Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Viola Onwuliri, ABC Transport boss, Frank Nneji and Publisher of Verbatim Magazine, Tobs Agbaegbu will be among prominent sons and daughters of Nguru, a tickly populated town in Aboh Mbaise Local Government area of Imo state,who will be honoured with awards at the 2018 edition of Iriji (new yam ) Mbaise cultural festival in Abuja which will also serve as a platform for fund raising, on October 20.
Others who will be honoured at the occasion being put together to hold at H and C Event Centre in Area 1, by the Abuja Chapter of Nguru Development Union(NDU),a socio-cultural group, include Chief Patrick Ekeji, Former Director General ,National Sports Commission, Engineer John Chukwu, former Permanent Secretary, in the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Chijioke Ekechukwu,a renowned banker and John Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Commission.
NDU explained in statement issued yesterday and jointly signed by Chief Charles Ike, the NDU Abuja President and Chief Theophilus Emeruwa, Chairman of the NDU Abuja 2018 Iriji Committee ,that the award recipients were singled out for honour,in appreciation of their individualcontribution to the development of Nguru Mbaise and for services they rendered to humanity at large.
NDU also explained that the Nguru – Mbaise new yam festival is an annual event and component of the larger Mbaise program which provides platform for the people to showcase their culture and promote love for farming as an occupation of majority in the area.
The ceremony which will be chaired by Chief Ekeji , with Minister of FCT and Professor Fabian Osuji, former Minister of Education as Special Guests of Honour will also feature live performances by the popular Abigbo Mbaise Cultural group as well as by other women cultural groups .