By Chibuzo Obidike

In sustaining the Igbo cosmology of venerating her ancestors, the people of Umueri village, Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area have erected the statues of the renowned progenitor of the Igbo race; Eri, a former traditional ruler of the town, Igwe John Umenyiora, and a renowned academic and former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Chuba Okadigbo.

The statues were unveiled as part of the activities marking the celebration of the 2025 Nwafor Ogbunike festival.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President, Umueri Welfare Association, Nze Levi Elobisi, said the initiative to immortalize the three prominent individuals with their statues was to fulfill the desire to make the village a tourist attraction.

He further listed other projects, including the ongoing construction of an ultramodern civic centre, proposed health centre, and provision of security in the community as some of the initiatives the executive of the association are facilitating to address the basic challenges facing the people of the community.

The Chairman on the occasion, Brigadier General Benjamin Okafor (Rtd), commended the executive of Umueri Welfare Association, Ogbunike, for the various developmental projects they have initiated in just one year, saying that they have brought to fruition the aspirations of many sons and daughters of the village.

Contributing, a former Chairman of Oyi Local Government Area and former Commissioner for Transport in Anambra, Sir Uchenna Okafor, commended the executive of Umueri Welfare Association, Ogbunike, for their lofty vision to reposition the village.

Responding, the widow of one of the honorees and Chairman of Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Senator Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, thanked the community for honoring the memory of her late husband, adding that the the statues are important symbols of history and origin.