Glitz, frills, colours of Anambra Homecoming Festival!

“We have never had it so good like this in Anambra State. Dr Willie Obiano is not a mere governor, but a man created by God to bail this state out of economic malaise and give meaning to the inherent tourism potentialities in this state, which have been crying for enhancement  . For the past four days, Akwa has been jostled to live with the Anambra Homecoming Festival, the first of its kind. We are grateful for this.”

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And true to this statement made by John Obi, a businessman in Akwa. ‘the people of Anambra State will  ever remember December 13 -17 2018 as one of the finest moments in their lives when the state governor,  Dr Willie Obiano, supervised the hosting of the first ever cultural- tourism event termed Anambra home Coming Festival. It was a real home coming event according to Obi. “Apart from the friends of Anambra who are here, from the South, East and North, we have the diaspora Anambrians who came home to felicitate with us. At least, some of us are happy seeing the Are Onakankanfo of Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams , who  is here with a strong delegation from the South–West and from Edo State ,“

For  Esther Ikechukwu  “Anambra Homecoming Festival is a turning point in the history of Anambra State, both in concept, conception and in celebration. This is one programme which is studded with social, religious, cultural, educational, and economic and entertainment programmes. From Day one, to the last day, it was fun, empowerment, development and entertainment all wrapped in one. The Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artwork, Culture and Tourism, Dr Sally Mbanefo, deserves commendations for her agrarian commitment to the programme and her enthusiastic spirit which cultivated and endeared the event to the people. This lady is not only fantastic at her work, but she also does  it with passion”

Right from day one , when Governor Obiano commissioned the Mmilioma Anambra Art Exhibition that marked Mbanefo’s ministry as a Permanent art exhibition Centre with Chief Adams, to the Xmas carol of Nine Lessons which was superintended by the Secretary to the Governor, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, to the Arts Exhibition  under the royal command of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe;  Food fair and palm wine tasting event directed by the Are Onakankanfo of Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams  , Things Fall Apart stage play, to the opening of Anambra Diaspora Portal  by the  Director of Programmes, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Obienu Tobechukwu who represented Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the  inauguration of Ogbuakwu Cave and Waterfall, Anambra Homecoming Festival was not only a big success, but an event which went well with the indigenes of Anambra.

According to Chris Ogbonnaya, “we, the people of Anambra State, will be ever grateful to God for voting Dr Willie Obiano as the governor going by his strides, proactive and phenomenal projects and events and particularly making the month of December so exciting like this with Anambra Homecoming Festival. We are really blessed and happy”.

Governor Obiano, while inaugurating the permanent art gallery at the ministry remarked that “what we are doing today is to lay a platform of encouragements for talents exhibition and exposition. Anambra State is a paragon of creativity and parades artist of different genre. This gallery is a talent beckons for artist and a reminder of the fact that we appreciate our talents. We appreciate our talents and we shall do everything to ensure encourage them”

The exhibition, tagged: “Mmilioma Anambra”, featured paintings and sculptures by renowned artist, Chike Okoye.

In her remark, Mrs Mbanefo said there is joy in living together peacefully, homecoming and keeping in touch with one’s roots was immense, pointed out that ‘Homelands are the bastions of Diaspora’s strength. This makes experts in development economics to advocate healthy and harmonious regular interactions between homeland and the Diaspora. Though, the economic benefit of regular interactions between home and abroad are often noticeable in the gross domestic product (GDP) and other indexes of an economy, the real treasure in such a harmonious relationship is the human capital.

“Anambra State’s wealth in human resource is not quantifiable. At home and in diaspora, the state’s economic impact is hugely impressive. What feeds that huge economic growth is the rich homeland and diaspora harmony.”

Making the Anambra Homecoming Festival developmental was the inauguration of the enhanced Ogbuakwu Cave and Waterfall at Owerre-Ezukala by Dr Mbanefo.

The natural tourism site which has several caves also harbours an alluring waterfall in a very scenic rainforest region, has been crying for enhancement which takes only the wisdom of Governor Obiano to do under the supervision of Dr Mbanefo.

Igwe Thomas Ogbonnaya, the Owerre Ezukala, said “Governor Obiano has done well. We, the people of Owerre Ezukala, will never forget him, not only for his general policies and projects, but particular the enhancement of this natural blessing and gift from God to our people and state. This is a development which we have been crying for so long a time, but we are happy that he has not only listened to us but has turned our prayers into a reality. May the almighty God bless him.”

Igwe Ogbonnaya, commend Dr Mbanefo ‘I must also thank the governor for fetching this wonderful lady who is the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Sally Mbanefo. She is a right peg in a right hole. She is tourism-personified. She has been here several times and she is very interested in development in culture. “

Apart from the street shows, visit to Ogbuakwu Cave, and the commissioning of the ministry’s permanent art gallery, other programmes were held at the Hollywood Event centre on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka. With most of the events were witnessed by Governor Willie Obiano, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Aare-Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; Head of Service, John Harold Uduh; Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Sally Mbanefo; her Permanent Secretary, Mr Tony Ezenwaka; Director of Programmes, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Obienu Tobechukwu represented Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba.

Others included the Health Commissioner Dr. Joe Akabuike; his Trade and Commerce Ministry  counterpart, Dr. Vincent Madubuko,Very Rev Monsignor Jerome Madueke; House Committee on Culture chairman, Kingsley Iruba and popular thespian, Bob Manuel Udokuwu.

The Anambra Homecoming Festival   ‘It was a four- day of fun. The whole event was of color, dances, arts, cultural display . Anambra is a paragon of tourism.   Governor Obiano is truly a governor who loves his people, and wants the best for his people while the Commissioner for Tourism , Dr Sally Mbanefo is a woman of wonder who combines beauty brain, passion and creativity to ensure a grand  success of a cultural-tourism epoch-making event.”