The funeral rites of renowned community leader, late Ogbuefi Dominic Udegbunem Nweke, have been announced by the family in memory and celebration of his life after 91 years sojourn on earth.

A public statement by the family endorsed by the son and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, Sir Remmy Nweke, indicated that his late father’s final funeral rites would commence on Thursday, October 24, 2024, with a wake at the family compound, Umuokpe village, Awba-Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

On Friday, October 25, 2024, he said, the main funeral day would start with a requiem mass by 10am at St. Paul’s (Anglican Church) field Oye-Agu, beside the Central School, Umuokpe Village, Awba-Ofemili to be led by the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Joseph Nwilo, with condolence visits thereafter by religious groups, in-laws, friends, well-wishers, and associates.

Nweke also said that Saturday, October 26, 2024, has been dedicated for condolence visits by the Ndi Nze n’Ozo, Lolos and Age Grades, whereas on Sunday, 27th October would be for the thanksgiving mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Awba-Ofemili by 10am.


He recalled that his late father, also known as Ozo Sopuluchukwu of Awba-Ofemili, passed on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the age of 91 years at the Regina Caeli Hospital Awka, in Anambra State.

Sir Nweke said that until his late father’s death, Ozo Sopuluchukwu was the patriarch of Ozo Nweke kindred of Umuosite village, Awba-Ofemili.


Reputed for his hardwork and frankness to matters, Ogbuefi Dominic Udegbunem Nweke adopted his Ozo Sopuluchukwu title in reverence to God Almighty in all that concerned him with peaceful disposition.

Until his demise, Ogbuefi Dominic Udegbunem Nweke was the famous sibling of the direct Ozo Nweke dynasty.


Late Ogbuefi Dominic Udegbunem Nweke is survived by his wife, Princess Christiana Nweke, sons, daughters, in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Young people of Enugu State have smiled home with various cash prizes and commendation letters, as winners in the art competition to depict the transition from Monday sit-at-home to productive Monday emerged.

The joint winners are Mstr. Nwachukwu Sunday and Ms. Ukeje Olubebe Victory, while Ms. Nkiruka Ogbonna is the runner-up.

The competition, according to the Special Assistant to Governor Peter Mbah on Visual Communications, Mr. Great Okeke, was put together to allow the youth of the state to tell their stories during and after the sit-at-home.

“The governor came in and made that declaration that there was no longer sit-at-home in Enugu State. So, after one year, we tried to put the art competition together for the youth of Enugu State to tell us their own stories about the sit-at-home.

“For instance, you know the students were among the most hit because they did not go to school on Monday before now. They lost 52 days out of the 365 days in each year that it lasted. And, at the end of the day, those in secondary school would still compete with others in Lagos or other states in the same examinations such as JAMB UTME and WAEC,” Okeke stated.

Presenting the prizes, the Secretary to State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed happiness over the restoration of the entrepreneurship, productivity, and studies in all parts of the state on Monday, saying the sit-at-home was a sad and shameful part of the state’s history it wants to put behind it.

“One of the key things the governor said at the very beginning was that the sit-at-home syndrome that had lasted and changed what we are as a people, who are entrepreneurial and fearless, was over in Enugu.

“Before that, activities in Enugu State dwindled and you can see the first drawing here shows the very basic things that happened: people going out to sell, but they could not anymore because they were scared of the confusion, the chaos, the running around, and of course the syndrome that when you moved around and you saw the Sienna and it was tinted, that something bad was going to happen.

“So, I am happy that I can see the transition you depicted and that joy and order have come back. You were selected because you really reflected the thinking of this administration. In your storyline, you expressed the desires of the governor for Ndi Enugu to feel that level of safety, for commerce to come, for our people to live in joy and peace, and for our state to be great again,” Prof. Onyia stated.

Speaking, the winners, Nwachukwu Ozoemena and Ukeje Oluebube, said they were motivated by the theme of the competition, especially given the frustrations they suffered as students and youth while the sit-at-home lasted.

“The theme says “The echoes of sit-at-home”. So, immediately I saw the theme, I was very thrilled and it encouraged me to say yes, I need to do that which I have been keeping in mind. I said let me express myself.

“The message here is that anybody should move around and do his or her businesses because Enugu State today is free on Monday as other days of the week. Normalcy has returned because this current administration has actually helped us by keeping up with the promise to protect lives and property,” Ozoemena said.

On her part, Ms. Ukeje said, “My first painting depicts the dark part of the sit-at-home where I used the tomato seller as a topic. From the picture you see Sienna and whenever people see Sienna they will scamper for safety because of fear of the unknown gunmen.

“From the second painting, you could see her sitting at home and peeping through the window, seeing the unknown gunmen with their Sienna and no one is moving because of fear. “But the third picture depicts the return of normalcy on Monday after the emergence of Dr. Peter Mbah as the governor of Enugu State. The woman can now take her perishables to the market and sell since there are security personnel everywhere. She is now happy.”

Awka Development Union, Nigeria, (ADUN,) Lagos State chapter, the umbrella body of indigenes of the community in Lagos has outlined series of events to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Awka town at its 12th biannual Awka Day celebration.

The events lined for this year’s celebrations are weaved together with tradition, regality, and opulence.

Chief Francis Sequence Anagor, chairman of Awka Day 2024 Planning Committee, said that the weeklong event will feature youth day; couples’ night; and empowerment day for indigents of the community.

According to Anagor, the event will culminate on Sunday, November 23 with marchpast by all the villages as well as awards to some deserving members of the community.

“Importantly, there will be live display of our blacksmithing craft. Like you are aware, blacksmithing products of Awka of different shapes adorn homes, offices and museums across the world especially in British and American museums. All of these tell the story of the Awka man as the originator of blacksmithing trade across the world” Anagor added.

He said that “The event is very important to us because it brings together seven Igbo groups sharing common blood lineage divided into two sections. Ifite Section, the senior section, comprises four groups, Ayom-na-Okpala, Nkwelle, Amachalla, and Ifite-Oka followed by Ezinator section, which consists of three groups, Amikwo, Ezi-Oka and Agulu. Each of these groups has a number of villages. All together, Awka comprises 33 villages.” Anagor added.

He said that ADUN Lagos has been an agency through which innovations and development purposes are achieved for the community.

As agent of social change, ADUN Lagos has demonstrated that, through collective action, it can improve on their material conditions of existence, mobilise against the out-group, and defend a common cause.

Awka is the capital of Anambra State and the region in ancient times was the site of the Nri Civilization that produced the earliest documented bronze works in Sub-Saharan Africa around 800 AD.

Prior to the 20th century, Awka was famous for metal working. 

Its blacksmiths were prized throughout the region for making farming implements, weapons and tools.