Abia State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says that when a society loses its tradition and culture, such society is dead and gone. 
Governor Otti stated this on Saturday, 19th April, during the 2025 Ekponibro Cultural Festival (Ugbo Nmiri Nma) held at Etiti Abam Primary School, Atani Abam, in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the State, sponsored by the UNUBIKO Foundation, a nongovernmental and nonprofit organization in partnership and with the endorsement of the Abia State Government.
Speaking during the event, Governor Otti said, “This speaks to our tradition and culture. And, any society that loses its tradition and culture is gone. In those days, societies begin to die when they lose their tradition. They begin to go into bondage and slavery.
“I am happy that Abam people did not forget where they came from. And, I want to thank the UNUBIKO Foundation for remembering and also bankrolling all these, and my prayer is that God will continue to replenish your source a millionfold.”
Speaking further, the Governor encouraged the people to take Agriculture seriously, noting that in it lies stomach infrastructure; “I need not preach to you about Agriculture. If you do not have the vision, this is the time. The planting season is about starting. This is one thing that God has given to us without much toiling.
“You plant something in the ground and then by the time you reap, you reap bountifully. You can plant in tears, but when you are reaping, you reap in joy.
“So, I want to encourage all of us, if we were not taking farming seriously, this the time to do so because what you call stomach infrastructure is in your farm. And, it is what is in your hands that God uses to bless you,” Governor Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive used the opportunity to thank Abam people for the support they are giving to the contractors working on the projects being done for them by his administration, stating that “the whole idea is to connect our communities and give them wings to fly.” He told them that the road which is already in use would soon be commissioned.
Also speaking at the event, the Abia State Commissioner for Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Matthew Ekwuruibe, thanked the Governor for being physically present at the event, saying that under Governor Otti’s administration in Abia State, every sector is being given the needed attention, including remembering and preserving our cultural heritage. He thanked the Founder of the UNUBIKO Foundation, Chief James Ume, for sponsoring the cultural festival. He noted that he was looking forward to partnering and attending similar events in other parts of the State.
In his speech at the event, the Founder of UNUBIKO Foundation, Chief James Ume thanked Governor Alex Otti, OFR, for honouring them with his presence at the event and for the endorsement of the event by the State Government. He said that the Ekponibro cultural festival is a heritage bequeathed to them by their fathers, which symbolizes their struggles, strengths, triumphs, and exploits. He thanked Governor Otti for his good works in Abam and across the State.
The Rector of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu said that the 2025 Ekponibro festival, which has its theme as “Long May They Reign,” is a celebration of the difficulties and the triumphs of their forbearers in their sea trading business of Agricultural products like cocoa, kernel, palm oil, etc. Some of the challenges faced by the merchants included bad weather, the trunk of trees that fell into the sea that must be cleared for their canoe to sail through, hostile communities and criminals, wild animals, and so on. Upon return, the merchants troupe en mass to celebrate with families and friends in gratitude to the Supreme Being for a successful Journey through the sea.
The event, which was chaired by Mazi Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji (Ugwu Aro), attracted captains of industries and political heavyweights across the State and beyond. It was attended by the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (represented), the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, his Isiala Ngwa North/South colleague, Hon. Okenze Ginger Onwusibe, the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Austin Okezie Nmeregini, the Mayor of Arochikwu LGA, Engr. Dr. Chibuike Eze Aru, Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Okoroafor Ugochukwu, and Dr. Desmond Chima Anyaso, among others.
