Idoma Hall of Fame founder, Agaba Ikwue honoured with ‘Agaba Alegwu Ka’Ode’ title in Otukpo

A renowned philanthropist and founder of the Idoma Hall of Fame, Engr. Agaba Ikwue, has been honoured with the traditional title of Agaba Alegwu Ka’Ode by the Otukpo Area Traditional Council in Benue State.

The conferment took place in Upu community, Otukpo Local Government Area, on Saturday, with the Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, leading the traditional council that bestowed the honour on him.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Eimonye explained the significance of the title and the qualities and contributions that earned Ikwue the recognition.

“Chief Agaba Ikwue deserves every honour in this land. He has demonstrated philanthropic gestures; he helps so many people. He’s a pathfinder among our people, in our community here.

“He has no enemy and he’s forward-looking. He does so much for us, and this one is just a nice badge because we’re going to give him more honour in our community. He’s wonderful. He’s done so many things.

“Whoever works in this place and succeeds, Agaba Ikwue must know about it. So, I am grateful to tell the world that I am proud of the son who is being coronated today as Agaba Alegwu Ka’Ode, a wonderful young man,” the royal father said.

The occasion brought together family members, friends, associates and well-wishers who gathered to witness the historic moment and celebrate with the new titleholder.

In his response, Agaba Ikwue expressed gratitude to the traditional institution and the people of Upu community for the recognition, describing the honour as both a privilege and a call to greater service.

“I am sincerely humbled. I’m humbled beyond words. And this shows that when you do good, people are watching.

“I want to use this opportunity to tell Otukpo people and the entire Idoma land that it is time for us to unite.

“Together, everybody achieves more. You can never undermine the power of unity.

“Look at the thousands of people gathered here today to celebrate me.

“This is a demonstration that people appreciate what we are doing. And this is a challenge that we need to do more.

“And I call on all well-meaning Idoma sons and daughters from all the cardinal angles of Idoma land, please, let’s come together. Let’s put in our bit. From that little drop that each and every one of us contributes to that basin, we will fill it up.

“We are extremely endowed as a people.”

Other dignitaries and community stakeholders at the event commended Ikwue’s contributions to society, describing the conferment as a fitting recognition of his generosity, service and commitment to the people.

Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, while congratulating Ikwue on the conferment, urged him not to rest on his oars but to remain committed to serving his people, promoting unity and driving development across Idoma land.

He said, “Agaba has been entrusted with a lot of responsibilities by this recognition from the community.

“Hopefully, all of us who are his friends, his senior brothers and his associates will join hands with him and support him in ensuring that he brings appropriate development and unity to his community, using the platform of this office that he has been entrusted with today.”

Also speaking, Chief Elias Oche said, “Honour is not something you demand or force upon people; it is something you earn.

“When a man demonstrates the qualities that make him honourable, he naturally commands the respect and recognition he deserves.”

“Agaba Alegwu, Engineer Agaba Ikwue, a double Agaba, is a man who has the heart to be able to accommodate people.

“Leadership is a capacity to bear the extremes, from extremely difficult people to extremely nice people.

“He’s shown leadership, he’s shown capacity, he’s shown selflessness.

“It is one thing to acquire as required; it’s yet another thing to acquire beyond the required. Yet again, it’s another thing to acquire and have the heart to share.

“Agaba is a man of character, a man of steel, a man of focus, a man of strategy and a man whose time has come.”

Another dignitary described the conferment as a responsibility and a blessing to the entire Idoma nation.

On his part, Dr. Kelvin Odatse congratulated Ikwue on his conferment, describing the traditional title as a responsibility and urging him to use the position to serve his people and promote the development of the community.

“I am happy for the Otukpo people, especially the Upu people, who have recognised his contributions and entrusted him with this responsibility. I see it as a responsibility to serve the people.

“Because when you are awarded, honoured or coronated for any form of service to your people, it’s a responsibility.

“I see a young man who indeed is capable, who, over time, has shown that he has the requisite credentials to be able to lead his people.

“And I see this opportunity as a blessing, not just to his Upu clan, but to the whole of Idoma nation.

“He alone, a few weeks ago, projected the Idoma nation worldwide by trying to organise, with the support of other progressives, the Idoma Hall of Fame.

“As if that was not enough, just yesterday, a 23-bed facility, fully furnished and equipped with oxygen, was donated to the management of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital for the use of the Idoma nation.

“Now, the lesson I pick is that for any leadership position to make sense, especially at this level, people must have merited it.

“People should be people of influence and means. You know, because we have seen situations where people who seem humble but do not have the requisite influence and means get into positions and sometimes cannot manage success, thereby creating bad leadership.

“But in Agaba Ikwue, I see a man who is a perfect fit for the title given to him.

“And by the grace of God, I want other communities to see beyond the veil of what the Otukpo people have done, so that other young men can be persuaded, because sometimes you are persuaded to take up that responsibility.

“And gradually, there will be a network of progressives that will move this blessed nation, the Idoma nation, one of the largest nations of the Kwararafa Kingdom, very, very high.”

Former Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Egli Johnson Ahubi, lauded Ikwue, describing the conferment as a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the community and society at large.

He said: “Based on his track record and contributions to the community and society at large, what we are witnessing here today is not a surprise. He deserves this honour.

“And you can see the mammoth crowd that has come here to witness it.

“They have been doing so well and have contributed a lot. Yesterday, we witnessed what he did at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo. He and his fellow colleagues, Chief Godwin Obla and others.

“So, what we are seeing here today, he deserves the honour being conferred on him. And that is why we are here to celebrate with him and encourage him to do more for the people.”

Chief Ewaoche Obe, the Ojemeri of Ojira, thanked the people of Otukpo for recognising and honouring Ikwue with the responsibility, describing the gesture as a source of joy and pride.

“I believe that the Otukpo people, the Upu people, are on the right track.

“They are repositioning their leadership so that they can bring in people with vision, people with humanity and people with love for the people to excel and propel the land, instead of bringing in some people who will just come and occupy space.

“Agaba will not occupy space. Agaba will really develop and help the people.

“And it’s really an honour, and I feel it’s a great thing that they have thought well to have given him this honour.

“He’s a wonderful personality, a very harmless person, somebody with a very simple structure and focus in life.

“So, I believe they’ve got it right by giving him that responsibility. And as the Ojemeri of Ojira community and a resident of Otukpo, we will give him all the necessary support.”

Onazi Ada also congratulated him, expressing happiness over his recognition and the gathering of well-wishers to celebrate the occasion.

“I’m very happy for him. Today, Agaba Ikwue is Agaba Alegwu Ka’Ode. So, we’re happy for him. We came here to celebrate with him. We’re very grateful for him, and we’re happy for everybody who came.

“I’m happy to be here and to celebrate my brother. So, thank God everything went well. We’re here, and we’re happy.”

A native of Otukpo and renowned writer, Chief David Ekwoe, also commended the honour, describing it as a well-deserved recognition of Agaba Ikwue’s contributions to the community and society at large.

“Agaba Ikwue is a wonderful person, and we are very pleased with him. He has done a lot for this land. He is a trailblazer, and that is why we are showing our appreciation to him by giving him the title Agaba Alegwu.

“Agaba Alegwu is a very big title in Otukpo because, as Agaba Alegwu, he sits in council with the Och’Idoma and takes custody of the affairs of tradition in Otukpo land, not just the Odumu cultural group.

“So, we’re very pleased with him. He’s quite humane. He’s somebody who is very humble and very likeable. He gives to his community and has done a lot. So, we cannot forget him.”

On his part, former Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu, described the occasion as an important cultural event, noting that the tradition had been preserved from generation to generation.

“We are at a very important cultural event today.

“Our forefathers practised what we are seeing here today. It is something that is age-long, and we have kept it alive to this day.”

Abounu described Agaba Ikwue as a worthy recipient of the traditional position, adding that his character befitted the title of Agaba Alegwu.

“Agaba Ikwue is one human being whose character we have adjudged to be very befitting of the position of Agaba Alegwu.

“That is why he was given the position as an example for the youth to emulate, as somebody the youth can look up to and as a leader of the youth, particularly the Udumu cultural group.

“That is why he was given this position. He’s a man of character, somebody we very much admire and respect in this community.

“That is the reason why we are all here to celebrate this very important day for him.”

The ceremony marked another significant moment in the celebration of Idoma culture and the recognition of individuals making contributions to their communities.