The organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), has called on Nigerians to guard themselves with their cultural values as a way of promoting peace and social harmony in Nigeria.
The founder of OFAAC, Mr. Kester Ifeadi, who stated this at its 2021 retreat in Ubulu Okiti, Aniocha south local government area of Delta state, noted that adherence to traditional norms of society was capable of sanitizing the nation against insecurity and moral decadence.
According to him,”if you don’t know your culture and promote it,you cannot make progress, if you have a peaceful nation,you have a prosperous nation” describing the Anioma culture as peaceful amidst the violence recorded in some parts of the state and country.
Mr. Ifeadi, an architect, said the organization which is the umbrella cultural body among Anioma indigenes of Delta North senatorial district, had served as a vintage platform for cultural revival, unity and social cohesion since its formation in 2002.
He said the group has been able to bring together heterogeneous people of Aniocha, Oshimili, Ndokwa and Ika to showcase their cultural heritage with the
belief that cultural practices such as Anioma festivals, dances, regalia, traditional wrestling, flute competitions and others are aspects of values that must be preserved to bequeath to the future generation.
He identified the promotion of Anioma festivals, customs and traditional values as the core objectives of the body which he said has united the Anioma people.
Ifeadi said OFAAC was a non political organization with a mandate to advance the culture, survival and economic development of the Aniomas of Delta.
He emphasized that the organization has become a rallying point for Anioma people just as he commended members of the organization who have continued to stay within the ambit of the OFAAC micro credit scheme .
“What we preach at OFAAC is how to help ourselves and what we have done is to create the right environment for our members to support their businesses to grow. I am happy to announce that for the past six or seven years, the microcredit scheme has been sustained and the repayment rate is 92 percent.
“The management has concluded health insurance scheme for all our members. From 2022,all members of OFAC will be fully covered,even as as we hoped to host our annual Pan -Anioma cultural fiesta,since the covid-19 lockdown “ he noted.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ogodor kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Obi Sunday Olisewokwu and his counterpart in Ubulu-Unor kingdom HRM Obi Henry Kikachukwu, praised the Organization for promoting Anioma cultural identity for almost two decades, under the leadership of an illustrious son architect Ifeadi.
Various gift items including farming implements were presented to members of the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture at the ceremony attended by traditional rulers and representatives of cultural groups from the nine local government areas of Delta North.
