Otu Odu Ojoto Electrifies Community Launches “Light Up Ojoto” 100 M Naira Project
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
The Otu Odu, a women association in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State on 30th Dec 2024 launched a project”Light Up” Ojoto, a project which they embarked on, for community development and to ward off crime and criminality in the community.
Speaking during the event at Igwe Palace Arena, Enugo Village Ojoto Chief Mrs Cecilia Okeke-Eweni, the PRO who was also the Secretary Project Planning Committee disclosed “As the apex women’s association in Ojoto, Otu Odu is determined to permanently stamp its presence on Ojoto, through the introduction of this laudable project, Light Up Ojoto.
“The benefits of the light up Ojoto Project are self evident. Criminal activity thrives in darkness, the project aims to beam light into every nook and cranny of Ojoto, thereby banishing the unsavory and restoring security in Ojoto.
The President of the Otu Odu, Chief Mrs Ngozi Anyabolu, a.,k,a Iyom Dibumma in her welcome address said that “Otu Odu was initiated in Onitsha in1880, there was no formal Association known as Otu Odu in Onitsha until Chief J.O Etukokwu organized the individual Ndi Odu into the association known today as Otu Odu.
“Precisely on 15 March 1959, from Onitsha, it spread to the rest of Anambra State, current Enugu State, Oguta in Imo State, Ndoni in River State as well as Igbo speaking in Delta State.
However, Otu Odu became dormant in Ojoto for decades until it was revived by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu, Igwe Oranyelu 1, Eze Ojoto 111. The first set of new Iyom were installed on 30th Dec.2020.
She said that members of the society are women of integrity and honour who contribute immensely to the development of their various communities disclosing that it is the highest position women can attain in Igbo land.
According to her 800 solar lights and poles will be installed in the eight villages that make up the community
She paid glowing tribute to the Igwe of Ojoto for reviving the society after decades of being dormant in Ojoto and prayed God to protect and guide the monarch as he pilots the affairs of the community.
Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Frank Ilonze, commended the women for the good work they embarked upon and vowed to continue to assist them having donated #5 million so far for the project. I have been supporting them all the time, my wife is their member and I am their patron. I love this project.”
On youths, he lamented that they were disappointment adding that the empowerment given to them earlier was a waste as they messed up the entire thing.
“I want to know the result of the empowerment we did to them before assisting them further. Let them give us account of how the empowerment went. We are ready to assist but let them render account of their stewardship,” he stated.
Contributing, Chief Lawrence Edmund Anazodo, expressed satisfaction with the role of the Otu Odu women stating that it is good to emulate good thing like this project being embarked upon by the women.
“What the women are doing is great, to raise #100 million for a project. I told the youths that they should stop crimes, vandalization of people’s property. I think we should have suggestion box at Igwe’s palace so that one can lay complaint there so that the women’s effort will not be vandalized.
“We empowered the youths earlier with motor worth about #2 million but they could not utilize it well. We need that they should explain how they utilized the earlier empowerment project,” he stated.
In her own contribution, Chief (Mrs) Uchenna Anyaeji Ilonzo, said that there is nothing like light pointing out that darkness disappears when there is light and expressed optimism that the installation of the solar lights will curtail crimes in the area.
“There is nothing like light, that is the reason I have to travel from America to Ojoto, because of this project, we target #100 million and I hope in the next six months we may finish the project.
“Personally I have a project I do embark upon which I do at St Anthony Catholic church .I am a registered nurse. I want to open school of nursing here. I love the community I come from,” she further revealed.
Earlier, American based Nigerian Prolific inventor, Chief Cyprian Emeka Uzoh, lauded the Otu Odu society for electrification of Ojoto community adding that it will help to curtail crime and criminality in the area.
He paid glowing tribute to the monarch of the community and others who contributed towards the success of the project stating that they contribute to the development of Ojoto.
The Chief launcher, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, a former Chief of Staff to Federal Government and presently a member of the Southeast Development Commission commended the women for their efforts and urged the people to pray for him in his new appointment assuring that the commission will better the welfare of the southeasterners.
He also disclosed that he will rehabilitate some roads in the community to assist in making the community motorable pointing out that his appointment is for the interest of Ojoto, Anambra and the entire Southeast zone.
Expressing satisfaction with the efforts of the women, the traditional ruler of Ojoto, Igwe Mbamalu, disclosed that this is the first time for the past 30 years that a group is embarking on such a project and stressed the need to encourage the women for challenging the men.
“It is a very laudable project, we have to encourage them, praise them because they did what the men could not be able to do.I know the men could be angry for what I said,” he laughed.
On vandalization he said that it is being experienced in every community adding that in Ojoto it is very minimal compared to other communities.
“We are empowering our youths to be gainfully employed and when they are engaged everything will stop. I am the backbone of the Otu Odu society and they know that without me they would not have achieved this project,” he affirmed.
Cross section of the Otu Odu women welcoming the chairman of the occasion
