By Tony Onyima
It has been said the surest way to make a dream come through is to live it. At first, it will look impossible. But it’s the moment that you think you can’t, you will discover that you can.
With a burst of fresh energy, unwavering determination, uncommon commitment and tenacity of purpose, Ndi Umuoji have, within a space of eight months, achieved a 94-year-old dream of owning a community civic centre. The civic centre now sits in majestic splendour. With its candescence, you can’t but notice its imposing presence along the Nkwo-Eke business corridor. It’s blistering white painting symbolises peace and serenity, contrasting the community’s many years of locusts. The civic centre also houses a medical centre built by Ndi Umuoji in the United States of America (USA) led by Chief Victor Okoye (Ide).
Commissioning the civic centre on December 28, 2020, Governor Willie Obiano commended Ndi Umuoji for the achievement. “It’s remarkable that this project was started during unusual and difficult period and completed in a record time. Anambra State government is proud of Ndi Umuoji. This project shows the capacity and resilience of the community”, Obiano said.
The governor who was represented by Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, the Special Adviser on Political Matters, called on communities in the state to ensure peace. “It’s only in a peaceful atmosphere will development strive. To ensure that, Anambra State government will continue to provide security without which you can’t talk of infrastructure”, he said.
The governor frowned at the trends in some communities whereby minor communal disagreements are taken to police or the EFCC.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the President-General of Umuoji Improvement Union of Nigeria (UIUN), Chief Sly Onyima (Ichie Ogidi) noted that the civic centre was inspired by Obiano’s clarion call to Ndi Anambra to think home and his continuing efforts to strengthen the town union system as a fourth-tier system of government.
“The completion of the civic centre is one of the good things happening in Umuoji in recent time. We must use this opportunity to sincerely thank His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano for the tremendous progress made in the construction of Ugwumba-Nkeme Road under the auspices of World Bank NEWMAP initiative. We are grateful that our people will no longer be afraid of rainy season because of the gully erosion on the road then.
Like the proverbial Oliver Twist, we are still asking for more. We particularly plead with His Excellency for the completion of some abandoned roads that terminate in Umuoji. Some of these roads include Eke Dimechem-Abatete Road, Oye Olisa-Umuoji and Oba-Ojoto-Umuoji Roads”.
The PG thanked Ndi Umuoji for their spirit of giving which enabled the union to “complete this edifice in a challenging year of COVID-19 pandemic. This feat has shown that we can achieve more as one people under a peaceful atmosphere”.
The low-keyed and brief ceremony was attended by Chief Chris Nnedu (Odezuligbo), the Regent of Umuoji; members of Igwe-in-Council; Chief Ifeanyi Arthur Chiekwu; the member representing Idemili North at the State House of Assembly; Chairmen of 21 Villages of Umuoji; Chief Titus N. Akpudo, Esq; the President of Association of Anambra State Town Unions (ASATU), major stakeholders and other interest groups.