By: Okonkwo Chinedu, Ekenyere Gladys & Maduabuchi John-Moses U.

July is an important month for many Igbo people, particularly in South East Nigeria, not because it is the 7th month on the Gregorian calendar, but because it marks the beginning of the Igbo New Year in several communities.

The Igbo New Year precedes the beginning of the Jewish New Year; the difference being probably as a result of differences in location, climatic conditions and the impact of prehistoric migrations of our people. Among the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria, several communities start the celebration of the New Year with the declaration of the New Yam festivals in July each year.

Ikem, the headquarters of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, of Enugu State also culturally referred to as “Ikem Asokwa” is an egalitarian town ancestrally related to other communities across Igboland that bear similar cultures and traditional practices, particularly in Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi States. Although there is still a debate as to whether the homeland of all Ikem people is in Abia, Anambra or Enugu State, it is interesting to report that there exists a large autonomous community in Abia State called Ikem-Nvosi, in Isiala Ngwa South LGA which is ancestrally related to Ikem Asokwa of Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu State. These two communities re-established cultural relations several decades ago.

Orurezhi is the traditional New Yam Festival of Ikem people. History and folklore have it that in the very olden days, the chief celebrants of this great feast are the Community Leaders who hold the title of “Edeji”. The Edeji title holders could be literally seen as the “Lords of the Yam.” They were great farmers who cultivated very large quantities of yam and customarily fed multitudes with pounded yam during each Orurezhi Feast. Apart from feeding multitudes which earned them the name Edejis, they also harvested a lot of yam and celebrated the Igbo New Year by cutting and placing large tubers and pieces of yam at different locations in the Community, along their way from the farms to the Market square.

The innovation to celebrate Orurezhi (New Yam Festival) in Ikem Asokwa in an improved way (as the Biblical First Fruit Offering) began 10 years ago. This decision followed widespread consultations with the Igwe-in-Council, then led by Late Igwe Francis O. O. Okwor (Enyioha II) of Ikem. The Community Leaders including the red cap Chiefs, the President General of the Town and the Christian leaders from Ikem Asokwa (collectively referred to as Ikem Ministers’ Forum) all agreed with the view that the the New Yam Festival is the Biblical First Fruit Offering related to the Feast of Harvests/Weeks commanded by God Almighty to be observed by Jews in the Bible.
Majority of the people of Ikem, Isi-Uzo Local Government believe like many other Igbo people that their ancestry is Jewish/Hebraic. It was agreed then that the modern way to celebrate the New Yam Festival in Ikem Asokwa should start with public offering of First Fruits and Thanksgiving Prayers to God Almighty in the market square by the people of Ikem Asokwa.

This is a very important act of cultural and religious service done on Saturday, Orie Orurezhi before Sunday, Afor when Christians will as well offer sacrifices of “New Yams” harvested from their farms in various Churches across the Town.
The following Monday, Nkwo is celebrated as the traditional wrestling day.

This is intended to foster unity and development, and to showcase Ikem Asokwa as a formidable Tourism destination in Enugu State, Nigeria. On the very first day of this renewed Orurezhi New Yam Festival, many visitors and tourists throng our town, Medical Missionaries visit and provide free medical services for Ikem people and guests to mark the Festival.

This year’s (2024) event, the 9th in the series; was marked on the July 6th with pomp and pageantry. The participants were excited and hopeful that the 2025 celebration will be more grandiose.

During an interview preceding the festival on 5th July anchored by Mr. Obiora Aneke (a.k.a. Okoro Wawa of Solid FM Radio & Wawa TV), the Chairman of the Isi-Uzo Local Government Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH. Igwe Engr. Okey Ogbodo (JP), the Igwe of Ikem Uno autonomous community explained what Orurezhi means to the people of Ikem;  thus; “Ezhi” means body, while “Ọrụrọ” means fattening or nourishing. It can also be interpreted as transforming or rather cleansing of the body, which also leads to the clearing of the roads and the environments. It is as well the season of plenty after the period of scarcity usually experienced during the planting season. However, once the New Yam is harvested, it marks the end of scarcity for the Community. All the members of the community thus feast together and rejoice in appreciation to the God of the land who has blessed them with good harvests and wealth. The young men are particularly a special class of celebrants during the Orurezhi Festival, as they would compete in wrestling competition on the third day of the feast. In Ikem Asokwa, no responsible young man shows off strength by bearing arms, fighting, killing or harming his neighbor, People show off their strength and superiority through wrestling bouts. This could happen occasionally at any time but whenever Orurezhi is being celebrated it becomes a compulsory activity to mark the end of the festivity.

This year’s First Fruit thanksgiving offering service and prayers which held on 6th July, 2024, Saturday, Orie market day was presided over by H.R.H. Igwe Felix U. Ogbuke, Ohamadike 1 of Ikem (the traditional ruler of Ikem Etiti, who is also the eldest of Igwes in Ikem Asokwa. His message to the entire Ikem indigenes was concise and direct. And that is urging the people to join hands with the Igwes and their cabinets to ensure that Orurezhi is well celebrated in Ikem Asokwa stressing that there is nothing unchristian about the festival. He appreciated the Organizing Committee for the success of this year’s event and the NGOs that participate annually in providing free medical treatments for Ikem people and their visitors. He appealed to all Ikem people at home and in Diaspora to always support the Town in celebrating the New Yam Festival.

Hon. Chief Engineer. Paul Ugwuagbo, Oforbuike 1 of Ikem Asokwa in his own account explained that before the coming of Europeans to Igboland, farming was the preoccupation of our people and that the celebration of the New Yam festival then was referred to as Ufejioku. However, in the recent past, Ikem generally christened it Orurezhi and chose Saturday Orie every July, for the festival and remodeled it to showcase the biblical values of the feast. He further explained that Orurezhi is a very important and the most outstanding cultural feast that binds all people indigeneous to Ikem together. He equally observed that the yams harvested in July each year belong to a particular species known as “Usekpe Ovune” which Ikem people cultivate in November and December of each year.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Orurezhi Organizing Committee, Chief Emeka Nnamani (Omemma 1 of Ikem), thanked God and the Medical teams that treat Ikem people free every Orurezhi day. He also reported that the team included General Practitioners, Public Health Physicians, Dental Surgeons and Eye Doctors, Nurses, Dieticians among other volunteers. He stressed that the good people of Ikem remained grateful to the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) and Models for Christ – Africa (MfCAfrica) Teams for their continued support to our people in the area of healthcare. This year, the MfCAfrica Medical Team was led by Dr. Ifeyinwa Ugwunweze, Consultant Public Health Physician, who in her remarks stated that the outreach was well organized and very successful. She noted that the aim of reaching out to the underserved population heath-wise was achieved. One other volunteer, a Christian Missionary Dental Surgeon, Dr. Daniel Obiora Chukwudimma, on behalf of CMDA summed his experience thus: “I have to really say that Ikem people are lovely to be with, as it was nice meeting them (on Orurezhi day). I must thank the organizers for a well-executed medical outreach.” The Eye Doctor (Optometrist), Dr. Nwakanma also commended Ikem people and observed that there is high rate of cataract, glaucoma and pterygium in the community .

Evang. Emmanuel Ndubusi Agbo, President of Ikem Christian Believers’ Fellowship (ICBF), and a member of the team of the ministers who officiated during the festival stated, “It is very clear that God almighty instituted the festival of first fruit harvest offering and embedded many blessings in it. [Exodus 23:16]. Everyone, especially the Christian Brethren in Ikem are sincerely encouraged to holistically be in the forefront of this our godly tradition. There is no doubt that next year’s Orurezhi will be more grandiosely glorious”.

On the eve of the 2024 Orurezhi Ceremony, the Chairman of the Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Engr. Okey Ogbodo had thanked the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for all he has done for Ikem and Isi-Uzo people and made a passionate appeal to the State Government to beef up security during and after the festival. This was in view of the horrible fatal attacks and killing of innocent citizens in Ikem by suspected killer herdsmen in the past few months.

HRM. Eze Dr. Solomon Nwakwue; Chimereze 1 & Akajiala of Ikem Osokwa-Nvosi, of Isiala Ngwa South LGA in Abia State has been an important stakeholder of Ikem New Yam Festival. This year, as always, he sent a delegation led by two members of his cabinet, Chief Ohazurume 1 of Ikem Asokwa/Osokwa and Mr. Mgbechinyere Sunday, Chairman Village Heads, Ikem Osokwa with Kola Nuts, Alligator Pepper, large quantities of wine and fruits for the First Fruit Offering.

The Ikem Community Health System (Ikem CHS), led by Dr. Maduabuchi John-Moses is a Community-based Organisation that has has been instrumental to the hosting of Medical Outreaches during the festival in Ikem for about two decades now. Ikem CHS was also the first health organization to run a Community-based Social Health Insurance Scheme in collaboration with Healthcare International, a Health Maintenance Organisation.

According to the American poet, singer, autobiographer, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” Angelou, indeed, inspires humanity with both the uncommon beauty and the call to action of her words.

This venerable American icon and unconquerable lioness indisputably inspired the life story of Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi, fondly known as ‘Dr. O’ – who navigates with a special light that shines from within her being. Not surprisingly, this pathway has enabled her illuminate and impact humanity in a way few could.

A highly seminal figure in the fields of pastoral counseling, life coaching, and holistic wellness, Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi holds a Doctorate degree in Christian Counseling and is a certified life coach, massage therapist and licenced alternative medicine practitioner. Her ministerial work primarily focuses on marriage counseling, sex therapy, juvenile delinquency, spiritual and inner healing, and youth empowerment.

Dr. O totally and incontrovertibly believes that wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit – the realization that everything a human does – think, feel, and believe-has an effect on his or her state of wellbeing. She has demonstrated this spiritual and scientific knowledge in her accomplishments and diverse interventions.

She is steeped in a rich background of Christian ministry and counseling, combining her academic achievements with practical experience. She is an ordained Reverend and Prophetess, a certified marriage mentor and SYMBIS Facilitator (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts.) She is also a member of American Association of Christian Counselors, and she has been actively involved in various forms of counseling since 2001.

Notable television personality Max Carver speaks to the deeper human purpose when he insightfully noted that “Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus for creating change.” Dr. O has not simply created a community but international communities of purpose which she shepherds with empathy and purpose. What’s more – she is creating positive change in peoples’ lives.

In 2011, she founded “Intimate Issues with Dr. Olubusola” (IIWDO), a 501c charity organization aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence, particularly in Africa and among the African Diaspora. She is also the founder of Dr. Olubusola Foundation, DOF, a registered NGO in Nigeria.

She, also, is the founder of Audacious Women of Purpose Global. Through this organization, she has empowered widows, provided counseling for teenage pregnant girls, and recruited counselors to spread the organization’s mission.

Her influence extends beyond individual counseling. She is a seasoned missionary and a dynamic speaker who has traveled globally, teaching and empowering mostly women, children and youth. Her approach to healing and empowerment is holistic, focusing on reconciling, impacting, and building communities through guidance, charity outreach, mentoring, and training programmes.

Significantly, her work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her desire to help others achieve healing and happiness, no matter the depth of their wounds

Dr. O is a prominent figure in the fields of holistic wellness and alternative medicine. She is the Founder and CEO of FerFis Holistic Wellness, which operates both in the USA and Nigeria. Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Oluwaferanmi has traveled extensively, focusing on teaching and empowering women and youth around the world.

She is deeply committed to her mission of building a strong sense of community by reconciling, building, and impacting both adults and youths to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her holistic approach to wellness integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual health, making her a sought-after expert in her field.

In addition to her wellness practice, Dr. O is also an author. Her book, “Enjoying Sexual Bliss in Your Marriage,” reflects her expertise in sex therapy and her commitment to helping couples achieve deeper intimacy and satisfaction in their relationships. Her second book “Unmasking the Soul” reflects Steps to freedom and healing from Domestic Abuse and Violence.

Her teachings often stress the importance of self-discovery, setting boundaries, and making informed decisions, particularly in the context of relationships and marriage.

Her expertise in sex therapy suggests a contradiction between being a shepherdess of Christ and boldly speaking to human sexuality – especially in cross-cultural settings.

The nature of her interventions, especially in human sexuality, straddles disparate cultures – though both in the 21st Century. The United States, her adopted country, represents Western civilization, a culture that accommodates liberalism, while Nigeria, her birth nation mirrors largely a conservative African milieu.

In Nigeria, a woman is expected to wear lipstick, carry a handbag and speak gently. Sexuality themes are off the table. Although this scenario is gradually changing, it’s a ground to be trodden with caution. But Dr. O navigates with knowledge and empathy. She offers guidance and therapy to help individuals and couples achieve fulfilling and healthy sexual relationships.

Dr. O’s work is widely recognized and celebrated. She has been honoured for her contributions to wellness and her efforts to support victims of domestic violence. Through her holistic wellness practice and her charitable work, she continues to inspire and empower individuals to lead healthier, more balanced lives.

A highly regarded holistic wellness practitioner with a comprehensive approach to health and well-being that integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, she offers a variety of services designed to promote holistic health and personal growth through FerFis Holistic Wellness in both the USA and Nigeria.

According to Greg Anderson, one of America’s greatest wellness advocates, “When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.” That is the story of Dr. O.

As the founding CEO of FerFis Holistic Wellness in both the USA and Nigeria, Dr. O offers a variety of services designed to promote holistic health and personal growth. A quick check-list would include:

●The Holistic Method

Her holistic wellness practice includes alternative medicine, sex therapy, neuromuscular therapy, and life coaching. This approach is rooted in the belief that true wellness comes from balancing the mind, body, and spirit. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of these elements and uses a combination of traditional and alternative therapies to address the root causes of health issues.

● Services and Specialties

● Alternative Medicine: She deploys natural and non-invasive methods to treat various health conditions, aiming to restore the body’s natural balance and enhance its self-healing capabilities.

● Sex Therapy: She offers guidance and therapy to help individuals and couples achieve fulfilling and healthy sexual relationships. Her book, “Enjoying Sexual Bliss in Your Marriage,” highlights her expertise in this field and her commitment to improving intimate relationships.

● Neuromuscular Therapy: This specialized form of massage therapy focuses on alleviating pain and dysfunction by understanding and treating the underlying neuromuscular causes.

● Life Coaching and Pastoral Counseling: Dr. O provides life coaching to help clients achieve personal and professional goals, and pastoral counseling to offer Spiritual support and guidance.

● Educational/Motivational Role

Dr. O is also a motivational speaker and educator, known for her ability to inspire and empower her audience. She travels globally to teach and empower women and youth, focusing on topics such as self-discovery, personal growth, and achieving a balanced life. Her teachings emphasize the importance of setting boundaries, making informed decisions, and understanding one’s purpose in life.

● Community Impact

Through her holistic wellness practice and charitable initiatives, she has made significant contributions to community well-being. She has been honored for her efforts in supporting victims of domestic violence and her work in empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. Her commitment to community service is reflected in her efforts to provide holistic health education and services to underserved populations.

Dr. O’s holistic wellness practice is outstanding for its integrative approach, combining the best of traditional and alternative therapies to promote overall health and well-being. Her work not only addresses physical health but also nurtures emotional and spiritual growth, helping individuals achieve a balanced and fulfilling life.

According to the notable American inventor Thomas Edison, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patients in care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Dr. Olubusola Oluwaferanmi is indeed a doctor of the future. She is also a doctor of today playing the rare role of both a healer of humanities, fears, frailties and uncertainties. Perhaps, most importantly, she is a humble shepherdess of her beloved Christ.

By Sonny Aragba-Akpore

As humanity grapples with the race to bridge the digital divide, global inequality remains a threat .
For instance an estimated 2.6 billion people around the world remain offline, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies.

While overall Internet use is increasing, the benefits of access are unevenly distributed, reinforcing persistent digital divides affecting women and people in countries with lower economic development.

The elderly and people with disabilities are among other groups being left behind.

“Broadband is fundamental to ensure that everyone can benefit from digital technologies when so many people are still offline around the world,” according to ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Co-Vice Chair of ITU Broadband Commission.

“AI and other emerging technologies can help efforts to achieve universal meaningful connectivity, and it’s our job to make sure this happens in a way that is responsible for people and the planet.”

ITU Broadband Commission recently reviewed progress on its 2025 Advocacy Targets, comprising seven objectives for action in broadband development and universal connectivity. One target for mobile broadband affordability is close to being achieved. A target for gender equality in access to broadband has been achieved for some countries, although not globally.

The Commission noted that AI and emerging technologies can drive progress on broadband and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

But balancing the promotion of AI benefits while managing the challenges is a key task for policy-makers who are “racing to catch up” to the implications of the technologies according to ITU documents.
A worried ITU boss lamented recently about the divide which she and her team think could be addressed before 2030 under the SDGs.

“With one-third of humanity still offline and women and other vulnerable groups on the wrong side of the globe’s digital divides,regulators should raise standards if this one third offline population could be accommodated in the dividends of digital services.”

She spoke at the 2024 Global Regulators Symposium (GSR-2) whose focus was on “Best Practice Guidelines that highlight the innovation, trust, and inclusivity that we need in the policy and regulatory environment,”
She told the regulators that “With change being the only certainty facing regulators and policymakers, we must work together to pursue regulatory approaches to leverage transformative technologies such as AI, promote the space economy, encourage innovation, and support climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The regulators who met in Kampala,Uganda endorsed a set of ​​​​guidelines to maximize the benefits of transformative information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) which closed July 4 .

GSR 24 highlighted Africa’s National Broadband Mapping Systems project, supported by the European Commission, to help establish broadband mapping systems to foster investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The “GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines​” agreed by ICT regulators include a series of considerations for balancing innovation with regulation to create a positive impact on societies and economies from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Prior to the opening of GSR-24, the Regional Regulatory Associations (RA) and Digital Regulation Network (DRN) meeting shared experiences and knowledge as well as areas for collaboration. The meeting also featured the achievements of the successful first year of the DRN, focusing on capacity building, thought leadership, and regulatory experimentation and innovation.

Key activities presented include knowledge sharing through the ITU Academy, the broadband mapping project, capacity building activities, contributions to ITU-D Study Groups, RA participation in interactive workshops and engaging on twinning experiences to learn from other Regional Regulatory Associations.

Also ahead of GSR-24, the Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers (IAGDI-CRO) convened industry and private sector thought leaders to share experiences and proposals with regulators to address the complex regulatory and business landscape of digital ecosystems.

Apart from digital infrastructure development, implementation of regulatory ”sandboxes,” strategies to enable high-speed connectivity, participants discussed regulation of the future, including new domains such as AI, and technologies for the future.

A session of Network of Women (NoW) in ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector at GSR-24 explored mechanisms for greater participation of women in ICT-related fields and addressed the leadership gender gap in the ICT sector.

Ms. Jessica Alupo, Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda, opened GSR-24 on July 1, on behalf of Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda.

Hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies – the symposium brought together over 600 participants including Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives and academics to discuss pressing regulatory issues.

“We are excited that the GSR provides a platform where all thought leaders, regulators, industry players and other key ICT stakeholders converge to dialogue and set the policy and regulatory agenda that will guide the global digital industry over the near future,” according to Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.

“Best practice now calls for a coordinated and collaborative approach that is inclusive of all relevant stakeholders – if we are to achieve the impact that we all desire. We commit to align our national policies and regulatory frameworks around the well-thought-out Best Practice Guidelines that will encourage investment, innovation, and growth in the ICT sector.”

Regulators at GSR-24 noted that equal, global access to existing digital services would help countries leverage transformative technologies.

AI, for example, could help network operators conduct better planning and prevent fraud, but it also raises challenges associated with privacy, bias, job displacement, and the reliability of information.

“At GSR-24, we discussed core policy and regulatory issues to maximise the potential of digital technologies to improve lives. We addressed key topics, including new developments in the field of generative AI and robotics, building an inclusive, safe, and sustainable space economy, and required interventions in addressing climate change challenges,​​” according to Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau adding “We brought the global community of regulators together to strengthen our collective capacity to navigate the fast-changing technology landscape and drive sustainable and inclusive digital transformation. We heard from young innovators and entrepreneurs and adopted action-oriented Best Practice Guidelines to help us chart the course of transformative technologies for positive impact.”

“As we navigate the transformative landscape of digital technologies, the importance of impactful regulation cannot be overstated,” according to the Chairman of GSR-24 and Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), George William Nyombi Thembo. “Our shared learnings and collaborative efforts are crucial in shaping a regulatory environment that not only fosters innovation but also ensures that the benefits of technological advancements are widely shared. By recognizing the interdependencies with other sectors, we can create a cohesive framework that supports sustainable development, economic growth, and inclusivity. Together, we have the power to turn technology into a force for positive change, illuminating pathways to a brighter, more connected future.”

A session of Network of Women (NoW) in ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector at GSR-24 explored mechanisms for greater participation of women in ICT-related fields and address the leadership gender gap in the ICT sector.