Ikwuano monarch confers chieftaincy title on 23-year-old US medicine graduate
The traditional ruler of Ajatanigu autonomous community, Ikwuano local government area of Abia state, King Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu, at the weekend, conferred a chieftaincy title of ‘Enyi Oha l of Ajatanigu’, on a 23-year-old Nigerian US-born graduate of Medicine, Dr. Noel Ndubuisi Ogbonnaya, who was visiting Nigeria for the very first time.
Speaking in his Eze Onyeoruru palace while conferring chieftaincy titles to three personalities for being good ambassadors of his community, King Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu praised Noel Ogbonnaya for his decision to rediscover his root, stating that the young medical doctor defied the negative stories that are been told abroad concerning Africans and came back to his land.
The 23-three-year-old US-based Noel Ogbonnaya Ndubuisi, he said was honoured for falling in love with Africa’s rich culture, despite visiting the country for the first time, stating that the young Doctor had complained about the nature of Nigeria movies which he said had discouraged people like him in Diaspora to come back home.
The traditional ruler therefore advised movie producers in Africa, especially Nigerians, to always paint a good picture of the people before the Western world.
King Agwu, who is also the Chairman of Oboro council of traditional rulers, decried a situation where some movies portrayed Africans as killers and ritualists, thereby scaring away tourists and investors.
He also expressed his worry that the Western world was only interested in introducing some inimical cultural practices to Africans, especially those ones that dealt on same sex, expressing his delight that despite the situation, some sons of his land were still interested in African’s rich way of life, while urging Diaspora Africans not to be misled by what they watch on cable networks but to usually visit home to be in tune with their forefathers’ tradition and norms.
Narrating what led to the chieftaincy title, the mother of the recipient, Mrs. Joy Chinyere Ogbonnaya, said “this is Noel Ndubuisi Ogbonnaya’s first time in Nigeria. Upon arrival to his maternal village, he attended an occasion, danced to the music, danced with the elderly women and children, mixed up with the villagers etc. His behaviour was extraordinary. The King spotted him and at the end acknowledged him as Enyioha l of Ajatanigu.”
Mrs. Ogbonnaya who said Noel had other siblings who would not like to visit their fatherland as a result of so many strange stories they hear about Africa, expressed optimism that the chieftaincy title will help him recognize his country.
Another chieftaincy title recipient, Engr. James Obadiah Uchegbuo, who is the President-General of Ahuwa Oboro community, after being honoured as the Uzu l of Ajatanigu kingdom, expressed his happiness at the king’s decision to honour him and promised not to play with the confidence king reposed on him.
