Values restoration: Nnewi women storm historical Idu-Eri kingdom

Worried about the visible steady slide of the rich Igbo tradition, culture and moral heritage, the Women Wing of the Nzukora Nnewi in an attempt to re-ignite and encourage the restoration/rebirth, yesterday embarked once again on a visit to the Iduu Eri kingdom, the ancestral monarchy and foundation of the Igbo people and culture.

The excursion took them to the ancient Obugad Palace, Enugwu Aguleri, Anambra East Local Goverment Area of Anambra State.

The Nzuko Ora Nnewi Women Wing led by the President General, Mrs Peace Ifeoma Udeogu visited HRM, Dr Ezechukwuemeka Eri (Ezeora 34th, the Eze Akajiovo Igbo).

Mrs Udeogu told journalists who covered the tour at the ancestral palace that the women were passionately committed to ensuring Igbo cultural values were embraced by all.

According to her, the group has discovered that a whole lot of things were going wrong in many families because of their sheer neglect of Igbo values and ethos.

She stated that the much expected peace and equilibrium would return to Igboland, only when the cultural values of hard work, respect and others in that category were imbibed.

The Women PG who was also the PG of Umudim-Nnewi declared that the women group would not rest on their oars until the cultural values of Ndigbo were given its pride of place in Nnewi, Anambra State and the entire Igboland for a start.

Mrs Udeogu said that women have been mobilized to be part of the group’s programs to ensure effective transition of Igbo cultural values and traditions from the older generation to the younger ones.

She stated, “Nnewi women are on a mission to ensure that the cultural values of Ndigbo, we are embraced starting with the womenfolk because the women have greater capacity to ensure change in the society.

“Interestingly, different set of women are normally carefully selected from the pool of members for excursion to different places.” She explained.

Nze Nwangwu Nnoruka Anekwe(Ifediomimi Nnewi) commended the women group for their courage to challenge the status quo when the menfolk are shying away from such responsibility.

He said that the women have indeed written their names in gold in the sand of time even as he urged them to sustain the tempo.

He also called on the menfolk to borrow a leaf from the Nnewi women to stand out and be counted in the comity of great personalities.

The Palace Secretary of OBUGAD ancestral palace, Nze Ejimofor George Chidube(JP) Omenma Iduu-Eri who received the women group on behalf of the paramount monarch said he was overwhelmed by the efforts of the women toward tracing their roots.

He said it was a thing of great joy that Nzuko Ora Nnewi Women Wing had embarked on a long toutuos journey to Iduu Eri kingdom just to familiarize themselves with the forgotten Ndigbo cultural values, tradition and heritage.

Princess Udenma Chukwudi Mmaruluno in her remark expressed excitement for their great efforts toward making Ndigbo embrace their cultural values and norms which according her is fast becoming a kind of ‘abomination’ in many homes.

No fewer than than 30 members of the Nzuko Ora Nnewi Women Wing participated in the excursion.