…Harps on need for culture, tradition dev.
…Calls on the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture for a revival and rebranding of our culture for Global export
As the 2024 wrestling Competition edition (Male Category) of Umuezeanoruo Eziama Autonomous Community Nkwerre LGA in Imo state came to an end on July 7, Hon. Chikezie Nwadike, an illustrious son from the Community has commended the successful organization of the event.
He described the team of the organizers: Mr Uche Uzoho(Nduhunogbo village ) , Mr Kelechi Ugorji(Ezekwemba village), Mr Martin Nwadike(Ezemenaha Village), Sir Izunna Oguike(Ndimbara Village), Mr Arinze Chukwuaku(Umunowa Village), Mr Clement Ohamara(Ezemenaha village), Engr Victor Onyewuchi Anueyiagu(Ezemenaha Village), Mr Denis Mmezi (Ezemenaha village) and Hon. Chikezie Nwadike (Ezemenaha village) as goal getters passionately dedicated to the cultural development in the grassroots.
Hon. Nwadike expressed satisfaction on the level of sacrifice and commitment injected in the coordination of the event which turned out to be a colourful event evidenced by the mammoth crowd that graced the competition. The packaging left the spectators highly entertained and thrilled beyond measure.
Speaking further to our International correspondent via an online interview, the immediate past Youth President of the community, Hon. Nwadike described culture and tradition as people’s identity because according to him , people who have no culture are no people. He went further to state that culture being a global concept is not to be regarded as a pagan activity but has to be modified and rebranded , not to be abolished completely.
To this end, he called on the Ministry for Culture both at the state and Federal levels, respectively to use the instrumentality of the government in protecting and projecting our culture and tradition which he described as lasting legacies from our forefathers. This he said will be in line with the action statement of the Imo State commissioner for Tourism , Hospitality and Culture, Barr. Jerry Egemba who at different fora projected Imo state as a home of tourism.
Hon. Nwadike noted that westernization of our culture and tradition has brought about neglect to core values in the society.
“This is counter productive and is partly responsible for moral decadence and loss of values we experience in the society today”.
“The funny thing is that the Western people we want to adopt their culture leaving our own have their own core culture protected which they practice till today. That is why when you see a core English man , you will know especially by way of dressing and interaction”, he added.
The former Youth President informed that our well packaged culture can even be exported to the Global Community for both entertainment and economic purposes because the tourist Industry is already there as the platform and it is booming.
To the community of Umuezeanoruo Eziama, he called on them to keep up the good work of standing out to be counted in the league of communities that have value for their tradition, calling on the indigene to always think of what they will do for the community and not what the community will do for them.
Advising further, he informed them to eschew anything that will lead to rancour and crisis in the community because as they are evolving, other communities especially those around them are looking up to them as role models especially in terms of cultural development and preservation.
He used the opportunity to invite all and sundry to the last lap of the competition which is the female category coming up on July 23 at Ama Ukwu Ugiri arena, Ezemenaha Village, Umuezeanoruo Eziama Autonomous Community by 2pm dot.
All female wrestling champions are given the opportunity to prove their might as a mouthwatering fantastic prize for the overall winner is available.
Accordingly, the 2025 edition will be more loaded according to the organizers.