- Protocol:It is with profound humility and heartfelt joy that I stand before you today, on this momentous 25th anniversary of the cherished community. A quarter-century of shared struggles, triumphs, and unyielding spirit marks not merely the passage of time, but the enduring legacy of the collective resolve. I bring warm greetings to His Royal Majesty, Onyeze Kalu Mba, Igbidi 1 of Umunnato Akanu Item Autonomous Community, members of the Traditional Council, elders, leaders, women, youths, sons and daughters of Umunnato Akanu Item at home and in the diaspora, as well as our distinguished guests who have joined us to celebrate this remarkable milestone.
- Today is not just a day of celebration; it is a day of reflection, thanksgiving, and renewed commitment. We have gathered not merely to mark the passage of time, but to honour a journey of identity, resilience, unity, progress, and communal aspiration. Twenty-five years in the life of an autonomous community is no small achievement. It is a testament to vision, sacrifice, courage, and the determination of a people who chose to define their destiny with dignity and purpose. As we commemorate this milestone, let us reflect on the foundational virtues that have sustained us: unity, perseverance, and a commitment to the common good. From the humble beginnings of the forebears to the aspirations of the children, Akanu Item stands as a beacon of hope in Abia State, embodying the Umunna ethos of progress through communal endeavour.
- As we celebrate this milestone, we must also see it as a call to greater responsibility. Anniversaries are not only for remembrance; they are also for recommitment. They challenge us to ask important questions: What kind of community do we want to build in the next 25 years? What values must we preserve? What institutions must we strengthen? What legacy must we leave for our children?
- The answer, in my view, is clear. We must continue to build a community anchored on unity, peace, development, inclusion, and cultural pride. We must invest in our people, especially our youths. We must empower our women, strengthen our families, protect our values, and pursue development with seriousness and sincerity. We must reject division, bitterness, and every force that seeks to weaken our communal bond. A divided people cannot make lasting progress, but a united people can overcome any challenge. Let me state clearly that sustainable development in our communities today requires partnership. Government must play its part. Community leadership must play its part. Town unions, youth bodies, women groups, faith-based institutions, and development-oriented individuals must also play their part. Progress becomes faster and more meaningful when there is synergy between the people and leadership at every level.
- In my modest capacity as your representative, I have been privileged to contribute to this noble journey. Chief among these interventions has been the installation of solar lights across the communities, illuminating the paths—literally and figuratively—dispelling the shadows of darkness and fostering safety for all, day and night.
- Education remains the cornerstone of the future, and I am gratified to have supported myriad endowment and assistance projects for beneficiaries at every level. These include doctoral scholarships for one aspiring scholar, JAMB registrations and CBT preparatory training for determined students, WAEC support , and First School Leaving Certificate aid for both indigent and deserving students. Such initiatives affirm the belief that no child of Umunna shall be denied the light of knowledge.
- Furthermore, in bolstering the educational infrastructure, I have donated 50 modern desks and chairs to Akanu Item Primary School. These furnishings symbolise not just comfort for young minds, but an investment in the disciplined intellects who will one day lead.
- Beyond these, my interventions extend to vital social spheres: health support for the vulnerable, empowerment programmes for the widows, and sundry initiatives that uplift the human spirit. Each endeavour is a thread in the rich tapestry of the community’s advancement.
- Yet, true progress demands the shared vigilance. As we celebrate, let us pledge renewed dedication to education, infrastructure, and mutual welfare. I urge the youth to seize opportunities with vigour, the elders to impart wisdom generously, and all to foster peace and development.
- In the agricultural domain, notable interventions include the farming season kick-off programme, the distribution of improved seedlings, and greenhouse planting trainings, all designed to enhance productivity and secure the livelihoods of our farmers.
- Across Bende North, we have achieved substantial milestones: expanded health services, infrastructure development through road rehabilitations and water projects, and legislative interventions that have secured funding for constituency-wide advancements, alongside empowerment schemes for women and youth.
- Let us encourage the people to access these efforts in education—through the state of the art JAMB CBT center which is available for the educational advancement of our constituents and other endowments provided. We also urge enlistment in the Farmers’ Cooperative to benefit from tailored support packages for Bende North farmers. Moreover, out people are encouraged to access the free brick-making trainings, periodic green house planting trainings and numerous other agricultural empowerment initiatives aimed at advancing the development of Bende North.
- However , none of the above can stand in isolation without acknowledging the great efforts of the transformative leader of our time, His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR. This vision permeates every segment, every sector, every constituency, and every local government in the state, delivering impacts across all ramifications.
- I particularly commend the leadership of Umunnato Akanu Item Autonomous Community for sustaining the spirit of togetherness and for keeping alive the ideals upon which this autonomous community was founded. I also salute the men and women who have, over the years, contributed in various ways to the peace, growth, and stability of this community. Your labour is not in vain. History will remember your service.
- On this 25th anniversary, I heartily congratulate the entire Umunnato Akanu Item Autonomous Community. I pray that this community will continue to grow from strength to strength. May peace reign in every home. May progress attend every effort. May our sons and daughters rise to greater heights. May our land flourish. And may Umunnato Akanu Item Autonomous Community continue to stand as a shining example of unity, dignity, and advancement. God bless Umunnato Akanu Item Autonomous Community. God bless Bende North State Constituency.
God bless Abia State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you and God bless.