By Patrick Asonye and Ugo Okoro

It is yet again the season of Aro Kingdom Awards – the 10^th in the series – as everyone looks to December 26.

Coming immediately after the Christmas Day feasting, the mood seems perfectly fashioned to dovetail into the Aro Day celebration.

Already, the Aro atmosphere has literally been soaked in a different kind of celebration, as individuals and families make further preparations in readiness for the momentous occasion.  

Aro News found out that, as of the first week of December, all the 15 hotels in the kingdom had been fully booked on behalf of guests who are coming into Aro to felicitate their friends on the award list.

In readiness, several homes had started receiving some measure of facelift, to accentuate the festival.

In the last two months, artisans namely masons, electricians, painters, plumbers, tillers, carpenters, and a lot more, had been engaged to do sundry jobs, and earning handsome income to empower their home-based families.

Indeed, several homes have been primed for the special occasion. 

But more importantly, the Aro economy has witnessed huge cash inflow this period, courtesy of Aro Day/Aro Awards ceremony.

Aro Kingdom Awards

This year’s Aro Kingdom Awards is under the theme: Honour for Distinguished Champions of Aro Renaissance, Peace and Community Development.

Coming up on December 26 of every year, the Aro Kingdom Awards is when Umu Aro celebrate in thanksgiving, to foster robust bonding.

With it, the kingdom is rolling out the drums to celebrate its stars – men and women – who have, over time, positively impacted humanity and society.

For many, December 26 is the climax of all the activities lined up for this year’s Aro Day celebration. 

Beyond the award, it is a day that the administrative leadership of the ancient kingdom takes stock of its achievements over a specific period, and set development agenda for the next year.

No doubt, this year’s ceremony is unique, and remarkably so. 

His Eminence Dr Eberechukwu Oji is performing his first Aro Day ceremony as Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom.

In the activities lined up, His Eminence Eze Eberechukwu Oji will, among other duties, superintend the conferment of honours on deserving sons and daughters of Arochukwu Kingdom; indeed those who have, in their respective ways, positively impacted the community and humanity.

They have been chosen from the academia, industry, politics, sports, and so on. 

From the outlook, this year’s Aro Day is innovatively loaded with activities reminiscent of the 2024 Ikeji Aro Festival. 

The organizers have deliberately designed it as a 5-day carnival to accentuate the usually boisterous Yuletide season.

For instance, on December 24, the Aro Civic Centre will be venue for the Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols, setting the stage ahead of Aro Day and Awards Ceremony on December 26.

Part of the innovation in this year’s activities is the Royal Homage to Eze Aro, in demonstration of the love Umu Aro have for their king and his family. This event is scheduled to hold on Day 4 – December 27, 2024.

The organizers said: “Every ancient kingdom reveres her traditional Monarchs, and Aro would not be different. This is often demonstrated by setting aside a day for all grateful citizens to pay homage to their king. Part of the Yuletide Carnival will be for Aro villages to visit, pay homage and present goodwill messages and gifts to our king, His Eminence, the Eze Aro”, who will, in turn, bless and pray for his subjects.

Also on this day, ‘Light up Aro’, a special project dear to Eze Aro, will be launched. Guests are expected to generously donate to finance the installation of solar street lights in all the nooks and crannies of the kingdom.

Activities of the day will be rounded off at night with a live theatre performance on the legacies of His Royal Majesty Eze Kanu Oji titled “Echoes from the Drum”.

An interdenominational Open-Air Crusade is scheduled for Saturday, December 28. Already, all Christian denominations in Arochukwu and beyond have been invited to attend the event, which will be coordinated by a team of renowned preachers of the Gospel.

The ceremonies will be rounded off on Monday, December 30, with the unveiling of the skills acquisition centre at Ugwuavor Village, built by Nzuko Aro Women’s Wing (UK branch).

Background

Aro Kingdom Awards is a ritual that started in 1998 under the leadership of Mazi (Dr) Sam I. Ohuabunwa (Ugwu Aro) as President-General of Nzuko Arochukwu Worldwide.

Its consultations at the time resulted in the introduction of the Aro Kingdom Honour of Ugwu Aro, aimed at acknowledging Umu Aro both in the homeland and the Diaspora. 

Those honoured are chosen for their selfless service to the kingdom and humanity, not forgetting their distinguished careers and commitment to fostering a better society.

Once honored, the recipients are regarded as ambassadors with the mandate to uphold the shared Aro values of honesty, love, peace and unity. 

Aro News learned that in 2005, during the Mazi Emma Kanu Ivi administration as Nzuko Aro President-General, the scope of Aro Awards was expanded with the creation of three additional categories namely Adaukwu Aro (for the womenfolk, i.e Aro women and non-Aro women married to Aro men) and Ikemba Aro (to accommodate the younger men who have also impacted society in their own ways). 

The third was, and still is, the post-humous category, which recognizes Aro heroes and heroines, who served the kingdom, but passed on without the opportunity of being honoured during their lifetime.

Award Recipients

After a painstaking process that started about four months ago, no fewer than 83 persons have been certified okay to receive the revered Aro Kingdom honours across the four categories.

Thirty-one men are to receive the highest award of Ugwu Aro; 18 women are to be decorated with the Adaukwu Aro title, and 31 young men will henceforth be known by the Ikemba Aro moniker.

Aro News is proudly parading six members of its star-studded team, who have been certified worthy to be honoured.

They are: Barrister Oscar Chukwuma Okoro (Ugwu Aro); Engr. Chinedu Oti (Ugwu Aro); Mazi Adindu Elekwa (Ugwu Aro); Mazi Julius Chukwuemeka Imuoh (Ugwu Aro); Ezinye Eucharia Oti (Adaukwu Aro), and Mazi Ugo Okoro (Ikemba Aro). 

They will, as the programme is structured, take their turns to mount the podium of the iconic Aro Civic Centre to receive the appropriate diadems, and be blessed by Eze Aro, His Eminence, Dr Eberechukwu Oji, and ushered into the Arochukwu Kingdom’s hall of fame.

Post-humous awards

The late Mazi Kingsley Kanu Okereke (Kay-Boy), until his death, was a serving President-General of Ibom Village.

Dr (Mrs.) Helen Ukpabi was the National Financial Secretary of Nzuko Aro (Women’s wing).

And remarkably emotional is the case of late Obasi Fred, the young man from Ugbo village, who paid the supreme price in defence of the territorial integrity of his fatherland against rampaging invaders.

May their souls rest in peace; Amen!

Selection process

As with previous years, the 2024 edition of Aro Awards started with the National Aro Awards Committee (NAAC) set up by Nzuko Aro calling for nomination of suitable candidates to be honoured. 

In fact, the NAAC was vested with the responsibility to receive nominations, evaluate, score, shortlist and recommend candidates for Aro Awards 2024.

Setting out to work, the NAAC dispatched letters to villages, Nzuko Aro branches, including all the Aro Diaspora communities nationwide; social clubs, and of course, Umu Aro resident overseas, to ensure inclusivity. 

Aro News learned that the NAAC received over 200 applications spread across the four award categories namely Ugwu Aro, Adaukwu Aro, Ikemba Aro, and the post-humous cadre.

The NAAC, it is worthy of note, painstakingly followed the stringent selection criteria handed to it by Nzuko Aro leadership.

The criteria included but not limited to character, self-respect, sacrifice, dignity, and carriage in projecting the essence of Aro Okeigbo culture and tradition.

Others are tangible contributions to the socio-economic development of the kingdom; willingness to contribute morally and financially to Aro development projects both at home and in the Diaspora, and more importantly, visible contributions in the march towards Aro Renaissance and peace building at the village, and indeed any level.

Those whose nominations scaled through have been dubbed “Distinguished Champions of Aro Renaissance, Peace and Community Development’’.

Certified by Eze Aro, Nzuko Aro wrote to each of the nominees notifying them of their nomination, and emphasizing the sanctity of the award.

Issues

As had been experienced in some past editions of the Aro Awards, this year’s selection process was also buffeted. 

There were a few complaints though, about the nomination and confirmation of some individuals. 

Expectedly, Nzuko Aro leadership resolved the seeming impasse, and assuaged those who were dissatisfied, because ‘Aro na akpa isi okwu; Aro anaghi ese okwu’ (Aros may hold strongly to their view points, but they don’t feud after all).

Impact of Aro Day celebration on kingdom’s economy

Without any modicum of doubt, the Aro Kingdom Awards 2024 economy has attracted tidy sums of money during this period.

Experts in development economics estimate that between N200 million and N300 million may have entered the Aro economy.

The aggregate inflow is from myriad of sources including payments for hotel lodging, renovation of private homes, and the engagement of different categories of repair workers. 

Others are transportation, venue decorations, rentals of assorted paraphernalia such as chairs, tables, canopies, and engagement of secular musical groups, cultural dance troupes, DJs, still photographers and video men. In fact, everyone with a feasible trade or vocation has been engaged in one way or the other.

Not the least, purchases of staple foodstuff, drinks (beer, spirit, red wine, palm wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and water, notched up the cash inflow into the Aro economy.

The local traders, as Aro News further learned, have been shuttling nearby cities and making bulk purchases to stock up their shops, in readiness for the expected surge in demand.

Families of some prospective award recipients have had to engage professional caterers, and made advance payments to them.

Several households had also made prior bookings for seemingly competitive items such as poultry products and fresh fish.

Besides the events associated with Aro Day celebrations, quite a number of other personal ceremonies such as traditional marriages have also been slated for this period. 

The celebrants, no doubt, have also pumped money into the system through their purchases.

In the end, the Aro economy is better for it, as Umu Aro celebrate a good year, while looking forward to a prosperous New Year – 2025.

2024 UGWU ARO AWARDEES:

MAZI ORIE OJI
MAZI OKORONKWO KANU ACHINIVU (KSC, FNIS, JP)
ENGR DR OBIOHA FUBARA OKOROAFOR
MAZI (ENGR) OJI ULU KANU
ELDER (DR). CHIMA DIKE
MAZI OGBONNAYA KANNO
SIR GODDY ADINDU ELEKWA
MAZI IKECHUKWU JONAH OKAFOR
MAZI GABRIEL OGBONNAYA IGBOKO
MAZI CHIMA ONWUCHEKWA NWANA
MAZI STEVEN AHAMEFULA AMARAMIRO
MAZI KANU AZUTURUNMUO KANU
MAZI DR. JACOB CHIJIOKE NWOSU
MAZI BARR OSCAR CHUKWUMAH OKORO
MAZI CHRIS EGEONU ONYEADOR
ELDER NKEMJIKA OGBONNAYA ANIGE
ENGR. CHINEDU OTI
MAZI OBIOHA CHIJIOKE
MAZI IJERE EMMANUEL KANU
DR. OKEY REGINALD OKOLI
MAZI (DR.) EMMANUEL OKEY NWAMARA-AKA
MAZI IKECHUKWU UKOHA
PRINCE BORIS CHUKWUEMEKA OJI, MD/PHD.
MAZI EDOZIE EDMUND OBASI
MAZI UDOCHUKWU UDONSI CHIJIOKE
MAZI EMMANUEL OGBONNAYA AZUONWU
MAZI EMMANUEL OGBONNAYA NNADOZIE
MAZI SWEET CHIMA ASOUZU
ELDER CHINEDU OKORONKWO
MAZI JULIUS C. IMUOH

2024 IKEMBA ARO AWARDEES:

REV CLINTON IKECHUKWU OKORO
MAZI OBOZULUIKE OFOELUE
MAZI UGOCHUKWU OKORO NWAGBO
MAZI STEPHEN ORJI ONOH
MAZI OBAA NNAEMELA
HON. CHIMEREZE ISAAC OKORO
MAZI EJIOFOR EZEANI
MAZI BARR KENNETH OKWUOBASI OGBONNA, KSC, JP
MAZI ENRG OKOROAFOR EKWUBIRI CHIORI
1MAZI OGBONNAYA K.OKORO
1MAZI GEORGE IKECHUKWU OKORO
MAZI ANICHE ABAH
DR INYAMAH OJI HUMPHERY
DR. ONYEMA STEPHEN EDWARD
BARR OGBONNAYA TORTY
MAZI SUNDAY CHIBUZO OKEREKE
SIR INNOCENT CHINEDU KANU
SIR GODWIN OBUNANDIFE
MAZI MOSES KANU NWAMUO
MAZI (PASTOR) JAMES OJUKWU KANU
MAZI DAVID UKACHUKWU EZE
MAZI (ENGR) NWABUEZE EKUBO
DR OCHIABUTO IGBOKO
MAZI CHUKS ORJI
MAZI AUSTIN OTTI NWAKA
LT COL STANLEY ODIONYENFE
MAZI IKECHUKWU NDUBUISI NGWU
NWAMAZI ALICHE CHIJIOKE OTI
 MAZI CHINEDU OKPAREKE
 MAZI NDUBUISI UTO
 MAZI WILSON ONWUCHEKWA