Unforgettable - The History of Awkunanaw Welfare Association.

This umbrella cultural organization, whose philosophy was socio-cultural, was as well socio-economic in its programmes and activities. It eventually became a platform at the vanguard for the sociocultural emancipation of our people.

The idea to set up this association was mooted up by the likes of Chiefs Okeke Ede (Amechi ), Onyia Ebiem ( Amechi ), Michael Ujam (Obeagu), John Igwesi(. Obuofia) and David Ani Ugbo (Amodu), and others. The fight began in 1946, when it became apparent that Okorome – where all Awkunanaw children attended school was insufficient to accommodate the growing army of school children. By then, the Methodist Group School, Akegbe stopped only at Standard 4. Children from the villages such as Akegbe, Obuoffia, Amodu and Uma had their infant education (today’s crèche and nursery) with the Methodist Mission, and thereafter had to transfer to Okorome (Ozalla) for Standard 1-4, and finally round off their education at Methodist Central School, Agbani for Standards 5-6.

It was the frequent insults and ridicule that Chief Okeke Ede received from the “small” Agbani that ignited the formation and emergence of Awkunanaw Welfare Association in 1946. Interestingly, Chief Okeke Ede became the first Chairman of the Association, while Chief David Aniugbo emerged as the Secretary-General. Committee members were Chiefs Edward Agbo Okwo (Amechi), Michael Nnamani (Akegbe-Ugwu), Ben Nnaji (Obuoffia), and Ngene Nyia (Ugwuaji). Others included the likes of Chiefs Stephen Ugwu Nnaji (Akegbe-Ugwu), Christopher Nwoye (Akwuke), Benjamin Atu (Ugwuaji) and Mark Ngene (Akegbe-Ugwu), as well as some others.

Their first agenda and pre-occupation was how to ensure that Awkunanaw autonomous community has a primary school that can accommodate Standards 5-6 candidates, instead of attending the only one in this area – Agbani – and curry further insults from them. Without hesitation the Association inaugurated a Committee that went to the Methodist hierarchy at Umuahia and negotiated for the establishment of a centre, which eventually led to the establishment of a primary school that will accommodate pupils from Standard 1 – 6 at Akpasha, Awkunanaw in 1949.

During the administration of Chief Okeke Ede, stones were used in the construction of classrooms and anyone who provided stones were well remunerated.

Another challenge to the Association was that all these development initiatives was Herculean, as our people needed to be enlightened and weaned from their cultural inhibitions. By then, the only tertiary institution nearby, where qualified candidates can be trained was at Uzuakoli (in the present Abia state). But as Providence would have it, the pioneering members of the Association, were equal to the task, as they discharged the enlightenment programme creditably.

Later, after these teething and tumultuous challenges, an election was conducted in which new officers emerged. Chiefs Jonah Agbo ( Amechi ) and Mark Ngene (. Akegbe Ugwu ) became Chairman and Secretary-General respectively. It was during their era that proper boundary demarcation was effected. Such boundaries included that of Umueze and Amuri, Amodu and Agbani and Akpugo, Amechi and Ogui, as well as Obuoffia and Obe. All previous antagonisms and recriminations arising from boundary disputes were therefore finally sorted out and resolved.

When the Wawa struggle became the rallying point for the politico-economic emancipation of the Wawa Igbo sub-group, the Awkunanaw Welfare Association did not waste time in aligning with Chief C. C. Onoh and Barrister Enechi Onyia to give the struggle its unalloyed and unflinching support in realization of its noble goal. Interestingly, when the State was created in 1991.., it became Enugu instead of Wawa state. Other prominent members of the Wawa Movement were Chiefs Dennis Nnaji (Oruku), Daniel Nnamani (Agbani), Edward Nnaji (Nike), Charles Abangwu (Nsukka), Eze Ozobu and Aneke Chime (Udi), and John Igwesi (Awkunanaw). All these patriots were committed and zealous in their quest to realize the objective; nevertheless, Chief C. C. Onoh was more vocal. Their guiding philosophy was “obiara abia naa” (“a stranger is bound to leave”), apparently an allusion to the domineering Agbenu people.

In the electoral fight between Chiefs C. O. C. Chiedozie and Nnaemeka Agu, our people and Awkunanaw Welfare Association naturally supported Chief Nnaemeka Agu, who later won the election, despite the regional government’s intrigue in the matter. Their clarion call and guiding philosophy was still “obiara abia naa” (the stranger was bound to leave).

Nonetheless, the likes of Chiefs Jonah Agbo (Amechi), Egbo Nnaji ( Amechi ) and Nweke Agbo (Obeagu), literally wielded the matchet, as it were, to engage the Agbenu people. However, when Chief Mark Ngene ( Akegbe Ugwu ), became the Market Authority, Ogbete, Kenyatta and Artisan markets rose in unison to outflank the Agbenu people, who virtually owned the stalls. It was after this “cold war” in 1971 that our people trooped en masse into these markets – to own stalls and make their presence felt.

Chief Chiji Agbo took over as Chairman of the Association when Chief Jonah Agbo passed away. He was the one who mapped the present Awkunanaw Civic Centre. Ever patriotic, he preached peace, tolerance and accommodation as his clarion call wherever he went. He ensured the establishment of branches of the Association in various parts of the country. He further went ahead to create Education, Security, as well as Peace and Reconciliation Committees of the Association. Of course, Chief Mark Ngene was later to head one of the Committees.

When Chief Chiji Agbo died, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa came on board as the Chairman with Hon. Cele Nnaji as Secretary-General. Chief Ohaa started from where Chief Chiji Agbo stopped with regards to the Civic Centre construction, as he continues to ensure its eventual completion. His re-organization of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee had paved the way for a broader spectrum of representation in the Association. His ingenuity in creating the Autonomous Committee has witnessed an upsurge in the creation of more autonomous communities. Now, Awkunanaw has about 21 autonomous communities spread across board as follows: Akegbe – 5, Obuoffia – 4, Amodu – 2, Amechi – 3, Obeagu – 2, Akwuke – 2, Ugwuaji – 2, and. Umueze - 1 respectively. Thanks to the foresight of this visionary administrator.

Without gainsaying the fact, our people has benefitted immensely since the emergence of Awkunanaw Welfare Association. It has emboldened our people beyond anyone’s widest of imaginations. At least, our people can now stand and be counted, demanding without any self-defeatist tendencies, their inalienable rights. We can now re-assert ourselves, enroll without timidity into any tertiary institution, engage in any competitive business venture, as well as drop our toga of servitude mentality into any human endeavor.