Harvest of awards for Chief Ononiwu, as Isiala Mbano Union honours him, 3 others

This season can be described as “Harvest of Awards” for the Secretary General of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Louis Ononiwu.

On Saturday, he was honoured by the Royal Friends International as the ‘Royal Father’ and also conferred on him as the ‘Patron’ of the Club and while he was savouring that, his people, the Isiala Mbano Family Union, Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday at the Ecole Regional Treichville, Cote d’Ivoire, bestowed on him the “Ikemba 1 of Mbano for his outstanding commitment to community service.

Unlike the Bible verse in Mark 6:4-6, where it says, ” A prophet is not respected in his own country, among his kindred, or in his own house (paraphrased) but in the case of Chief Ononiwu, he is not only being respected but honoured by his people.

Responding after receiving the award, an elated Ononiwu said, “I feel highly delighted and I am grateful to God and to my people of Mbano. The award, Ikemba 1 of Mbano means People’s Strength or Energy. Sincerely I feel honoured. Charity they said begins at home and that is exactly what happened.”

Chief Ononiwu who is also the President of the Imo State Union continued, “This award is a call for more responsibility. Just yesterday, I was equally honoured by one of the most prestigious clubs by Nigerians in this country, Royal Friends International. I was officially given a certificate as the Patron and also made the Royal Father of the Club. I can say this is a Festival of Honour and I am very grateful.”

Also speaking is the wife of the recipient, Mrs Chinwenu Ononiwu, who was full of joy. She said, “I am very happy and proud of my husband. He deserves the award given to him because he has been supporting the Union. He has always been there for them even when it is not convenient, guiding them and playing the fatherly role, I am happy for him.”

On his part, the chairman of Isiala Mbano Family Union, Chief Eugene Ikechukwu Eze, who prefers to be called leader disclosed that they gave the four recipients award because of their commitment and support over the years.

Chief Eugene Ikechukwu Eze

His words, “They have the same vision that I have, they are the ones supporting this Union. They are the ones that made this Union to grow, contributing their money and their ideas. They deserve the awards and we are proud of them.”

Also adding his voice is the vice chairman of Isiala Mbano, Mr. Onyechi Amadi. He said, “The recipients of the awards today deserve them because they are the pillars of the Union. They contributed both their money and time. It is because of them that the Union is existing today and that is the reason why the chairman, myself and the executive decided to honour them today for their tireless efforts and contributions.”

Chairman of Ihime, Chika Prince Eze on the other hand commended the organization of the event. He said, “I love the organization of the event, the chairman of the Union, Mr. Eze did a great job and I also want to use this opportunity to thank and congratulate the President of the Imo State Union who is also the Secretary General of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Louis Ononiwu, for gracing the occasion. Of course, he deserves the award because he is the livewire of the Union.

“As the general secretary of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, he and the President, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu and the other executives are doing great job. Apart from fighting traffickers and rescuing the girls, they have made things very easy for us at the Embassy. Before now, things were cumbersome and frustrating but today, you can walk to the Embassy, get whatever you want, seamlessly because of their good working relationship,” he concluded.

Recalled that four persons were given awards. Apart from Chief Ononiwu, the others are: Nze Ambrose Nwachukwu as Gburugburu 1 of Mbano; Patron Kingsley Ekpemandu as Akajimba 1 of Mbano and Mrs Grace Nwachukwu as Ada Ukwu Mbano.