It was a massive influx of people into Ekwulobia Nze Na Ozo society as one hundred and eighty-two persons joined the prestigious society, including male children who were initiated into the society by their fathers.
The one hundred and eighty-two persons were initiated into the Nze N’Ozo Ekwulobia during the tenth ‘Nju -Alo Umuchi” festival held at the village square, having completed the required rites for the title taking.
In most Igbo land, Ozo title is meant for men who have attained a certain level in life and have achieved a remarkable fit for themselves and the society, but the reverse is the case with Ekwulobia community in Aguata Local Area where male children including those that are within the age of five or below can take this title as long as he has someone to bankroll him.
During the “Nju Alo Umuchi”, out of the one hundred and eighty-five persons that took the Ozo title, five took Ozo Orji Agu, another five Ozo Ogbeji, two Ozo Adama, and one hundred and seventy-nine took Ozonwa which is the one giving to the male children according to the tradition of the town.
Isi Nze Umuchi, the Chief Anselem Ezenwankwor said that the Ozo title is one of the titles given to people in Igbo land and Ekwulobia in particular as a way of ensuring sanity in the community as the title holder is expected to always stand for the truth, fight impunity and abstain from all forms of evil and the likes.
He explained that they initiate infants into the prestigious Ozo society of the town to get them learn to love and cherish their culture and tradition from the tender age as well as make them abstain and hate evil early in life, for a better society.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Nze N’Ozo Umuchi, Chief Ifechukwu Ezeokoye who read out an address on behalf of the group explained that initiation of the male children into the Nze N’Ozo Ekwulobia helps in shaping the children to develop into responsible and useful persons in the community, saying that they are under the care, supervision and mentorship of their respective fathers.
One of the newly initiated Ozo title holder, Chief Chinedu Chiebue with the title name “Nze Odirachukwumma Nke Mbu n’Ekwulobia, observed that title taking is very important as it helps in bettering the society, adding that he decided to take the Ozo title because of his quest to contribute his quota in the sanitization of the society, and promised to stick to the rules guiding Ozo Ekwulobia and be ambassador of peace and truth at all times.
In separate interviews, a stakeholder in the community, Chief Emeka Okeke and a United Kingdom based man who initiated his three sons into the Nze N’Ozo Ekwulobia society, Chief Johnkennedy Ezenwankwor noted that Ozo title taking is one of the major traditions their forefathers handed over to them that they will never allow to go into extinction, pointing out that the title among other things, helps to ignite peace, love and unity in the community.
