The Awardees in a group photograph with His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll after the conferment on Saturday
By Samuel Ogude
The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll said, Royal Order of Iwere Award(ROI) is not just conferred on every Tom, Dick and Harry but on worthy sons and daughters of the Itsekiris ethnic nationality who have not only contributed meaningfully to the growth and development of humanity but persons with integrity.
The reverend Warri Monarch stated this on Saturday at the Conferment of the prestigious title of Royal Order of Iwere Award (ROI) on seven illustrious sons and daughters of the kingdom which took place at Aghofen, Olu’s palace, Warri. The awardees are: Papa Ayodele J.Oritsejafor (OFR), Dr Ebi Omatsola, Mr Oti Ikomi, Dr Mrs Helen Bayo-Ekwueme, Mrs Eva Omaghomi, Mrs Tara Fela-Durotoye and Hon. Dr Godwin T.Ebosa.
The Awardees at the conferment on Saturday
In his address, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll said, the awardees for the day are worthy of celebration not because of their money even when money is good but integrity. According to him, people are celebrated not just of the station or circumstance of their birth but the talent which they have in them. His words:” This is not about celebrating people simply because they have money or they have achieved the same plans of outward success. We are neither here to judge nor condemn how anyone conducts their personal business. But we are here to amplify and celebrate integrity…”
According to the Royal father, in the today’s society, people have been elevated through celebration into power and governance but common people have been looked down upon even with their integrity. He said, instead of many Itsekiri sons and daughters with all their integrity and all they have achieved to come home, they have withdrawn into their shell and gone elsewhere since they are not being celebrated hence the Kingdom saw it as a point of duty to celebrate their own.
His words: “Being the proud people that we have been, there have been many who have resentment and ill feelings, as they have not felt appropriated or celebrated by their own people, for all that they have achieved. People happily go to where they are celebrated and honoured”. The Monarch therefore admonished all sons and daughters of the kingdom to be glad whenever they are invited home to be celebrated as that of the ways for them to contribute their quota to Iwere and the people.
Illustrious Daughters and Son of the soil
According to the king, part of what the award for the recipients is set to achieve is the celebration of cultural environment since culture is not just the determinant of identity but the destiny of a people. His words:” …part of what we set to achieve with these awards are cultural environment and values such as education: formal or informal, hardwork, industry, value creation and solutions to society’s problems” He said, the recipients of the Royal Iwere Order Award for day would automatically become members of the Royal Iwere Society with the mandate to screen the nominees and future recipients of the awards. According to him ,these people’s diverse knowledge, network and capacity would add value to the Royal Iwere Society which would go a long way to project the Society from a local one to that international level.
While congratulating the awardees for this achievement, the Royal father charged them to continue with their virtues which have spotted them out for the award. Responding, all the awardees expressed gratitude to the Monarch for the honour done them just as they promised to be worthy ambassadors of the kingdom. The ceremony which was graced by many people especially sons and daughters of the soil both at home and abroad was described by many as one of the best in recent time.