Deputy Governor Emetu Champions Value Rebirth and Youth Reorientation at Ohafia Summit 2026 to Restore Discipline and Community Pride

The Deputy Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, on Friday formally declared open the Ohafia Reorientation Summit 2026 with a strong call for moral rebirth, civic responsibility, and collective action to restore the core values that define the Ohafia identity.

The summit, themed “Reawakening the Ohafia Spirit,” was held at Ohafia Central Primary School, Elu Ohafia, and powered by Make Ohafia Great Again (MOGA). It brought together traditional rulers, government officials, security agencies, community leaders, youth groups, religious institutions, and development stakeholders for a strategic engagement focused on curbing social vices, strengthening community values, and shaping a sustainable future for Ohafia.

In his opening address, Engr. Emetu described the theme as a direct call to conscience and responsibility.

“This theme speaks directly to our conscience. It challenges us to reflect, to reset, and to rise,” the Deputy Governor stated. “Ohafia has long been known for courage, discipline, honour, and unity. It is our collective duty to preserve and transmit these values to the next generation.”

Expressing concern over the rise in drug abuse, cultism, vandalisation of public infrastructure, and moral decline, the Deputy Governor stressed that the summit was not convened to apportion blame but to initiate constructive solutions.

“This summit is not about blame. It is about responsibility. While government continues to invest in roads, schools, and power projects, infrastructure alone cannot transform society. Mindset transformation is even more critical.”

He urged young people to redirect their energy toward education, agriculture, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community development, rather than destructive habits. He further called on traditional institutions, religious leaders, parents, and community stakeholders to reinforce value-based mentorship at home and within community structures.

“Let this not end as a ceremony,” he charged. “Let it begin a movement — one sustained in our schools, churches, youth associations, and town unions. If we successfully reawaken the Ohafia Spirit, we secure the future of our children and strengthen the foundation of Abia State.”

Delivering a lecture titled “Reawakening the Ohafia Spirit and Reshaping the Minds of Our Future Leaders,” the Director General of the Abia State Orientation Agency, Lady Ure Abazie, traced the historic identity of Ohafia as a people of courage, honour, discipline and communal bonds. She warned that shortcuts, moral drift, and the loss of cultural values are gradually eroding the foundations of society, and called for deliberate mentorship, community-based guidance, and renewed pride in heritage.

On behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, Engr. Uzi Kalu delivered a paper on “Protecting Public Infrastructures – A Collective Commitment to Sustaining the New Abia.” He defined public infrastructure as community assets built with taxpayers’ money and warned that vandalism leads to darkness, insecurity, loss of jobs, and diversion of scarce government resources from new projects to repairs. He called on communities to take ownership of public facilities, report vandals, discourage scrap dealings tied to theft, and productively engage youths.

Delivering a lecture on “Get High on Dreams, Not Drugs – Combating Drug and Substance Abuse in Ohafia,” Commander O.C. Chigbu of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, condemned drug abuse in strong terms. He highlighted its devastating effects on mental health, education, family life, and community security, warning that addiction destroys potential and shortens life. Commander Chigbu advised young people to reject peer pressure, seek help early where there is dependency, and instead “get high on vision, skills, hard work, and legitimate opportunities.”

Other key sessions addressed civic responsibility and youth participation in sustainable development, sexual health with a focus on HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy, opportunities in the agro-business value chain for human capital development, the evil influence of cultism, and the broader task of reshaping the minds of future leaders.

The Ohafia Reorientation Summit 2026 was widely applauded as a timely, community-driven initiative aligned with the development and accountability objectives of the present administration in Abia State. It marked a significant step toward rebuilding the moral, cultural, and social foundations necessary for sustainable progress in Ohafia and the State at large.

The summit was graced by prominent personalities including; the former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu PhD; the Member Representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chief Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe); the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo; the Deputy Mayor of Ohafia LGA, Hon. Chief Eme Iro; the former Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Chief Kingsley Imaga; the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu; the Director General, Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), Elder Engr Obinna Odum; elected Councilors; other government appointees; traditional rulers and community leaders, including His Royal Paramountcy, the Ebiri of Elu, Udumeeze of Ohafia Ancient Kingdom, HRP Ezie Awa Udonsi; the Ezie Agba of Ohafia, HRM Ezie Dr. Kalu Ikenga; the President General of Ohafia Improvement Union Inc. Worldwide, Chief Kalu Ikpemini; and the former Mayor of Ohafia LGA, Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex), MFR, OON, who reminded participants that every generation inherits both a legacy and a responsibility.

Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State
February 28, 2026.