MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VARIOUS AGE GRADES OF ABIRIBA

By admin on March, 9 2015

All through the ages, it has always been the imperative of each era that guided the focus towards the achievements of the various age grades. When the need to secure the communities farmlands and boundaries was paramount, the various age grades fought notable wars as cases were.

At other times when the need shifted to the opening of trade routes contemporary age groups of that era performed creditably, notably among them was the channelization of the famous 'Igwu River; Ndi Ebe Abam to major river course as well as the clearing of the Abiriba-Uzuakoli Road.

As time elapsed there were no more wars against neighbouring communities to be fought so emphasis shifted towards community development. Below is a catalogue of appreciable achievements by the various age grades in Abiriba.

YEAR AGE GRADE PROJECT

1912: Three Age Grades Dredging of the Igwu River to ease transportation

1912: Onyiba Age Grade Part funding for the construction of the Abiriba-

Umuahia road

1942: Ojighiriendu Age Grade Introduced the recognition of women as members of

the age grade at Okpopedi Itu.

1944: Amasiri/Onarubi Age Grade Revived the Igwa Mang ceremony at trading stations

inhabited by the Abiriba people.

1947: Ojighiriendu Age Grade of Abiriba Made a cash donation to ACIU in aid of the first Abiriba

scholarship holders sent overseas.

1948: Onyiba Age Grade of Abiriba, during their Igwa Mang completed revival of Igwa Mang

ceremony at Uzu (abroad).

1953: Ojighiriendu Age Grade of Abiriba Made a cash donation of 1,000.00 pounds to the ACIU

for building Enuda High School, Abiriba.

1956: Okezie Age Grade Donated the Okezie Town Hall to Abiriba.

1960: Erinma Age Grade of Abiriba, Donated Obudu Agha Monument at Ameke.

1960: Akahaba Age Grade of Abiriba Donated the Akahaba Joint Hospital, a joint venture

between them and the ACIU.

1960: Nchina Age Grade of Abiriba Constructed the Abiriba Post Office at Elu Court

1964: Egwuena Age Grade Donated Egwuena Girls' Secondary School

1964: Akanu Age Grade of Abiriba Presented the Obu Itu Eye

1968: Amasiri/Onarubi Age Grade Presented the Nnam Nmaju Memorial Monument at

Amauku Square, Ameke

1972: Nchina Age Grade of Abiriba Nchina Park was donated to the Abiriba community

1972: Onarubi Age Grade The Mighty, Ninety Days Onarubi Secondary Technical

School was constructed by the Onarubi Age Grade of Abiriba at the cost of 5Million Naira.

1976: Erinma Age Grade of Abiriba Presented to the Abiriba Community the Erinma Town

Hall, which today houses the Central Secretariat of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU), the PHCN office, Police Office and the Abiriba Community Bank.

1978: Ojighiriendu Age Grade of Abiriba Presented the 1Million Naira Ojighiriendu Tower Clock

(The Big Ben of Abiriba Enachioken).

1978: Okezie Age Grade of Abiriba Okezie Midwifery School was donated to the Abiriba

Community.

1980: Onyiba Age Grade of Abiriba Built the Onyiba School of Nursing

1980: Ojighiriendu Age Grade of Abiriba Donated a Peugeot Station Wagon to HRH, the

Enachioken of Abiriba Eze U. U. Ukiwo II, and a Peugeot Salon Car each to Eze Agboji-in-council and Eze Amogudu-in-council respectively.

1984: Ekpankuma Age Grade of Abiriba Constructed three class room blocks at Amogudu,

Amamba and Agboji community schools respectively and started the phrase 1 of the Ekpanuma Comprehensive Health Care Complex.

1988: Akahaba Age Grade of Abiriba Is currently constructing two standard stadiums for the

Abiriba community.

1992: The Egwuena Age Grade of Abiriba Is currently building two heavy duty bridges at Agboji

and Amogudu, and a Modern Primary School, Egwuena Model Primary School at Ugwuezi Abiriba, the former to facilitate development and accessibility and the later to enhance educational development in the community.

1996: Isimini & Okezi Age Grades of Abiriba Constructing an Ultra Modern Mini Market at Amogudu

and the reconstruction of Okezie Town Hall at Ameke respectively

2000: Udojiaku Age Grade of Abiriba Currently building an Ultra Modern Market to

decongest the Orie Akwa daily market Ameke, construction of 4.5 kilometer concrete road with drainage/culvert at Amogudu and 2 kilometer road at Agboji respectively.

2014: Erinma Age Grade Completed the Abiriba High Court Complex.

CELEBRATING THE JINX BREAKER - ERINMA AGE GRADE ABIRIBA, ON THEIR IGWA MANG CEREMONY: BY DR. KALU OMOKORIE OBASI

Erinma Age Grade radiates glory, has intrinsic ability of record breaking derived from bravery and unsurpassable courage. It is an age grade that has a wonderful blend of men and women. On record are the following men and women of calibre: one professor of international repute, one associate professor, one principal assistant registrar (lady), many bankers, many medical doctors and other health professionals, many security operatives, myriad of business men of international repute, lawyers, architects and engineers etc.

Above all, the age grade was blessed with highly committed, selfless and progressive leadership; that has served as the rudder in the advancement and achievements of the age grade. Within the period of service to Abiriba as “uke igwa mang”, Erinma Age Grade recorded the following feats:

RESTORATION OF SANITY IN THE COMPLIANCE TO ABIRIBA CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Erinma Age Grade Abiriba, assumed the position of uke igwa mang at Abiriba when many people took the orders of the traditional stool for granted. Such people for some unscrupulous reasons, failed to comply with the Abiriba calendar of events making mockery of the stability and harmony in events execution. Erinma Age Grade frowned at that and had to take it as a task to dismantle the structures, (eg. Canopies) of such disobedient persons or group. That singular act made people to recollect that there used to be uke igwa mang, it equally restored order in events execution .

POLICING OF INYIMOKA AND UMON AFFAIRS AT HOME AND IN DIASPORA:

Erinma Age-Grade successfully manned all “Inyimoka and Umon's” security affairs. For instance, the uke igwa mang was always on ground to accompany any fallen Abiriba man or woman to Abiriba. It is a traditional expectation of uke igwa mang to ensure that all the dead are safely taken home for burial. They always sent a delegate to accompany the ambulance from abroad to Abiriba. Erinma equally executed “in military fashion” all orders associated with defense and stability of Abiriba at home and Diaspora.

SUCCESSFUL COMBING OF ALL CRIMINAL HIDEOUTS IN ABIRIBA:

Erinma Age-Grade successfully combed all the enclaves of miscreants in the phase of repeated robbery and social assault on the community by miscreants. In fact, it was then discovered that most of the robbers came from neighbouring communities to recruit natives who aid them in their nefarious activities.

CALLED OKADA OPERATORS TO ORDER:

The leadership of motorcycle operators were summoned based on the report of their excesses in over speeding in difficult terrain and aiding criminal activities. They were called to order and the impending sanctions were read to them.

KILLING A MYSTERIOUS PYTHON:

Based on tip-off, Erinma Age-Grade successfully dislodged a hot spot of criminality at Agbor court (beside Egwuena Girls Secondary School). It was in that outing that Erinma killed a mysterious python which was found inside an aluminum pot owned by a tenant from Akwa Ibom State. Our women took the python round Abiriba singing victory song. So why can't we beat our chest in victory?

COMPLETION OF THE OVER 20 YEARS ABANDONED HIGH COURT PROJECT:

Erinma Age-Grade was implored to take over an over-twenty years abandoned high court project. Based on the strategic need for Abiriba, Erinma Age-Grade obliged to take over the project, after due consultation. The elders were however skeptical, doubts were written on their faces; possibly feeling that the age grade might not be able to deliver the assignment. Today the project has been completed by Erinma to the amazement of all. The high court project is about the biggest in size and the most modern in design. That is why everybody is clapping for Erinma Age-Grade Abiriba. The elders have been praying for more blessing to Erinma Age-Grade and its members and we strongly believe that God will hear and bless.

SUBMISSION FROM OJIGHIRIENDU AGE GRADE (THE INITIATORS OF THE HIGH COURT PROJECT), ABIRIBA:

Approval for the construction of the high court at Abiriba was granted by Justice Ukata, the then Chief Judge of Imo State
Foundation laying and libation ceremony was on 16^th June, 1990.
The fund raising /launching for the project was on 1^st April 1991.
Formal foundation laying ceremony by government officials was on 2^nd April 1991.

Share on Tweet