Otti Govt Commited to Reviving Abia Heritage Sites, Ekwuribe Declares at Ikeji Aro festival

Abia State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr Matthew Ekwuribe, representing Governor Alex Otti, has commended the people of Arochukwu for preserving their cultural heritage and pledged the state government’s continued support for cultural revival.

Ekwuruibe spoke at the 2026 Ikeji Aro Festival in Arochukwu, where he noted that it was his third consecutive visit to the kingdom, describing the festival, and, the turnout as exceptional.

He said the larger venue and massive attendance at this year’s celebration demonstrated the growing interest in the preservation of Aro culture.

The Commissioner thanked Governor Otti for supporting culture through the creation of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, saying the administration had taken deliberate steps to revive important historical and tourism sites across Abia

According to him, sites earlier identified for rehabilitation, including the National War Museum, Ojukwu’s Bunker, and Ibom Waterfalls in Arochukwu, are receiving government attention

“Today, the state is present in all these sites that I mentioned, working assiduously to ensure that all these places come back to life,” he said.

Ekwuruibe also said the state government’s cultural initiatives had received positive reactions from Abians in the diaspora and at home, following engagements and visits outside the country.

He particularly praised the people of Arochukwu for sustaining their annual cultural celebration, noting that not every community or local government area still maintains such traditions.

“I am in love with the Aro people for upholding their cultural heritage up to this moment,” he said.

The Commissioner disclosed that the Abia State Executive Council had recently approved the recognition of several heritage sites as state monuments.

He listed Ojukwu’s Bunker, the National War Museum and Government College Umuahia among the sites approved for recognition, while also mentioning the Ibom Waterfalls in Arochukwu as a site receiving state attention.

Ekwuruibe said the government would continue visiting heritage locations across the state to identify and recognise other sites deserving of protection.

He urged the Aro people to continue preserving their culture, warning that communities risk losing control of their history when they fail to tell their own stories.

“When you don’t tell your story, people will tell your story for you, and they will tell it the way they like,” he said.

The Commissioner congratulated the Aro people on the festival and urged them to remain committed to ensuring that their cultural theritage survived for future generations.