Umuokpo Family

nd write more of this great father Okpo. This writeup is a challenge and a caution to always remember the life and braveness, respect, love and equity of the founder and the head of Amankalu Alayi. Put into practice all that you learnt of our great father and ethics of the land. This advises you to stand firm onto the Lord, only in Him you can get or be whatever your needs may be. Think and think a right, look and always see bright future awaiting you. Do the best you can while alive and for the development in life. Keep the flag of the land flying. Do not be intimidated. Be courageous like David of the Bible who did not fear the hugeness, height even the weapons which Goliath came to fight him (1Samuel 17:45-47)



BRIEF HISTORY

Okpo was the leader of Umuakoli group selected from Eke Akoliufu to fight Aesa, the great warrior that attacked people of Umuakoli from the Western side. Just like Moses whom God chose to redeem the Israelites from the land of Egypt Exodus 3:10. On arrival, Okpo and his group landed at a place called Nkalu. Like the Israelites in the wilderness that cried to Aaron that seen since Moses their leader is nowhere to be seen that he Aaron should make a visible god for their protection Exodus 32:1. Okpo put a shrine and named it "Alama" He searched for water and luckly for him, he discovered an area where water is running out from rock. He cleared the surrounding, collected quantity of water. He went back and with few yams he had, he prepared yam porridge (Oat meal)
He presented it before his team men. They ate and drank before the shine. After they had eaten, they named him "OME NGWA NGWA" one that is fast in doing things. The water he discovered, he called it "NSORO" and that is the name still date. WAR AGAINST AESA

After several attempts to defeat their enemy failed. Okpo thought what next to do as to win the man. He sent for one of their women by name Agboghocha. Agboghocha was very beautiful and tricksy woman. When she came, Okpo told her due to her manner that she will find a way for them to win Aesa. The next day, they took her to war front went on hiding to know what will happen to her. As Agboghocha did not see her people, in her deceitful way, she started crying. She cried out (Onye genyere m aka) As Asea heard that and knew that it was a cry of a woman. He slowly went to know whom she was and her need. He marched forward to kill the woman. The woman told him that "Abiara m ohia Okazi ma fue uzo". Asea saw her beautifulness and spared her life. He took her to his hut in the bush. For days they lived together, Agboghocha started serving him as his wife and he came to like her and showed her himself. Agboghocha performed like Delilah to Samson (Judges 16:6-17) Later, Asea told Agboghocha that if you take 'okpete and Aekoro' and put before my eyes, my charm or power will fall. As she heard this she secretly went and told Okpo and his group. THE DEFEAT OF THE GREAT WARIOR, AESA



Early on Afor day of those days, Okpo and his men get ready and with what their daughter told them, he collected Okpete and Aekoro tied it on a bambo to meet Aesa. As Aesa lifted up his eyes, Okpo raised the thing up. As soon as Aesa saw it he took away his face. The second and the third times Okpo continued to put that thing before him. Aesa became weak and ran to avoid seeing it, he failed and threw his knife away. Okpo and his men ran after and met him. He stood beside him and with his knife, he cut off his head. Raised it up to the seeing of his people. David and Goliath). On seeing his idea worked and his braveness he was respected and honored. Where Aesa was killed is called "OGBUGBU AESA". FORMATION OF OHA ANO (FOUR TITTLED RULERS)

As they came back and settled after war, Okpo chose three other men including himself and formed a governing body to form a smooth ruling government. The bodies are:- Okpo, Eye, Aja and Oji. This body is known as "OHA JI OFO" of Amankalu. These groups meets every eight days to settle cases like land case, husband's and wife's case, stealing before the advent of the white men. OKPO'S ACHIEVEMENT AS A LEADER

He made seven achievement to prove himself a leader and they includes
(a) Lead his team and occupied a strange land. (b) First installed a Shrine
(c) Discovery of Nsoro stream
(d) First to prepare food and fed his men
(e) New strategy to win Aesa. (f) He defeated his opponent, Asea
(g) Formation of his ruling council which he called (OHANO). Okpo married and was blessed with three sons namely, KALU, UKO and IROBA. His Children are known and called Umuokpo. Umuokpo as a village is made up of five compounds namely ELU NTA, UFUKWU, UFUAGBO, UFUEGELLE and UFU - UJIRI. The people of umuokpo are farmers and petty traders. THE CHARACTERISTIC OF UMUOKPO PEOPLE

The people as popularly called (AYA OKUM) are very loyal, loving to each other, hard working, very reasonable, hospitable, very accomodative, very methodical and equity - equitious. Following the last National head count, the numerical strength is two thousand, home and abroad inhabitants. MODERN DEVELOPMENT

Modern development can in other word mean, present standard. There are many things to prove what I am saying as you continue reading. Umuokpo is developed compared with other kindred in Amankalu. THE SQUARE: It has the largest and most clean square in Amankalu. The compounds are kept clean by women and there are modern buildings around. B. EDUCATION: Sons and daughters did not embraces western education in time. Our fathers feared to loose their children for the Whiteman. When they realized the benefits, the first to go to school was late Thamus Chima Atu. Others were late Jacob Emeke Chima, Late Uche Egelle, Ogbonnaya O. Ekeoma and Lekwauwa U. Kalu to mention but a few because of space. The first to get the First School Living Certificate were Ogbonnaya Onwuchekwa and Lekwauwa U. Kalu. The first three to attend oversea and home Universities are Dr, Emmanuel Anyaele Egelle, Samuel Agwu Ogbonnaya and Uzaru Emeke Chima. Today, there are twelve graduates, twenty secondary school pupils and fifty primary school students. C. FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION: Umuokpo was the first village in the former Imo state of Nigeria to award her children free primary education in 1972 where forty-six children benefited. It was known and called Umuokpo Family Free Education For All (UFFEFA). D. FORMATION OF UKEOZAMA: Ukeozama is a body of all male from the age of 6 years to 21 years and more. It was formed from the day Okpo started to have children and their children children. Immediately after the Nigeria - Biafra civil war, it was re-organized under the leadership of late Uche Egelle as chairman while late Mazi Emeke Ekeya became the patron. Elder Chief Ogbonnaya E. Onwuchekwa became the treasurer and adviser. Pastor Evangelist Lekwauwa U. Kalu is the life secreary. AIMS / OBJECTIVES: Aims and objectives of this body are
1: To foster peace and good government in the area.
2: To see for the sound cleanliness health of the people and their surroundings.
3: To discipline any child/children that disobeyed either their parents, seniors and them that violated the law.
4: Sweeping, weeding and keeping the latrines and stream clean every seven days. ACHIEVEMENTS OF UKEOZAMA

This body being made up of educated members, members filled with zeals and financially blessed members has made many achievements in the development of their father land, Umuokpo. I. THE TOWN HALL: The body through one of her member, Elder Dr. Chukwu Onwuchekwa (MACOTEX INT. LTD) on 27th December, 1981 built and donated to the village a town hall. The first of its type in the whole of Amankalu. We owe him many thanks. II. MODERN TOILET: During the December 1982, the body agreed to build a modern latrine to her people. This project lasted for only nine (9) months from March 1983 to November the same year at the cost of (N20,575.50k) twenty thousand, five hundred and seventy-five Naira, fifty Kobo. By December 28th, 1983 it was officially handed over tp their villagers for use and was dedicated by the health officer in charge of Bende Local Government Area. The first ever public latrine in the Amankalu and Local Government Area at large. Long live Ukeozama of Umuokpo. III. WALLING OF NKPURUOBA STREAM:
Since pipe and bore hole water has not been extended to rural area, since water is very important in human lives, Ukeozama drew their minds to making their stream, Nkpuruoba a stream of attraction. In the year 1984, they walled the stream with cement blocks. It was divided into three sections:-
a. An area meant only for drawing of water. There is no washing of anything in it. b. The second apartment is where male takes their bath and wash their clothes. c. The third area is where female ones takes their bath and washing of their clothes. There is a gutter round to check flood entering into the stream. It is being sweep every seven days by both girls and boys of the village. On December 28th 1984, It was commissioned by our illustrious son Late Chief Dr. Sam Igwe Eke (SAMEK), the Omezi Obodo I of Alayi and the managing director of SAMEK INDUSTRIES NIG. LTD. This is the first stream ever in the whole of Alayi and in Bende L.G.A. to be in that form. Come and see and believe what you have read. IV. OKPO DAY CELEBRATION. To remember the past and present events / developments in the village, the inhabitants (OKPOANS) men, women and children chose to thank God through whom every effort / plans came to fulfillment. On 1st January, 1987, we celebrated what is known and called “THE OKPO DAY” It was the first Day celebration in Amankalu and Alayi in general. It has come to be celebrated every three years since introduced. CONCLUSION

Umuokpo people is known and respected wherever they are. My prayers on each and every one of us both male, female and children home and abroad is for God’s continuance in protecting, prospering and granting them the mind of Unity, Peace, Love, Equity and for them to carry in their mind to the ETHICS

U = UNITED
M = METHODICAL
U = UNDAUNTED (FEARLESS)
O = ORGANISER
K = KIND (KINDNESS)
P = PEACE MAKERS
O = ODERLY (OEDERLINESS)

UMUOKPO
I LOVE UMUOKPO (WHAT ABOUT YOU?)

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.