By Nkechinyere Ewa
Community day celebrations are increasingly serving as platforms for unity, peacebuilding and grassroots development across Ebonyi State, with the annual Oferekpe–Agbaja Community Day, held every January 15, standing out as a strong example.
Stakeholders at this year’s celebration described the event as a rallying point for cultural preservation, conflict resolution and collective development, noting that such gatherings help communities mobilise resources and address long-standing challenges.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on the ICT University Project, Engr Moses Nwamgbo Okite, said community day celebrations are deeply rooted in tradition and play a vital role in development.
“Today is a very good day. In our tradition, almost all villages celebrate their community day. When you celebrate your day, you celebrate your culture and also call for support for development,” Okete said.
“If people don’t come together, many works will be left undone. But when the community gathers, people contribute and embark on developmental projects. That is the essence of community day.”
He noted that the Oferekpe–Agbaja community has recorded tangible achievements through collective efforts, including the provision of streetlights and the resolution of land-related disputes.
“Villages are craving for streetlights. In my village, we used our community day to solicit support, and many streetlights were installed that same day,” he explained.
“When there is a crisis, such as land disputes, it is easier to resolve when the community comes together.”
Okete added that the community has also used the celebration to address social issues, including enforcing cultural norms related to marriage and family life, as a way of correcting societal ills and strengthening communal values.
On the protection of public assets, he urged residents to safeguard government and community projects, including the newly launched community hall.
“Government and community property should be treated as our own. We must protect transformers, streetlights, roads and every project meant for our benefit,” he advised.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) Governing Board, Donatus Owo, described the celebration as a powerful tool for cultural unity and development.
“There is always a good reason to celebrate culture. It brings people together, strengthens family and clan ties, and promotes development,” Owo said.
“People have come from Lagos and other places. This gives them a sense of unity and helps keep the culture strong. A family that keeps its culture together stays together.”
He added that such gatherings promote peace, cohesion and shared progress within communities.
In their separate remarks, Hon. Fred Nwogbaga, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, and Hon. John Ibinna, also an SSA in the Governor’s Office, said the annual community day allows indigenes to reconnect, identify themselves and collectively solve problems.
“This is a day when our people, no matter where they live or do business, must return home,” Nwogbaga said.
“We come together to know ourselves better, solve our problems, celebrate and enjoy ourselves.”
They also used the occasion to call on youths to embrace peace and engage in meaningful activities that can provide sustainable livelihoods.
“Youths should put themselves into something productive and meaningful,” Nwogbaga urged.
“The government is also trying to create opportunities to engage young people, but peace and self-development are key.”
The Oferekpe–Agbaja Community Day, stakeholders agreed, has continued to strengthen unity, preserve culture and accelerate development, reinforcing the importance of community-driven initiatives in building a peaceful and prosperous Ebonyi State.