The Ohangwa Ezeji Title Holders of Ohanze Abayi Autonomous Community has crowned Dr. Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, the State Project Coordinator (SPC) of the Abia Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise, Niger-Delta (LIFE-ND) as the latest title holder of Ezeji Ohafia Ngwa.
The title conferment of Ezeji is a title which means ‘king of yam’ , given to a farmer who has done exceedingly well in yam cultivation and preservation, in Igbo culture.
The Ezeji title conferment was held on Friday at Dr. Onyeizu’s community, Abayi Ohanze, in Obingwa local government area of Abia state.
During the event, Dr. Onyeizu encouraged youths in Abia State to embrace yam cultivation and agriculture in order to feed the nation and to be recognized as the next Ezeji (king of yam) in their community.
In his speech during the event, Dr. Onyeizu hinted that the members of Ezeji title holders had encouraged people to go into yam cultivation in order to contribute to the food basket of their community and the country at large.
While interacting with newsmen at a visit to his yam barn during the event, Dr. Onyeizu said the Ezeji is a prestigious title in Igbo clan.
‘‘This is the only title you get by hard work; you can’t buy it with money, influence or whatever you are on earth. You can only get it when you farm consistently and get results’’. Dr. Onyeizu said.
On his journey to yam cultivation and motivation in agriculture, Dr. Onyeizu said he started nursing the idea of becoming the next Ezeji of his community about five years ago as he has decided to go into agriculture as his retirement plan because he is done with studying for more educational degrees.
Dr. Onyeizu is a university lecturer and board of trustee member of Future Generation University, USA; with a Doctoral degree in Environmental Forest Ecology, two Master of Science degrees in Forestry & Environmental Management and Applied Community Change with Concentration in Conservation respectively, and two post-graduate diplomas in Education and Technology & Sustainable Development respectively; and has over 10 peer-reviewed academic publications. As an international development consultant with over 17 years’ experience in social development work, he has worked at least once in each Nigerian state as an Independent Consultant, providing technical services in Environmental Management, Community and Health Systems Strengthening, Health Management Information System, Development/Analysis of Policies, Monitoring & Evaluation, Baseline Studies, Impact and Partnership Assessments.
As part of the programme lined up for the event, Dr. Onyeizu mentored some farmers and empowered them with yam seedlings to cultivate and hoped that they will become the next Ezeji of the community in five years time.
On the driving passion for agriculture, Dr. Onyeizu said he has so much passion in yam cultivation and that prompted him to use the Ezeji title as his thesis during his second master’s degree program in the United States which turned out to be very successful.
A symbolic part of the event was the cutting of roasted yam which is a symbolic part of the Ezeji title conferment in the Igbo race. The colourful event was also filled with displays of culture by various cultural dance groups and music bands.
Dr. Onyeizu’s father, a retired and renowned surveyor who was proudly around his son during the event was described by Dr. Onyeizu as his mentor being a former Ezeji title holder, conferred on him in the year 1996.
‘‘In fact, I had to pick through all his lessons and that is why today is successful, he has taught me a lot, he showed me all the traditional practices that are used combined with the ones I learnt in school’. Dr. Onyeizu said.
Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, Abia State former Chief of Staff to former governor Okezie Ikpeazu was also present at the event as he held the role of Isi-enyin (Best man) for the celebrant. Dr. Onyeizu.
‘‘He has a lot to do today, by tradition, Barr. Ememanka is entitled to the head of one of the cows that will be slaughtered today and one of the yam barns’’.Dr. Onyeizu said.
The younger brother of the celebrant, Engr. Chinedu Onyeizu, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) candidate for Abia South senatorial district was also present in the ceremony, he promised the beneficiary of the yam seedlings empowerment that he will escalate the idea for massive yam production.
‘‘I will escalate this project to beam so that we will have a dedicated platform to support our young people in yam cultivation and agriculture. You have seen that my younger brother has demonstrated that yam is a type of farming that can do very well in the south east and Abia state unlike relying on the northerners to cultivate yam alone. You have seen his 20 barns of yam, the same way God gave him wisdom, the same way you will have yours and qualify to have the next title of Ezeji in Oha Ngwa’’. Engr. Onyeizu said.
The colourful event was well attended by top dignitaries in Abia state, traditional rulers, family members and members of the community.
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