Prestigious Otu Odu Obosi Cultural Society Gives Succour To Indigents

By Uzo Ugwunze

It was jubilation across the five major villages in Obosi Ukwalla kingdom, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, as the Prestigious Otu Odu Obosi Cultural Society visited 17 indigent persons, showering them with food items and cash.

Members of the Otu Odu Obosi Cultural Society comprise the highest-ranking female titleholders in the Obosi Community.

Speaking to our correspondent shortly after the empowerment exercises, the Leader of Otu Odu Obosi, Isimuo Nkechinyere Okeke Ugochukwu (Iyom Oduugo), said that the purpose of the 2025 empowerment initiative was to help alleviate the hunger prevalent in the country.

“We decided to put a smile on the faces of some destitutes living among us because of the extreme hunger and hardship experienced in the country.

“Hunger has pushed many less privileged homes into resorting to child labor. You see children of age 6 or 7 roaming the streets hawking sachet water or anything to help their parents make a living.

“Sometimes such a child may have a single mother or be fatherless. Some of the beneficiaries are stroke patients, bedridden without helpers.

“At Mmakwum village, we empowered three less privileged persons without helpers. We gave them food items like rice, yams, tomatoes, onions, and cash.
At Uruowulu village, we empowered two persons, at Ire village we empowered 4, at Ugamuma and Umuota villages we empowered 2 and 4 persons respectively,” said Iyom Oduugo.

According to the Secretary to the Otu Odu Obosi, Mrs Chinelo Okenwa (Iyom Dinyelugo), this was the very first time Otu Odu Obosi decided to empower indigents. We began on a small scale with only 17 beneficiaries, but by next year, the palliatives will extend to orphanage homes, hospital visits, and more or less privileged persons.

The Spokesperson of the Otu Odu Obosi, Mrs Adaobi Maduegbuna (Iyom Ugegbediya) said that the Otu Odu Obosi, through their members from all the villages in Obosi community,y carefully selected the real destitutes who needed urgent intervention.

“We are calling on the illustrious sons and daughters of Obosi Ukwalla kingdom to partner with us by financially supporting such projects that will touch the lives of the downtrodden. We will make sure that more indigents are remembered and empowered.

“This will promote the dignity of Ndi Iyom. It will promote Obosi’s rich cultural heritage, and such gestures could be emulated by other communities from far and near, just as many communities emulate the celebration of Longevity/Ito Ogbo Obosi cum veneration of the Elderly.

“We also donated huge sums of money to boost the two security outfits in Obosi Community -‘ Movement Against Cultism in Obosi MACOB and the Obosi Vigilante’ for their sacrifice and tenacity towards fighting insecurity within Obosi Community. This is unprecedented,” said Iyom Ugegbediya Maduegbuna.

Moreover, the Chief of General Staff to Eze Iweka Palace, Obosi, Nze Okenwa Shedrach Igwebuike (Ugoeju), representing the palace in the Otu Odu and their Patron, commended the female cultural society for their ingenuity and initiative to remember the poor in the society this year.

According to Nze Okenwa, in Obosi culture and tradition from time immemorial, Otu Odu has been in existence just like Nze na Ozo. Nze na Ozo is for male folks, while Otu Odu/ODU Nwanyi/Nze Nwanyi/Ozo nwanyi/Iyom/ Enyi Nwanyi is for the female folks.

“They are prestigious titled women who help in the traditional administration of the community and equally enjoy their entitlements as revered female chiefs in the society.

Originally in Obosi, they were described as “Nnyamala’ na ‘Ekwe’.Nyamala is for the indigenous daughters of the Obosi Ukwalla kingdom, while Ekwe is for Women married into the Obosi community. So, the combination of Nnyamala na Ekwe is the Otu Odu.

“Otu Odu or Enyi Nwanyi: Enyi or Elephant in Igbo culture symbolizes wealth, prestige, substance, and integrity. Members have Special title Names just like we have Ozo title names for the male folks.

“Otu Odu or Iyom is the highest title a woman can bear in Obosi or even Igbo land. The Otu Odu are part of governance traditionally in Obosi.

“Hierarchically, in the governance of Obosi Ukwalla kingdom, we have the ‘Eze na Ndichie’ as the highest governing body, followed by ‘Ndi ‘Ogbueshichi’, followed by ‘Ndiisimmuo’/Heads of dieties, then ‘Ndi Nze na Ozo’ before ‘Ndi Nze Nwanyi/Ozo nwanyi/Otu Odu/Iyom/Enyi Nwanyi Obosi. All these are part of the traditional administration and governance of the Obosi Ukwalla kingdom,

“The Otu Odu Obosi came up with a good gesture this time around. They decided to empower some destitutes from several families. This is the first of its kind and a wonderful initiative worthy of emulation and continuity,” said Nze Okenwa.

However, beneficiaries who were overjoyed to receive the gifts from the Otu Odu at their doorsteps thanked them profusely, praying that God’s blessings would overshadow the titled women for remembering them at their low estate in such a time.