent on the five-day festival.

“The age-grade that reaches the age of 80, 81 and 82 will be celebrated not only for attaining the apex age, but for having served the community through their age grade for almost 55 years.

“From the date of the celebration of the age grade, all the certified members will be declared as senior citizens of the community.

“All the duties they performed will be transferred to the latest age group that will be formed before the date of the celebration.

“They will be exempted from all manners of communal taxes and levies and will hence begin to receive free or rebated medical attention and care where applicable in the community.

“They will also receive permission or authority from the community to have an appendix their names: ‘Ogbueshi’ or ‘Nwanyi Nokwudi Eshi’.

“Finally, the certified and celebrated group will be permitted to wear special red hats that have a great importance to the Igbo culture in general.’’

The 2012 edition of the festival, which has been celebrated for more than 300 years, is expected to attract Idemili indigenes and at least 2.5 million people from all walks of life.

Free medical care is expected to be administered on the octogenarians and the community.

A football match, variety night, cultural displays and church thanksgiving service as well as octogenarian capping ceremonies to be held on March 17, will be the highpoints of the fiesta.