In an effort to keep the cultural heritage of the people of Omagwa alive, the Omuikume Community which is noted for its commitment to cultural activities came out in their numbers, Saturday August 17, 2019 to celebrate this year’s annual wrestling Festival at Omagwa in grand style.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, a stakeholder and well trained surveyor, elder Boniface Offor said the people of Omagwa, especially Omuikume community attach great importance to wrestling as part of cultural activities of the land, describing it as the true identity of that part of Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
Elder Offor noted that it is also a time for stock-taking and sober reflections, pointing out that it started from time immemorial, passing from generation to generation, and commended the young ones for corning together to practise it every year, describing it as another Christmas Festivity in Omagwa.
In his remarks, the overall chairman of Community Development Committee Chairmen in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Steve Nwachukwu averred that the pride of an average Ikwerre man is nothing short of culture, which according to him is a time to come together as people from one family, a time to forget and forgive one another, a time to rejoice and share love and above all, a time to restore peace to Omagwa and Ikwerre as a whole for the rapid socio economic advancement of the area.
Reacting positively from the youths angle, the president of Omuikume youths organisation, Comr. Innocent Omunakwe observed that the event reminds them as youths, the need to ensure that peace constantly prevails in the land which he said is the only factor that brings sustainable development, saying, as youth leader, he was able to put necessary arrangements in place before the commencement of the festival and gave the assurance that they will continue to observe and celebrate it every year as it promotes unity, love, understanding amongst the people of the community.
The occasion was attended by unprecedented crowd of people from all walks of life, including neighbouring Communities who could not hold back their joy in joining the youths of Omuikume to celebrate the epoc-making ceremony.
