A high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened at the residence of Senator Chris Nwankwo in Ebonyi State has ended with a strong endorsement of the forthcoming Okpoku Udo Unwu-Ekumenyi Festival, a cultural initiative aimed at promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among communities in the state.
The meeting brought together elder statesmen, traditional rulers, political office holders, and community leaders of Unwu-Ekumenyi extraction, with discussions centered on restoring shared cultural values and preventing further communal conflicts.
All the traditional rulers from the 8 local government areas of Ebonyi State that make up Unwu-Ekumenyi endorsed the festival.
Some of the traditional rulers in attendance during the event include Traditional ruler of Ameka autonomous community in Ezza South, His Royal Highness Eze Martin Nwali Onyibe ; His Royal Highness Eze Charles Nkpuma( Eze BURUGBALA 1); Eze John Nwenyi Of Ndubia Autonomous Community and His Royal Highness Eze Oliver Eze Awoke Omaka 111 of Ekawoke Autonomous community in Ikwo.
Speaking during the event, former Senator of Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Chris Nwankwo and former House of Reps Member, Ugoji Chima all endorsed the event.
Also, speaking during the event, Prince Barrister Pascal Nnaji Nwenyi, President of Cross River Ebonyi Ikwo-Izzi Youths and leader of Okpokudo Ekumenyi, said the gathering was a deliberate effort by founding fathers to strengthen unity among related clans.
According to him, Unwu-Ekumenyi represents a common ancestral heritage that binds communities such as Ikwo, Ezza, Izzi, and Ohaukwu, stressing that there is no justification for violence among people of the same origin.
He noted that the meeting also served as a reminder of the historic Abakaliki forum, which played a key role in the creation of Ebonyi State, adding that surviving stakeholders who participated in that struggle were present.
“We have always been one from our forefathers. There is no need for conflict or bloodshed among ourselves,” he said, expressing satisfaction with the turnout of traditional rulers and leaders.
Also speaking, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Prince Stanley Ifeanyi, described the initiative as a deliberate move to reconnect the people with their roots.
He said the Unwu-Ekumenyi cultural revival seeks to correct years of division and reawaken shared identity among the people.
“We are tired of the divisions. This is about tracing our way back to who we truly are. A new story will soon be told about Unwu-Ekumenyi,” he stated.
He added that the upcoming Ebonyi New Yam Festival, scheduled for September, would serve as a unifying platform to celebrate peace, culture, and the achievements of the state government.
Another participant, Jeremiah Obaji Nworu, a Lagos-based trader and peace advocate, said the meeting was timely, noting that it would help forestall future clashes among communities.
Jeremiah Obaji Nworu gained prominence after trekking over 600 kilometres from Lagos to Abakaliki in 17 days to appreciate the Ebonyi State government’s role in restoring peace in conflict-ridden communities.
The trek followed years of violent clashes, particularly in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, where conflicts such as the Ezza–Effium crisis led to loss of lives and displacement of residents before government intervention restored relative calm.
Obaji noted that his peace advocacy inspired the cultural initiative, describing the festival as a continuation of efforts to promote unity.
“This is about bringing our people together and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated,” he said.
Similarly, High Chief Ovunna, a former coordinator in Ikwo, emphasized the need to revive long-standing traditions that once fostered harmony among Abakaliki communities.
He said stakeholders resolved to take proactive steps in addressing divisions, noting that the meeting was necessary to reposition Unwu-Ekumenyi for collective progress.
The Unwu-Ekumenyi people—comprising major clans such as Ikwo, Ezza, and Izzi—share deep historical and ancestral ties, with oral traditions tracing their lineage to a common progenitor.
However, the region has witnessed periodic communal conflicts over the years, including deadly clashes linked to land and identity disputes, underscoring the urgency of renewed peace efforts.
Stakeholders at the meeting unanimously agreed that the Okpoku Udo Unwu-Ekumenyi Festival would serve as a symbol of reconciliation, unity, and cultural rebirth for the people.
They expressed optimism that the initiative would not only strengthen bonds among communities but also reposition the area as a model of peace and cultural pride in Ebonyi State.