UVURU, MBAISE (Sundiata Post) – In less than 48 hours this year’s edition of Bia Were Oji Uvuru festival will kick off. By 10am on Thursday, 26 December, people of Uvuru in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State along with their friends, guests and well wishers will troop to the playground of Oke-Ovoro Secondary School to celebrate a festival that gets bigger and better year after year.
This year 10 prominent indigenes from the five autonomous communities that make up Uvuruikedinairi will be honoured as Star Sons. These are selected from a pool of sons of Uvuru who have, in the words of Chinua Achebe, made solid personal achievements. In addition to their individual personal achievements they have contributed to their communities and villages in various ways.
For the first time, a category of award, which is the highest award that can be conferred on any Uvuru person or friend of Uvuru will be awarded to two distinguished sons of Uvuru. It is called PODIU (Pillar of Development In Uvuruikedinairi) Award. Sir Stanley Amuchie, Executive Director, Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc and Dr Chris Amuchie, Pastor and Founder, Igbo Intercessory Prayer Ministry, will be first recipients of the award that will be given every three to five years according to information made available to Sundiata Post by Dr Chimaroke Ben Nnaji, President-General, Uvuru Communities Development Union (UCDU).
The Star Sons to be honoured are Chief Jude Odoemena, Mr Chukwudi Onwuegbuche, Mr Obinna Nneji, Dr Victor Ekezie, Mr Chinedu Dike and Dr Vitalis Onuoha.
Also to be honoured are Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, Mr. Dimkpa Alaribe, Mr. Cletus Erondu and Hon. Chigozie Ebereonwu.
•Vitalis Onuoha
Dr. Vitalis Chibuzor Onuoha was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Okechukwu Onuoha.
He completed his primary education at Community School Ndigbo Uvuru and his secondary education at Niger Institute of Commerce, Uvuru.
Dr. Onuoha pursued higher education at Lagos State University, where he studied law and graduated with distinction. In addition to his legal education, he holds a degree in Political Science and a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Dr. Onuoha is an accomplished business leader, serving as the President and CEO of VITO-COLION OIL & GAS LTD and Duke & Plutus LTD. He is also the chairman of Zyno Communications Ltd and Almostaqbal Project Management Services based in Dubai, UAE.
Known for being a devoted family man, Dr. Onuoha is a prominent political figure in Imo State. He is currently the Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State, providing strategic guidance on development initiatives.
His deep connection to his roots and service to his community have earned him numerous chieftaincy titles and respect as a “homegrown” leader.
•Chukwudi Onwuegbuche
Mr. Chukwudi Onwuegbuche is from Umuguzo Akpotu Isiala Uvuru. He is a supply chain management professional. He is happily married to Mrs. Nneka Onwuegbuche and the union is blessed with three lovely children. He holds an MBA from the University of Cumbria UK, Masters degree in International Law & Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Calabar.
A member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, UK, he currently works with a telecommunication and data centre infrastructure company in Lagos, Nigeria where he lives and works. He is a Christian and his hobbies are listening to inspiring music, reading, football, tennis and traveling.
•Dennis Adikwuru
Born to the family of Elijah Nwawuike and Eunice Nwaobilor Adikwuru, both of blessed memory, Hon Dennis Adikwuru, media practitioner and political scientist, has held appointments as Executive Secretary and Director of Operations, Imo State Pools, Betting, Gaming etc Board.
He is married and blessed with four sons, three daughters and two grandsons for now.
Holds B.Sc Political Science and M.Sc Public Administration degrees.
•Chinedu Dike LLB, LLM, Notary Public of Nigeria
An indigene of from Amaisii Uvuru, Mbaise, Chief Chinedu Dike is a barrister and Principal Partner, P. C. Dike & Associates Eminent Chambers, Lagos.
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with the fruit of the womb.
He has been involved in some high profiles election petitions cases. His specialties are constitutional law, corporate practice, real estate. etc. Apart from being a member of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), Barrister Dike is also a member of the American Bar Association (ABA).
•Victor Izuchukwu Ekezie
Dr. Victor Izuchukwu Ekezie hails from Umualoma Okwunakuwa Uvuru. He is a medical practitioner specialising in family medicine, disease control and prevention and quality health management.
He is happily married to Chief (Mrs) Mary Ekezie from Owhelogbo in Isoko Kingdom, Delta State.
The union is blessed with three adorable kids, and holds an MBBS degree from Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, a diploma degree in petroleum and natural gas processing from Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Delta State. He also holds a diploma in mental health and well-being.
Dr. Ekezie is a member of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and Nigeria Medical Association, Delta State chapter.
He has worked at FMC Bauchi, where he did his internship, before gaining employment with Phonex Clinic in Delta State as a medical officer, and Agbowu’s Medical Centre, Warri as a senior Medical officer.
Currently, he is the medical director of MITREVIC MEDICAL SERVICES, Delta State.
A devoted Christian in the Catholic faith, his hobbies include writing, singing, dancing, cooking, traveling and researching.
He is a lover of nature and traditional music.
His philosophy in life is “what you can’t afford in life, you don’t need it”.
•Jude Odoemena
Chief Jude Chinaedu Iheanacho Odoemena hails from Umuoshi Umuaghara Okwunakwua, Uvuru autonomous community.
A former branch manager with First Bank of Nigeria PLC, he is currently a private business in the United States.
He holds a HND in Mass Communication from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State and a PGD in Mass Communication
from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
He is married to Lolo Juliet Chinedu Odoemena and the marriage is blessed with three adorable children. He is a Christian and his hobbies are playing soccer, listening to music, photography and cinematography, film acting and film production.
•Obinna Nneji
Ezinwa Obinna Nneji hails from Egbelu Isiala Uvuru and is married to a lovely wife with five lovely children.
He describes himself as a “very hardworking, smart and intelligent man with innovative mindset, a man who loves development in his community (Uvuru).”
His businesses traverse auto spares parts, vehicle sales and importation.
•Dimkpa Alaribe
Mr Dimkpa Alaribe is from Umudinka in Amaasaa Autonomous community, Uvuru. He is a graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, where he bagged his first degree. He earned his Master’s degree from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Dimkpa joined Dangote Nigeria Limited, Portharcourt, where he served as the Port Operation Officer for Dangote Bulk Cement Trucks and later moved to Lagos, Head office in the Fleet Management Unit of Dangote Salt Industry, Apapa.
He later joined Zenith Bank Plc, where he rose to become Head, Admin and Procurement Department of the Bank until his eventual relocation to the United States.
He has served as Chairman of 2019 Bia Were Oji Uvuru Organising Committee and has many honours to his name. These include:
Ezinwa, All Saints Church, Uvuru;
Youth Patron, Diocese of Mbaise;
Ezinwa, Diocese of Mbaise;
Distinguished Member Award, New Era Archdeacon, Diocese of Lagos.
He is married to Chedo Maryrose Alaribe and the marriage is blessed with children.
•Chigozie Ebereonwu
Mr Chigozie Ebereonwu is from Ogbor in Ogbor na Achalu Autonomous Community, Uvuru. He is a graduate of Imo State University. He is a serial entrepreneur with businesses in manufacturing and real estate.
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with children. He has contributed immensely to the progress and development of his village, community and Uvuru at large and his service to God and humanity is worthy of emulation.
•Cletus Erondu
Mr Cletus Erondu holds B.Sc (Ed) Accounting from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
He is Chairmanz Umuachalu Uvuru Family Meeting Portharcout Branch. He is Founder and Chairman Ndiokwu Umuachalu Progressives Union, Director JADO Nig Multi Servicea an FMCG company in Portharcout, Rivers state.
He is married to Mrs Lynda Adaku Cletus and they are blessed with four children.
