Many indigenes of Onitsha went home with unexpected goodies at this year’s Azu Ofala Festival. It was a fitting climax to a much revered annual festival that commenced a few days earlier with different activities. The goodies that the lucky Ofala revelers went home with included tricycles and LED television sets.
Live draws were held at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, who also observed the draws. Dignitaries who took part in the draws included the wife of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwenwanyi Achebe; the Onowu of Onitsha, Chief Joseph Okey Ononye; the 2019 Azu Ofala Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Zik Obi, and two other guests, Sir Chike Onyejekwe and Mrs. Ugodibeze Melumwa Obodoejina.
Others at the draw included palace chiefs and other dignitaries. The lucky winners of a tricycle each were Ekpechi Henry, Okey Eneh; Ifeanyi Deluo Ike; Emeka Henry Chidi and Mofunanya Onochie.
Five other lucky indigenes went home with LED TV sets. Three of the five, Ebirim Akunna Cynthia, Ikechukwu Mmadular and Ogbunando Adaeze, were present at the arena to receive their prizes.
Globacom also gave cash awards to winners of the age grade carnival competitions held at the arena. In the age grade competition for 1958 to 1980, Aghaedo Age Grade (1970 to 1972), Umuawele Age Grade (1974-1976) and Malunwanne Age Grade (1961 to 1963) came first, second and third respectively.
For the next category, the Ndioma Age Grade (1956 to 1958), placed first, while Nwannebuife age grade (1952 to 1954) placed second and Nnebuife Age Grade (1956 to 1958) placed third.
The age grades and winners of the Youth Carnival floats were presented with their cash prizes and the accompanying trophies at the Ofala Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of the Onitsha monarch, on Monday at Dolly Hills Hotels, Onitsha.
The beneficiaries of the goodies expressed their gratitude to Globacom. One of them, Ekpechi Henry, said he appreciated the gesture because it is not “everyone that promises that can deliver”.
Another keke winner, Okey Eneh, said, “Globacom has demonstrated again that it cares and loves the people. I participated a couple of times and I am happy to show it to everybody that the Glo Ofala raffle is real”.
Globacom has sponsored the Onitsha Ofala Festival since 2011. The company has over the last nine years of its sponsorship of the festival, introduced many innovations in the celebrations and has promoted the age grade competitions and the youth carnival floats to a spectacular level.