Anybody that knows the good people of the community, will readily attest to the fact that there is no half measure in anything they associate with. Aware of this age long history of their community, sons and daughters of Otampa, will never involve the community in any activity or carry out any assignment on her behalf that adequate preparation: planning, selection and effective deployment of materials and persons have not been established.
Otampa, is richly endowed with huge reservoir of human resources, the Almighty Lord has graciously granted her, for which her citizens remain eternally grateful.
People of other communities argue that the only challenge that Otampa faces, in terms of human resource availability, is narrowing the large list of capable persons that abound in the community. This according to them is as difficult as assembling capable people from any environment where there are less deposit of people of capacity.
Bearing in mind the above, one is tempted to insinuate that it was a challenging moment, a mixed feeling sort of, to the leadership of Otampa Development Union (ODU) National, when one of the illustrious sons of Otampa, a finance guru, accomplished banker: MD/CEO, First International Bank, Gambia and a celebrated community leader, lifebuilder and former Commissioner for Finance and Planning, and later, for Education, Abia state, who presently resides in the United States of America (USA), Chief Ojiabor Richard Harrison, in the usual spirit and manner of the sons and daughters of Otampa, to contribute to the development of the land of their birth, volunteered to sponsor a cultural festival, expected to add colour, value and fun to the profile of Otampa: the serene, boisterous and activity driven community, reputed highly for her hospitality, peace and cultural heritage.
Fears and insinuations, not withstanding, by the time ODU leadership met to look into the proposed cultural event, it became glaringly manifest that the capacity studded ODU EXCO, has demystified fears and erazed all insinuations. At the end of their meeting, a formidable team, capable of navigating through the rigors of bequeathing Otampa with a suitable, memorable, talk-about, tourism and economic development oriented cultural festival within the proposed period has emerged.
As a proven testimony to the good work done by the ODU leadership in their selection of the cultural day committee, Otampa, is already agog with preparations for the event. The environment in Otampa, is presently saturated with people craving for relevance, newness and impact in their approaches. Their efforts convey glaringly, willingness to make history, create new content and reinvent old things in new ways and packages, in addition to living lasting impression in the minds of the numerous cheerful faces that Otampa community is noted for and celebrated. The smile that beam out of these individuals and groups sends encouraging, and supportive signals, the type that inspire the creative minded to release those very enticing, inviting and matching dance steps, carefully and wisely to portray and project effectively the real story behind each step, and the motive behind any of the movements, and of course, what the wriggling of the waist that accompany the steps represents... defining moments that gave rise to the public exhibition of such by the dancers.
If you think, I am already narrating the real cultural festival, it is because you're already itching to attend the event... January 1, 2022, is the date.
The scenario playing out at home, is a child's play going by the feelers and signals coming from Otampa citizens in the Diaspora. They too are gearing up heavily for the event.
Without further narrative, I present the carefully selected team saddled with the responsibility to plan, package and present to the public a befitting cultural event worthy of the name and status of Otampa, one of the communities harbouring significantly, all the ambiance and glamour of the NWANNEUKWU's.
Please see the list that also includes the sub-committees:
- All elected ODU Exco
- All Kindred Heads
- Otampa Vigilante members
- The Traditional Prime Minister
- ODU Home Branch President
- Lagos Branch President
The list continues with the following names:
- Elder Godwin Uche
- Mr. Ekwugha Onyemachi
- Mr. Ikechukwu Ogboko
- Mr. Sunday Uzoigwe
- Mr. Emeka Onwumere
- Pat. Nelson Eleanya
- Mr. Longlife Ejiuwaka
- Mr. Onyekachi Ogwo
- Hon Richard Harrison (Advisory)
The sub-committee are:
- Music & Sound sub-committee
- Media and Publicity sub-committee
- Finance sub-committee
- Events/Activities Management sub-committee
- Monitoring/Protocol sub-committee
The statement reads in part:
"It is with great honour and humility that we announce names of the committee members for the Otampa Cultural Revival, 2022". Ndi Otampa, above, is for your information as confirmed by the PRESIDENT GENERAL.
"However, the executive committee is still liaising with the Trainers, Judges and Co-sponsors who shall be co-opted into the Committees for effective delivery. We call every Otampa person to embrace and support this project and let God take all the Glory!! Thank you all".
The mood of two Otampa citizens, captured below, bear great testimony to feelings of Otampa community, with regard to the forthcoming cultural event.
The first is from Mr. Egele Ifechukwu:
"Otampa cultural festival January I, 2022 - taking us to otampa as of old when we gyrate together holding forth our banner of unity in diversity. l will be there, will you? From Egele lkechukwu".
The second one is from Onyekachi Aguocha:
This surely will usher in the beginning of a new era in our community. Love, unity, peace, progress etc, should be our sing-song and mantra going forward.
Many thanks to our senior brother and an illustrious son of Otampa High Chief(Hon) Richard Ojiabor Harrison for this laudable, thoughtful and insightful initiative of his. May he continue to find reasons to stick to his commitment for a United Otampa, while I pray God to continue to be his strength and shield. Ndewo nu ikwu la ibe. One love!!!... Onyekachi Aguocha.
Report by Nnabugwu Chizoba
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