The weeklong celebrations of 100 years of Oron Union (OU), the apex socio-cultural association of the Oron ethnic nationality of Akwa Ibom State, will conclude on May 23, 2025. Eminent Nigerians, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Umo Eno, Ogoni environmental rights activist Ledum Mitee, and others in the diaspora, are expected to grace the grand finale at the Oron Civic Centre.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, the president- general of OU, Sir Esang Nsa Bassey, took a retrospective appraisal of one of the oldest associations founded on May 23, 1923, noting that it has achieved the vision of the founding fathers, though not 100 percent.
He said special 100 scholarships, symbolically depicting 100 years of Oron Union’s existence, would be doled out to beneficiaries from the five LGAs of Oron, Mbo, Udung Uko, Uruefong Oruko, and Okobo.
Looking back, he said, “It’s important to give you a brief background of the journey of Oron Union, which started 100 years ago. It was on the 26th of April, 1925, that three patriotic Oronians who were colonial officers and agents, Ekpu Edubio Odoro, John Anwana Esin and Okon Eyokunyi Isong, gathered at Ahta Eyokunyi Isong’s house to conceive the idea of forming an association that can serve as a reservoir of cultural identity and vehicle of development to meet up with the increasing civilisation in the territory and its contiguous areas.
“So, it was exactly on the 23rd of May 1923, 88 people gathered at John Esin’s house to lay the seed to what has become one of the oldest socio-cultural organisations in Nigeria, which has survived thick and thorns.
“Their gathering provided a formidable platform for the nurturing and preservation of Oro identity and peoplehood. The scholarship schemes the union introduced in 1933 for the training of teachers within Nigeria and its overseas scholarship in 1942 have led to the emergence of top-class professionals in various fields of human endeavour.”
LEADERSHIP recalled that the celebration had commenced on April 26, 2025, with the visitation and declarations of heritage sites, which included the houses of the three progenitors and the second meeting venue at Abiakowo at Ebughu in the Mbo local government area.
According to Sir Bassey, who is described as the centenary president, the celebrations will continue with visits to the eleven clans and non-indigenous communities, quiz and debate competitions by schoolchildren across the five LGAs of the Oro ethnic nationality, and a novelty football competition between Oro Unity Forum (OUF) and Oro Youth Movement (OYOM).
He disclosed that other side attractions to promote the cultural heritage of the Oro nation included a boat regatta, followed by traditional wrestling (Bok Oro), and a special concert night with local, national, and international artists.
At a colloquium, Ledum Mitee will deliver the keynote address, while Prof. Peter Esuh of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, and Prof. Emmanuel Onwidieokut of the Department of Economics, University of Uyo, under the chairmanship of Professor Akpan Ekpo, will be the lead discussants.
The deputy governor, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, and Etim Okpoyo, a former deputy, would be the mother and father of the day.
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