Ivite-Anam Square

PALACE BULLETIN

09/09/2026

UBEC/ASUBEB Team Pays Sensitisation Visit to Ivite-Anam Palace

The Palace of Ivite-Anam today, 9th September 2026, received a joint team from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, and the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) on a sensitisation and orientation visit.

The visiting teams were received at the Palace by the Onowu Ivite-Anam, Chief Albert Ude Onyekwe – Ugumsinachi; the Palace Secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Augustine Nnachor – Omenkedioramma; the Chairperson, Ivite-Anam Education Committee, Mrs Uju Mebo; and the Head, Ivite-Anam Media Team, Frank Agulu – Apostle.

Free Basic Education Programme

The UBEC/ASUBEB representatives explained that the purpose of their visit was to sensitise community leaders and stakeholders on the Free Basic Education Programme, a policy that has been implemented from the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to date.

They explained that the programme covers pupils and students in public schools from Nursery through Junior Secondary School 3 (Basic 9).

The teams, in their remarks, also expressed appreciation to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for not only keying into the Free Basic Education Programme but also extending the state's free education initiative to Senior Secondary School 1 to 3 (SS1–SS3).

With this development, the teams emphasised that no Anambra child should be out of school during school hours. Children are not expected to remain at home, roam the streets, work on farms, hawk goods or engage in other activities that keep them away from school during official school hours.

They further explained that the government has put enforcement measures in place to ensure compliance with the policy. Parents or guardians whose children are found violating the applicable school-attendance requirements may face the sanctions prescribed by law, including severe penalties where applicable.

The team therefore urged parents, guardians, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that every school-age child is properly enrolled and remains in school during school hours.

School Fees in Public Schools

The team also clarified that where public schools continue to collect fees from pupils or students, it is important for the affected community or stakeholders to formally bring such complaints to the attention of the appropriate UBEC/ASUBEB authorities.

According to the team, until such complaints are officially brought to their attention, the authorities may not be in a position to take appropriate action against such practices.

Provision of Schools in Communities

The visiting officials further advised communities that do not currently have a public school to formally write to UBEC/ASUBEB, indicating their need and attaching a survey plan of the land proposed for the construction of the school.

They encouraged communities with dilapidated public school structures to similarly write to the appropriate authorities, accompanied by clear photographic evidence of the condition of the buildings, to facilitate assessment and necessary intervention.

Survey Forms for Ivite-Anam Communities

Before their departure, the team presented Survey Forms for the leaders of the four component communities of Ivite-Anam to complete.

The completed forms are to be submitted to the Officer in Charge of Anambra West Education Authority, Comrade Emma Nwakor, as soon as possible.

The team stressed that the earlier the forms are completed and submitted, the sooner UBEC/ASUBEB can assess the needs and take appropriate action where necessary.

Appreciation

In his response, the Onowu Ivite-Anam, Chief Albert Ude Onyekwe – Ugumsinachi, expressed profound appreciation to the UBEC/ASUBEB team for visiting the Palace and for the detailed sensitisation provided.

He also thanked the team for the warm interaction and valuable information shared with the leadership of Ivite-Anam.

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Frank Agulu – Apostle
Head, Ivite-Anam Media Team

GOODWILL MESSAGE

His Royal Highness, Igwe Sunday Udorji Emmanuel Ozoemena, the Igwe Oranyelu 1 of Ifite Anam.

On this momentous occasion of your Maiden Ofala Festival, we, Ogbuevi Ngoesina Obeche (Ofiadiulu) and Iyom Onyeaka Obeche (Ugochukwu Tubelu), our children and esteemed members of our beloved community, extend our warmest congratulations and profound goodwill. This historic celebration heralds the beginning of your enlightened reign, a beacon of hope, progress, and cultural revival for Ifite-Anam.

We commend your dedication to unity, justice, and the upliftment of our people, which has already inspired renewed pride in our heritage. May the Almighty grant you divine wisdom to lead with foresight, robust health to endure all seasons, and abundant prosperity that enriches every corner of our kingdom. Let peace reign supreme, adversaries be confounded, and your legacy endure as a testament to greatness.

We pledge our unwavering support and active participation in all initiatives that advance our community's welfare, standing resolutely by your side.

Long live Igwe Oranyelu I!!
Long live Ifite-Anam

With deepest respect and loyalty,

Ogbuevi Ngoesina Obeche
(Ofiadiulu)

&

Iyom Onyeaka Obeche
(Ugochukwu Tubelu)

UMUNDEZE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

OFFICE: Umundeze Town Hall, Mmiata Anam
Tel:

Our Ref: ____________________
Your Ref: ____________________
Date: ____________________

*CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO*

HRH IGWE SUNDAY UDOJI E. OZOEMENA

_OZOEMENA IGWE ORANYELU 1 OF IFITE ANAM KINGDOM_

We the Umundeze Community Council on behalf of Umundeze Community of Ifite Anam Autonomous Community write to heartily congratulate you on your first OFALA FESTIVAL. This historical event stands as a testament to your visionary leadership, tireless commitment and cultural heritage of Ifite Anam Community, within a short time of assuming office, you have kindled a dormant flame and breathe life into a renewed sense of pride among our people.

Your fierce commitment to preserving and promoting our culture speak volumes of the kind of traditional ruler you are; one rooted in tradition. Yet boldly shaping the future. Your majesty you are not just a custodian of our heritage, you are a beacon of progress and provide for this generation and the next. You have proven once again that with purpose, integrity and collaborative spirit, great things are possible. We the Umundeze Community council are proud to be part of Ifite Anam Autonomous Community heritage and salute your unquantifiable dedication to its advancement.

May your reign continue to bring honour, peace and unquantifiable development to Ifite Anam.

Congratulations once again and may God continue to strengthen you and your cabinet for greater exploits.

Warm Regards

ESV William Dibuo
President General Umundeze Community

---

Ogbuevi Nwozekwe Dibuo
Akpunku (Diokpala Ivite-Anam)

*ALL HALLOWS OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION 1979 SET*
*_AHOBA ’79!_*

HRH,
Igwe Sunday Udoji E. Ozoemena,
Igwe Oranyelu 1 of Ifite-Anam Kingdom

Igweee!!!

SALUTE TO THE ONE WHO THE CROWN FITS

All Hallows Old Boys’ Association (1979 Set) commonly known and addressed as AHOBA ’79 felicitate with you, HRH Sunday Udoji E. Ozoemena, Igwe Oranyelu 1 of Ifite-Anam Kingdom as you mark your First Ofala Festival.

Igweee! Igweee!! Igweee!!!

Ahoba ’79, the Association you passionately led for more than 15 years is truly happy that one of us, indeed, our President General Emeritus, is occupying the traditional stool of Ifite-Anam Kingdom.

We believe in your capabilities because throughout your tenure as the President General of AHOBA ’79, you demonstrated an uncommon wisdom in piloting the affairs of the Association. Indeed, Ifite-Anam Kingdom is truly blessed to have you as the Igwe Oranyelu 1.

Ahoba 79 congratulates you on this maiden Ofala Celebration. We earnestly pray that your administration would bring peace, progress and development to your community. Congratulation, once more.

Igweee! Igweee!! Igweee!!!

Signed:

Very Rev. Fr. Paul C. Nwankwo
President General

Ben Agudosi
Secretary

Chief Nomdi Nwankwo
Vice President

Mr. Aloysius Nwadinso
Ass. Secretary

Mr. Pius Uzuakpundu
P.R.O.

Prof. Stan Udedi
Provost

Mr. Kennedy Onuora
Asst. Provost

Hon. Tony Ezeoni
Director of Social

Ivite-Anam Media Team

OTITE ANAM AND A NEW GENERATION

You heard in primary school that 24 hours make a day, and that 365 days make a year. I want to talk about this last one.

But first, every 24 hours, as you know, the Earth — our Ifite Anam, our Anambra State — rotates like a football back to where it was the previous day. And so, it is morning again at 6 a.m. in Iyiora, Obosi, or Awka.

While this is going on, a longer journey is taking place. While the Earth is turning on its axis (rotating itself) once a day, it is also on a journey around the Sun. This journey takes approximately 365.25 days to complete (revolution), and it follows a steady route, known as its orbital path.

It is because of this particular journey of the Earth that we have different seasons—such as the rainy and dry seasons—just as we have day and night when the Earth turns on its axis.

The Earth is the land, the seas, and all the waters, including Ayoko, Ide, the River Niger, Iyi Okwulu, Iwo, and the rest of our fish ponds.

The lands — Ani Anam — and the waters give us our livelihood.

Ani Anam (think of the actual Anam land) sits within a unique geographical setting in the Omambala Basin. It produces an overwhelming proportion of the food marketed in Onitsha markets and many other parts of Anambra State, and consumed all over Nigeria.

For years, you heard of Anam but could not actually go there. Now, due to the knowledgeable leadership of Governors Peter Obi and Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Anam is much more accessible. You can actually go there personally to buy your foodstuffs at incredibly low prices. This is also due to the yearly harvest resulting from the synchrony of the Earth and the Sun as a result of this journey (revolution).

This unique land, given by God, tended and cared for by the Anam people themselves, and made more accessible by recent governments, is what we celebrate this weekend. It is Oote Anam, or Otite Anam in a more generalised form.

Anam people celebrate Oote every last Sunday of August that falls on an Eke market day.

This is our celebration of our land, our waters, and our forefathers. It is our celebration of our history and heritage. It is a tradition we have, which we celebrate in a certain way — our customary way.

In our culture, Oote is one of our biggest festivals. It brings Otu Onitsha to a standstill while it lasts. It is indeed telling that our appreciation (Thanksgiving) is valued and celebrated above our supplication (Ikpa Unwu). It shows that we are grateful to God and to our people for what we receive.

Many other parts of Igboland celebrating New Yam festivals in the coming weeks and months will be doing so with yams produced in Anam. This is our proud gift to Igboland. Nwanne cheta nwanne.

While Oote is about the king of crops — the yam — Anam does not do Iwa Ji. We do Alommuo, or Ilo Mmuo, which is the only aspect that takes a slight religious tone. But this is only for the council of elders and elderly people who so wish to show ancestral appreciation in a particular way .

Oote comes in all colours, and everyone celebrates in whichever way they choose.

Thanksgiving has no particular religion. It is as secular as it is religious; as historical as it is anthropological; as Christian as it is traditional. Any attempt to give it a singular religious connotation can only come from ignorance —not just of Oote, but of one’s particular religion as well.

We say thank you to God and to our people.

We appreciate the land that is tilled and eventually yields bountifully.

We honour the saints in our fathers.

And we do so together by sharing with our neighbours and our society.

And we hope for a bigger bounty in the coming year.

And we cannot make this celebration complete without sharing with the aged and the weak among us. This is so because they can no longer till the land — not as much as they used to.

This is why every Anam daughter and son makes it a point of duty to honour their parents by making special gifts to them every Oote.

So when we celebrate Oote, we do not just celebrate yam festival, we celebrate all crops.
We celebrate our land and water and our forefathers.

We celebrate our history and geography and anthropology.

We celebrate our moon as well as our sun which holds our earth in balance.

We celebrate our day and night and the seasons in their beauties.

And above all, we honour, celebrate, as well as worship the supreme being who knows the unknowable.

Jisie nu Ike.

Anam Makaa nu!!!

Igwe S. U. Ozoemena
Igwe Oranyelu I of Ifite Anam Kingdom

*CHIEFTAINCY TITLE RECIPIENT*
_on Nwa Ada Ivite-Anam!_

PROFILE CHIEF ABUNYIE CLEMENT NWABUNWANNE NWAFOR

Chief Abunyie Clement Nwabunwanne Nwafor is a native of Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area in Anambra State. Although he is an indigene of Nteje, his mother hails from Mmiata in Ivite-Anam Autonomous Community in Anambra West LGA. He is a businessman who deals in all kinds of Generators and Electronics.

His selfless acts have had a profound impact on many lives, and his generosity has inspired others to emulate his example. His nomination was considered based on his dedication and service to his community. As a committed son of the soil, he has undertaken various philanthropic endeavours for his community and humanity. Notable among these philanthropies are:

Provided scholarships to numerous students, enabling them to pursue their educational aspirations.

Renovated schools, enhancing the learning environment for our children.

Supported widows and widowers with food, clothing, and other necessities.

Empowered youths with motorcycles and other vocational tools, promoting entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Donated vehicles to individuals in need, enhancing their mobility and livelihoods.

Sponsored health awareness programs, promoting the well-being of our community.

The above-listed philanthropic activities endeared him to the following chieftaincy titles from two different communities. The titles are:

1. Akunaedozi Obi 1 of Nteje.

2. D**e Di Oha Nma 1 of Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, where he resides.

At the maiden Ovala, he's honoured to receive from the community of his esteemed mother, a Chieftaincy Title of *Nwakibie 1 of Ifite Anam*, by His Royal Highness, Igwe Sunday Udoji E. Ozoemena, Igwe Oranyelu 1 of Ifite Anam.

Congratulations 👏🎉 are in order, Chief!