By Chinelo Ogbodo (Enugu State Correspondent)
The Civic Centre/Community Primary School, Ugwundaru, as well as the Amaebo village Royal Palace of Ishi-Ozalla Kingdom in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state, will be agog tomorrow, Monday, December 29, 2025, as the paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness Igwe Sylvanus Aniachunam Okeke JP (Eziafa ka Ego 1 and Ishi of Ishi-Ozalla), celebrates his first Ofala festival since emergence as traditional ruler in 2021.
The royal Ofala celebration is in compliance with the Traditional Rulers Law, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004 CAP. 151, Section 15 (n).
The occasion will showcase the rich cultural and traditional values of the Ishi-Ozalla Kingdom, the ancient headquarter of Ozalla and the numero uno community among the five Autonomous Communities that made up the present Ozalla urban, a gateway town to Nkanuland in the Wawa-speaking axis of Enugu state, South East, Nigeria.
The Ofala event, according to the Administrative Secretary of the Ishi-Ozalla Traditional Council, Engr Innocent Nwoha Obodo, will be an opportunity for the royal father, Igwe Sylvanus Aniachunam Okeke, to recognize eminent sons and daughters of the Ishi-Ozalla for their significant contributions to the development and progress of the community.
Ishi-Ozalla Royal Queen, HRM Mrs Eucharia Ukamaka Okeke.
According to the statement by the palace scribe on behalf of the Chairman and members of 2025 Ofala Central Planning Committee, Igwe Sylva Okeke shall confer honorary chieftaincy titles on some distinguished citizens of the community, in accordance with Part 7, Section 10, Sub-Section (A) of the Constitution of Ishi-Ozalla Autonomous Community Code of Conduct of the Igwe/Traditional Ruler, Ishi-Ozalla Community, Nkanu West L.G.A as published in the Enugu state of Nigeria Official Gazette E.S.L.G.N No. 139 of 2010, page 22235.
The Ofala ceremony shall kick-off at 12 noon prompt tomorrow, December 29th. Already, all arrangements have been put in place to ensure the success of the Ofala Ceremony.
Igwe Sylvanus Aniachunam Okeke, prio to his crowning as the paramount ruler of Ishi-Ozalla, one of the five autonomous communities that made up the present Ozalla town, is a successful business based in Okigwe, Imo State. He is one of the distinguished community leaders in Ishi-Ozalla since the post-civil war.
His assencion to the royal throne of the community, following the death, in 2012, of his predecessor, His Royal Highness Igwe Frank Nweke (the Okeifufe 1), was the high point of communal democracy, as Ishi-Ozalla citizens trooped out in their large numbers to elect him as new traditional ruler. His emergence was a testimony to his acclaimed worthy character and the high regard he enjoys among the people of Ishi-Ozalla Community and beyond. NNL.
