Ukwulu Kingdom honours High Chief Obele with Akusinachi Gburugburu

…As Anambra-born industrialist is commended for community development, social intervention

It was not just a monumental celebration of cultural pride, but also a historic event as His Majesty, Igwe Peter A. Uyanwa (Ezedike of Ukwulu Kingdom) recorded yet another milestone on Friday, September 18, 2026, as he celebrated 10 years on the traditional stool of his forefathers alongside the annual New Yam Festival in grand style.

The occasion featured the conferment of chieftaincy titles on deserving Igbo sons and daughters, amidst pomp and pageantry, masquerade displays, traditional dances, indigenous music and other cultural performances that held the attention of the Ukwulu community and invited guests throughout the celebration.

The gathering attracted prominent personalities from across different walks of life, with Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, serving as Chairman of the occasion. His presence added further prominence to a celebration that brought together traditional authority, business leadership, professionals, community leaders and cultural stakeholders.

At the heart of the royal proceedings was the conferment of the Akusinachi Gburugburu chieftaincy title on the Chairman of Mekens Integrated Nigeria Ltd—High Chief Sir, (Dr.) Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele (Okwunze Aguata, 7 Star General) —by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Peter Uyanwa (Ezedike of Ukwulu Kingdom).

The significance of the occasion was further underscored by the presence of His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, Obi of Onitsha (Agbogidi), who presented the certificate of the chieftaincy title to High Chief Sir Dr. Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele, alongside the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines —Prof. Obiora Okonkwo.

The presentation added another layer of traditional significance to the ceremony, bringing together two respected institutions of Igbo traditional leadership in a moment of recognition and cultural fellowship.

While conferring the title, Igwe Peter A. Uyanwa offered words that reflected the spiritual and cultural significance attached to the traditional honour. In his words , he was accurately captured to have said:

“We are wearing you the bangle of blessings; of wealth; of protection. In the days of calamity, the gods of the land and our forefathers shall protect you and your family: in Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo. Isee!”

The declaration gave the ceremony a solemn character, with the traditional ruler invoking blessings, protection and ancestral guardianship upon the newly conferred Akusinachi Gburugburu chieftaincy title recipient— Super High Chief Sir, (Dr.) Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele.

The significance of the conferment was further highlighted during an interview session conducted at the venue of the celebration by the media, where the traditional ruler of Alor kingdom His Royal Majesty, Igwe Mac-Anthony Okonkwo— who spoke warmly about his relationship with the chieftaincy title recipient – High Chief Sir, (Dr.) Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele (Okwunze Aguata) and the recognition bestowed on him.

“I am highly delighted because Okwunze Aguata is my very good friend. I am too excited to be here; to be associated with him. The Akusinachi Gburugburu chieftaincy title is a very befitting honour of a man of his social status,” Igwe Mac-Anthony said.

He subsequently pointed to what he described as the honouree’s philanthropic interventions, citing contributions to communities and individuals beyond his immediate environment.

“He is a rare philanthropist who has built roads in Ezinifite and Ogbaru communities. He has empowered a lot of people beyond Anambra State, built houses for indigent families, awarded education scholarships to students and donated generously to charity,” he added.

The remarks provided another dimension to the ceremony, drawing attention to the relationship between traditional recognition and the contributions of individuals within their communities. The royal honours extended beyond Obele, as the kingdom also recognised a number of other distinguished personalities.

The conferment brought together individuals from different professional and social backgrounds, making the royal celebration not only a cultural gathering but also a convergence of community leadership, professional accomplishments, philanthropy and public recognition.

Away from the royal honours, the traditional spectacle of Ukwulu took centre stage.

Masquerades appeared in their full elements , traditional dancers brought rhythm and movement to the celebration ground, while indigenous performances like Amb. Chinyere Udoma, Theresa Onuorah, Dr. Aro Nwateje added depth to an occasion rooted firmly in Igbo cultural heritage.

The New Yam Festival remained a central feature of the gathering, providing an avenue for the people to celebrate harvest, abundance, gratitude and communal fellowship. The festival also served as a reminder of the cultural traditions that continue to connect successive generations with their ancestral heritage.

For the kingdom, the combination of the New Yam Festival and the 10th anniversary of Igwe Peter Uyanwa’s traditional reign gave the celebration a special character. It was simultaneously a royal milestone, a cultural gathering and an occasion for recognising individuals who had been selected for traditional honours.

The heavy rainfall that accompanied the celebration ultimately became part of its memory. Rather than defining the day as a disruption, the showers were embraced within the celebratory atmosphere, with the festivities continuing despite the weather.

For Ukwulu Kingdom, the occasion therefore, represented more than a traditional anniversary. It was a celebration of heritage, leadership, culture and community recognition, bringing together the traditional institution and a broad gathering of guests in an atmosphere of festivity.

At the centre of the celebration was HRM Igwe Peter A. Uyanwa, Ezedike of Ukwulu Kingdom, who used the occasion of his 10th anniversary on the throne to celebrate his people, showcase their cultural heritage and honour distinguished personalities.

The event was covered by Nigeria Media Expert, Public Analyst, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, leading the journalistic engagement at the venue and capturing the moments, personalities, cultural displays and interviews that shaped the celebration.

The presence of His Excellency Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige , a former Anambra State governor, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, and the chairmanship of Prof. Obiora Okonkwo further underscored the stature of the gathering, which brought together traditional royalty, business leadership, community stakeholders and distinguished guests around the celebration of Ukwulu’s cultural heritage.

As the cultural performances gradually drew to a close, Ukwulu had recorded another memorable chapter in its traditional calendar— a celebration that brought together a decade of royal stewardship, the renewal represented by the New Yam Festival, traditional honours and the enduring cultural identity of its people.

For a kingdom whose heritage remains deeply woven into its communal life, the celebration stood as another expression of the continuing place of traditional institutions in preserving culture, strengthening community bonds and recognising individuals within society.