Igwe Laz Ekwueme to celebrate special Ofala January 10, 2025

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By Madu Obi

The Oko Community in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State, home to Nigeria's former Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, has announced a special Ofala Festival by His Royal Highness, Igwe Prof Laz Ekwueme.

The festival, scheduled for January 10, 2025, is

coming fifteen years after the last Ofala by Eze Ijikala II.

The event has been tagged 'special' by the Oko community to mark the 90th birthday of Igwe Ekwueme, who is Nigeria's first Professor of Music and one time Director, Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Lagos.

A celebrated academic, Nollywood artist, music composer and Director, Igwe Laz Ekwueme's 2025 Ofala Festival and celebrations, like the previous ones, is expected to attract very important dignitaries and personalities from across the country, including top government officials, traditional rulers, and members of the business community.

The Eze Ijikala 2025 Ofala will witness the conferment of chieftaincy titles and awards to deserving citizens of the community and other personalities from different parts of Nigeria.

Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was in Oko in 2006, when he was the Governor of Lagos State, and was conferred with the chieftaincy title of 'Eze Obolu Dike Egwu of Oko' by Igwe Igwe Laz Ekwueme, during one of his Ofala Festivals.

Chairman of the organizing committee for the 2025 Ofala, Chief Obi Okafor, said the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo will be the special guest of honour at the occasion that will showcase an excellent display of Oko traditions and culture.

According to him, the community is being fully mobilized for what is expected to be a big carnival.

Okafor announced that all arrangements have been concluded to make the 2025 Ofala in Oko to be the best event destination of choice in the new year and he extends warm invitation to Oko sons and daughters in the diaspora, and friends of Oko from all parts of Nigeria, to join the community in the upcoming carnival.

"This Ofala is special, and I can assure you that the Oko Community is fully united and mobilized for a very memorable event", he said.