REDISCOVERING ABIA: BEAMING SEARCHLIGHT ON UMUNNEOCHI’S RICH TOURISM HERITAGE

By Uche Olehi
The quest to rediscover Abia took Team Abia Tourism Sites Visitation (Team ATSV) Thursday, August 31, 2017 to Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia North Senatorial Zone. And it was indeed an eye opener to the vast Tourism assets of the good and hospitable LG largely dominated by Ndi Isuochi.
The exciting journey which kicked off from Umuahia, the State capital saw the adventurous team led by by Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Bar. Ngozi Nwangwa calling on the Executive Chairman Bar. Okey Igwe at the Council headquarters Nkwoagu Isuochi.
Warmly received by the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Stanley Obinna Ezeobi, Bar. Nwangwa explained their mission to the top Council officials. Mrs. Nwangwa, who is also the Chairman, Abia State Tourism and Services Development Board, said they were in town for three major reasons.
First, according to her, is to physically identify Tourism Sites in the LG. She explained that the team, drawn from the Ministries of Trade and Investment, Information and Culture, Abia Tourism and Services Development, the office of the Governor, the Media, the creative industry and the private sector, will also ask questions about the area’s Tourism potentials, especially where they have comparative advantage.
The third step, Mrs. Ngozi Nwangwa revealed, would be to interact with traditional rulers the custodians of traditions and culture who will share with the team vital information on norms, values, culture and traditions prevalent in their domain and beyond.
“Questions like stories behind some culture, traditions and festivities of the people as well as time of the celebrations and rites would be addressed by the Royal Fathers”.
She further said the team would collaborate with Abia communities to enable Government take the lead in projecting and promoting some of their Tourism attractions, adding that the data collated from the State-wide tour would be fed into the Abia Tourism website. It will also be used to produce a documentary and a world-class magazine to showcase the State’s Tourism sites and and it’s attending benefits. The essence, she said, is to project the LGAs and the State in positive light while selling Abia to the world.
Bar. Nwangwa announced that the guided tour, applauded by all has so far taken Team ATSV to five LGAs, namely Aba North, Aba South, National Museum of Pre-Colonial and Colonial History, Aba, Isialangwa North, Gregory University, Uturu, the Royal White Palace (the Royal residence of His Imperial Majesty Eze (Dr). Isaac Ajuonu Ikonne (Enyi 1 of Aba). It will be remembered that the team’s first port of call was the Ukwu Palace of His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Bernard Enweremadu, Eze Ukwu of Ngwaukwu (the 13th Traditional Head of Ngwa Land).
In his response, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Hon. Amobi Ocho commended Team ATSV for the laudable mission of rediscovering Abia. He went on to unveil some of Umunneochi’s Tourism endowments Hon. Ocho particularly mentioned Isi Imo, the source of Imo River at Umuaku, Shell’s first Oil exploration site at Umukparo village Mbala- Isuochi before they moved to Owerri, the wondrous Mmam River and its serene and alluring environs as well as the numerous caves in the area.
He didn’t forget the ancient Ngodo and Leru Umuchieze caves and the legendary 11 feet Giant of Alakuku (Nwaokoroukwu Onwunta) of Umueze Anyiwara, Mgbelu Mbala-Isuochi. He also noted that Umunneochi is famous for its masquerades and multi cultural dances. The Chief of Staff said the Eziamagbo Women Dance group is one of the LG’s cultural exports which has won several State, National and International recognitions and awards.
On Agro-Tourism, the team also discovered that Umunneochi hosts the well-known Cashew Board occupying over 500 hectre expanse of land. There are also mine sites around Lokpaukwu Umuchieze still in the naturally endowed Isuochi land of warriors, enticing vegetation and adorable landscape.
Umunneochi, we were told, has rich culinary culture. A community capable of giving her visitors assorted delicacies ranging from Cassava Meals like Nshisha (Abachi), Awarawa, Aturuatu, yam and cocoyam sauces and native soup, among other sumptuous meals.
Still at the Council headquarters, the Executive Chairman represented by his Deputy did receive the team with kind words before they proceeded to yet another tourism delight, the Ochi Royal Palace, Umuelem Isuochi to pay a courtesy visit to the Paramount Head of Isuochi Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Sir. (Dr) G.I. Ezekwesiri, the Ochi 1 of Isuochi. Hon. Ezeobi, in his welcome address, commended the 26 man team for embarking on the tour of Abia Tourism Sites, saying that it will encourage us to showcase what nature has deposited in our land.
At the Ochi Royal Palace, the leader of the delegation, Bar Nwangwa extended the warm greetings and regards of the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to the revered first class monarch who has been on the throne for over forty five years. She congratulated the natural ruler on the successful Iriji Isuochi (New Yam Festival) held on Saturday, Orie, August 12,2017, while appealing to the King to always extend invitation of the community festivities to the Arts, Culture and Tourism sector for effective and fruitful collaboration with the State Government, the Federal Government, agencies, the International Community, the Organized Private Sector and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). This, she said, will further project Isuochi, particularly and Umunneochi at large, to the world, considering their rich Tourism and cultural heritage.
Responding, Eze (Dr). Ezekwesiri thanked Governor Ikpeazu for approving and supporting the tour of Abia Tourism Sites and other projects of the Tourism, Arts and Culture. He said this is a positive development and how it had been in the past, given the fact that the Tourism potentials of the State need to be fully explored. The Ochi 1 confirmed all the Tourism Sites the Umunneochi LG officials listed, adding that Iriji Isuochi is the biggest ceremony in Isuochi Land. He explained its origin and how it is celebrated by the nine towns (sons) of Isuochi.
The Ochi 1 further revealed Isuochi is a melting pot and confluence of culture largely influenced by neighbouring states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra States with the community at the centre. He also used the platform to appeal to the State Government to fix critical infrastructure and access roads to Tourism sites in Umunneochi as this would attract investment to the State for the benefit of all Abians.
The Paramount Head of Isuochi reminisced on the community’s reputation and fame as land of wrestlers, boxers and other forms of athletics, theorizing that their highly nutritious menu accounts for their longevity, virility and amazing height, which the famous Giant of Alakuku typifies.
The journey to rediscover Umunneochi took a dramatic turn with the tour of Mmam River, some five-kilometer drive from the Ochi Royal Palace (Umuelem). The team was accompanied to the site by top Umunneochi Council officials, political leaders and some native tour guides.
With more than a kilometre walk (from where our tour bus could take us) to the Mmam Water Scheme project which was reportedly commissioned by the former Governor of old Imo State in the second Republic, Chief Sam Mbakwe, we knew we were in for a deal which did pay off with the rediscovery of, perhaps, one of Abia’s most commercially viable Tourism Sites.
Mmam River is the the natural boundary of Enugu and Abia States. The costal community has a proposed bridge with some of the construction material and equipment abandoned for over 30 years. The seaside has every trapping of a natural beach with its alluring mountainous surroundings very much suitable for picnics and any form of vacation and relaxation. The wondrously amazing ecosystem incorporates a rich aquatic life with sea vegetation as old as history. Also abound here are a cluster of about six caves, some of which have been a haven of protection for Isuochi people at war and perilous times, including the Biafran war and slave trade era. Suffice it to say the story of Mmam is better experienced than told.
Team ATSV also called at the ancestral abode of the legendary Giant of Alakuku at Umueze -Anyiwara, Mgbelu,Mbala,Isuochi. One Elder Chief James Ukekwe, a 92 year old retired School Principal from the village said ( in an interview with us) he saw the uncommon Isuochi giant. Another older man, whom we spoke with also collaborated Elder Ukekwe’s account of the tallest man that ever lived in Africa who was buried in Okigwe where he reportedly lived. Unfortunately, he died without a wife since his extremely size and height scared away the wife the community arranged for him.
Done for the day with a firm and collective promise to return to the over ten main Tourism Sites our hosts are blessed with, the apparently fagged out team returned to the palatial residence of Hon. Chief Aham Eziechile, the Leader of Umunneochi Legislative Council to say goodbye to the hospitable people of Umunnechi. And we did get a fair doze of their characteristic hospitality.
On Team ATSV entourage were the Leader, Ngozi Nwangwa, Esq., Director of Tourism, Ministry of Trade & Investment, Mr. Young Nwachukwu, Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Media, Comrade Uche Olehi & Mr Adimchinobi Onyenso, Chief Physician to the team, Dr Kate, Nollywood Filmmaker, Ozioma Victor, the Media, among others. The tour of Abia LGAs Tourism Sites which has the approval and mandate of the Abia State Governor, continued today, Tuesday, September 5, 2017 with Umuahia South Local Government.