Mgba Ututu: Issele-Uku King, Agbogidi Nduka Appreciates Nwaoduah, Others For Sponsorship

By Patrick Ochei

In the past seven years, Chief P.C. Nwaoduah, the Oji-Ugo of Issele-Uku Kingdom and former Director General of the State Security Services (SSS) has consistently sponsored the annual Mgba Ututu festival through the Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association (IPYA), Abuja Branch. This individualistic show of love and commitment to community efforts, prompted the monarch of Issele-Uku Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE) to specially and deeply express his appreciation to him and others before the Izuani Issele-Uku, for their sponsorship of the 2024 edition of the Mgba Ututu festival, which held on Friday 30th August, 2024, at Idumuinei centre and palace ground.

Obi Nduka therefore mandated the Ogbelani of Issele-Uku, Diokpa Isimchei Okonkwo to say a special prayer for Chief P.C. Nwaoduah, who is the major sponsor of the annual Mgba Ututu festival, including others like the US based Issele-Uku Chief Designate, Prof. (Mrs.) Veronica Ufoegbune, Mr. John Ukwajiunor, Mrs. Elizabeth Adigwe, Mr. Onyeisi Nwanneka, Mr. Nna Rex Unobukwu, Ms. Queen Oligie, Mr. Peter Oluonye, Mr. Raphael Okodikpo and Mr. Ifeanyi Iyiegbu.

Agbogidi Nduka further expressed joy that most families in his kingdom would be able to feed well in this period of serious economic hardship and hunger, maintaining that the sponsors of the Mgba Ututu had done noble for providing bags of rice to community leaders and the participants at the Mgba Ututu contest.

Addressing the Obi and the Izuani, the President of Abuja Branch of IPYA and Coordinator of the Mgba Ututu Sponsorship Programme, Mr. Kamene Nkadi thanked the community leaders for their audience and prayers.

He said the youths of Issele-Uku would continue to support the leadership agenda of their amiable king who has brought visibility to traditional leadership in terms of the unity of the people and physical development of the community.

He also used the medium to commend Chief P.C. Nwaoduah, whom he said has been their backbone in Abuja, not only in supporting them annually to sponsor the Mgba Ututu festival but also giving of employment to the youths and assisting those in need of various assistances.

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Kamene affirmed that Nwaoduah had always been wonderfully available to assist in sponsoring the Mgba Ututu, including those that had joined the trail, thereby praying God to replenish all of them and bless them the more.

Meanwhile, prizes ranging from 50kg bags of rice, 25kg bags of rice, cartons of noodles and cash were presented to winners of the wresting contest from the champions, first runners up and second runners up respectively in three distinct categories – Senior Male, Intermediary Male and Junior Male as well as Senior Female, Intermediary Female and Junior Female.

From the milk of kindness of Chief Nwaoduah also, 50kg bag of rice was provided each to the Quarter Elders of Issele-Uku, including the Omu and Eze Dibie with #10,000 each for transportation. For his fellow chiefs, he made #25,000 available to each of them, to support them in performing their functions during the Ine festival.

This year’s edition of the Mgba Ututu was spectacular and highly entertaining. From Idumuinei Quarters where it all began, winners were documented to further struggle it out at the grand finale at the Issele-Uku Royal Palace, where His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka was the Chief Judge.

It could be recalled that cash gifts were equally presented to those who won at Idumuinei centre before the grand finale at the Palace, which was monitored by Obi Nduka, Anasi-Obi Rosemary Chukwudumebi Nduka, the crown prince and other members of the royal family.

The chiefs present included the Okwalegwe of Issele-Uku and chairman of Ine Ahor 2024 Festival Committee, Chief Dr. John Ochei, the Esogba of Issele-Uku and chairman of Mgba Ututu Sub-Committee, Chief Fidelis Jigide, the Oloto of Issele-Uku, Chief I.G. Memeh, the Obazuaye of Issele-Uku, Chief Engr. Onyeabor Nwabah, the Uweh of Issele-Uku, Chief Augustine Maha, the Osigie of Issele-Uku, Chief Brian Michael Odiakose, the Ozoma of Issele-Uku, Chief Peter Oduh, including members of the Ine Ahor 2024 Festival Committee and others too numerous to mention.