Eke-Ekpe: We Look Back in Order to Move Forward – Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji

His Eminence Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji, Eze Aro IX, has stated that the sons and daughters of Arochukwu Kingdom will have to trace their footstep backwards in order to clear a pathway for development in the future especially in the area of herbs, roots and traditional healing practices.

“We look back in order to move forward. Our ancestors were great citizens, great warriors, great diplomats, great traders, and great people of knowledge,” he said.

Eze Aro stated this during his State of the Nation address at the Eke Ekpe celebration on Friday, 25th September 2026, held at Amaikpe Square Obinkita Arochukwu Kingdom at the grand finale of the 2026 Ikeji-Aro Festival.

Eze Aro said the annual celebration was an opportunity for the people to reflect on their glorious past, appreciate their present achievements, and build a future anchored on the values and wisdom of their ancestors. He called for a renewed cultural renaissance in Arochukwu Kingdom, urging Umu-Aro to reconnect with their history, preserve their traditional knowledge, and work collectively towards the development of the kingdom.

According to him, the Aro people had historically distinguished themselves as warriors, diplomats, traders, and people of knowledge, adding that the sacrifices and achievements of their ancestors must not be allowed to fade away.

Eze Aro said the cultural renaissance was particularly important because aspects of the people’s heritage, including language, traditional practices, dances, history, and stories, were gradually disappearing.

He urged Umu-Aro to collectively recover, document, and transmit their cultural heritage to younger generations.

“We reach into the wisdom of our parents. We redeem what is ours. That is why we are here,” he said.

Eze Eberechukwu Oji also highlighted the role of entertainment in preserving culture, saying traditional music, dances, festivals and other forms of entertainment historically served as avenues for teaching, social interaction and the preservation of collective memory.

He said the 2026 Ikeji-Aro Festival was, therefore, not merely about entertainment but also about using cultural activities to reconnect young people with their roots.

“Entertainment is not just dancing and music. For our people, entertainment has always been a means of teaching, relating, and living,” he said.

According to him, the objective is to create an environment where young people can take pride in their heritage while acquiring knowledge and skills relevant to the modern world.

Eze Aro also spoke about plans for a film village named after the late Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo, saying the project would provide a platform for artistic expression, cultural documentation, and the promotion of Aro heritage.

He said the initiative would help preserve Aro cultural artefacts and expressions while providing an avenue through which future generations could learn about their history.

The monarch also highlighted efforts aimed at expanding access to education and technology for young people in Arochukwu.

He said the goal was to ensure that a child growing up in Arochukwu could have access to the same quality of knowledge and opportunities available to young people anywhere in the world.

Eze Aro further referenced support for an engineering and technology workshop focused on solar energy and the development of a solar-powered vehicle, noting that the initiative had exposed young people to technological innovation and international competition.

Drawing from the theme of the event, Eze Aro emphasized the preservation and documentation of Aro traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge.

Eze Aro said the names and uses of herbs, roots, and other traditional medicinal knowledge handed down by generations should be properly documented before they are lost.

He called for collaboration with elders and traditional practitioners to preserve the knowledge and create what he described as a modern encyclopedia of indigenous practices.

According to him, the initiative would not only benefit Arochukwu but could also contribute to wider knowledge of traditional practices.

The monarch further described Arochukwu as a kingdom with a long history of diplomacy and strategic alliances.

He said the kingdom would continue to pursue partnerships within Nigeria and internationally, particularly in the areas of education, research, culture, and development.

Eze Aro disclosed that engagements were being pursued with scholars from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as institutions and authorities in the United States, Ireland, and other parts of the world.

He said the kingdom was also interested in strengthening relationships with traditional institutions across Nigeria.

“Arochukwu is a nation of strategic alliances,” he said, adding that the kingdom welcomed partnerships with people who approached it in good faith.

He stressed the need for tradition and development to work hand in hand.

Eze Aro also commended Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti for what he described as transformational leadership and infrastructure development across the state.

He particularly praised the state government’s efforts in road construction and other development projects, saying such initiatives would contribute to the progress of communities across Abia.

He called for continued cooperation between government and traditional institutions, stressing that both had a common responsibility to serve the people.

“The government and the traditional institutions are partners in the service of the same people,” he said.

Eze Aro called on Umu-Aro to take collective responsibility for the future of the kingdom.

“A vision without working hard is only a dream,” he said, urging individuals, community leaders, youths, and other stakeholders to contribute to the realisation of the Aro Renaissance.

He particularly challenged young people to learn and preserve the names, history, landmarks, and traditions of their ancestral land and ensure that the kingdom’s long history continues to resonate with future generations.

The monarch said the Aro Renaissance must, therefore, go beyond celebration and become a sustained movement for cultural preservation, education, innovation, economic development, and global engagement.