History was made on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at the coronation of His Royal Highness, the Ohabuenyi II of Ekpulambo Autonomous Community in Awgu local government, Igwe John Azubuike Ibe, when the state governor,Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was conferred with the traditional title of ‘Ekwueme 1 of Mgbowo; the Deputy Senate President,Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Toby Okechukwu, were also recognised as worthy sons of the Greater Awgu and Enugu West senatorial district.
The coronation of the new ruler, which took place at Nwahia Mgbowo and the ceremony at Boys’ Secondary School Mgbowo where Gov. Ugwuanyi was received by Ohabuenyi II marked the dawn of a new era in the anal of leadership and development of Mgbowo.
While Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was conferred with the title of ‘Ekwueme 1’ of Mgbowo, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (CON) was recognised as the ‘Okaaomee 1’ of Mgbowo, Hon. Toby Okechukwu was crowned the ‘Nwanne Nenyendu 1’ of Mgbowo, Hon. Obinna Kama was recognised as ‘Okeugo 1’ of Ekpulambo Mgbowo, Major-general (Rtd) John Nwaoga was recognised as the ‘Agunechemba 1’ of Mgbowo, Lt. General (Rtd) Azubuike O. Ihejirika was crowned the ‘Ocheoha 1’ of Mgbowo, amongst others.
Others who were honoured by the kingdom included Engr. Mohammed Edaros (‘Nwannedinamba 1’ of Mgbowo), Mr. Humphrey Akachukwu (‘Ezesinachi 1’ of Ekpulambo Mgbowo) and Prince Steve Akachukwu (‘Kpakpando 1 of Ekpulambo Mgbowo’); in attendance were academic gurus, lords spiritual and temporary, kings and Prince.
Igwe Ibe was born into the family of late Clement Udeji of Alachara Mgbowo, Awgu local government area of Enugu state in 1957, attended St. John’s School, Mgbowo; Awgu High School, Nenwe and the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1981 and was employed by the Federal Ministry of Works in August 1982 after his one-year mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
He worked in various capacities in the ministry as the Assistant Director (2001) and Deputy Director (2008). He served as Federal Controller of Works in Edo and Akwa Ibom states, before he was transferred to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja as Special Assistant (Technical) to the Minister of Works. He was promoted to the rank of Director, Federal Highways in 2014 and retired on August 2, 2017 as Director of Highways, South West Zonal Headquarters.
Ohabuenyi II is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a very active member of Rotary International and the Knights of St. John International.
