All roads this weekend led to one important annual event in South East Nigeria. The Ofala festival, also sometimes known as ‘Ofala Nnewi’ is an annual celebration particularly in the biggest city of Onitsha and surrounding areas such as Nnewi, Aguleri, Umuoji, Umueri and many others. A symbol of cultural resilience, it is a time revered celebration of the Yam Festival where citizens and sons and daughters celebrate with their various traditional rulers. The colourful event complete with traditional masquerades called Mmanwu, various parades and royal dances reminds one of the deep and diverse, but very rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.
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Making the trip for the first time to the festival this year as a very special invited guest was Investment Banker Mr. Farooq Oreagba, affectionately known as Mr. Steeze because of his majestic entry on horseback and appearance at this year’s Ojude Oba festival in South West Nigeria’s Ijebu Kingdom.

Dressed in a dark coloured embroidered Agbada, Mr. Oreagba began his visit by paying homage to the royal father and traditional ruler of Onitsha, HRM Nnaemeka Alfred Ogochukwu Achebe, as he held full court at the majestic section of the celebrations.
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Having become the focus of attention for his sensational entry and style in display at the Ojude Oba festival just a few months earlier, the ‘Steeze” was asked about this experience at Ofala. ‘I was extended a very special invitation to attend the festival, and I couldn’t wait to jump on a flight to be a part of this incredibly cultured and rich celebration by our Igbo brothers and sisters. It is events like these and communal celebrations of this magnitude, that fosters the bonds that makes Nigeria the envy of many across the continent’.

The festival has also become a rallying point for the social development of the South-East, where indigenes from home and the diaspora not just attend, but support initiatives such as free health check programs, and award many scholarships to students as they intentionally build up the next generation of leaders and professionals for the region’s growth and development.

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