By Njoku Macdonald Obinna
In a stirring affirmation of service and influence, High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu (Onowu Anara Ancient Kingdom), this Saturday, August 23, 2025, shall be honoured with one of the South East’s most prestigious chieftaincy titles —AKA EPUCHI ONWA IGBOLAND — a rare investiture that cements his standing as an accomplished industrialist, respected community leader, bridge builder, and champion of youth empowerment. The conferment, celebrated across business, social and traditional circles, is followed by countless goodwill messages from distinguished personalities ; industrialists, technocrats , oil magnets, road construction giants, industry experts in maritime, real estate moguls, and members of the ivory tower who have recognized the title as both reward and mandate for continued service.
From the outset, the tone of felicitations captured the breadth of Chief Ejiogu’s reach. High Chief Amb. Dr. Anthony Ikenna Obele (Okwunze Aguata)— a renowned Anambra born industrialist— hailed the conferment as befitting a leader who has consistently placed human capacity development at the centre of his pursuits; High Chief Ikechukwu Abraham Otti (Ikenga Umuchu), described the honour as a natural outcome for a man whose life is woven with service and community development; while Chief Evans Emesim (Okwumereze Ukpor Mbadike Kingdom) — Founder of Akuluno United Brothers Association of Nigeria —applauded the role Chief Ejiogu plays in uniting and uplifting Igboland through private enterprise and philanthropy. These messages, delivered in warm, measured language, underlined a shared view: the title is recognition of tangible impact, not mere ceremonial prestige.
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Equally resonantly are the notes from notable traditional and business leaders: HRM Eze Dr. Chris Brown (Igwe Aranazu Nwa na Japan) — referenced Chief Ejiogu’s philanthropic impact, human capacity investment and industry-driven mindset, urging that the new title be used as a catalyst for broader socio-economic programmes across the region. Eze Ogwuaga Abbba — HRH Eze Duru Oshimiri Obinna Akwiwu sent royal felicitations from his palace, calling the conferment a moment of pride for the Anara lineage and a validation of Chief Ejiogu’s steady stewardship. Such traditional endorsements carry deep cultural weight, binding modern accomplishment to ancestral legitimacy.
Business and community voices added practical emphasis to the praise: Chairman of Vintano Hotel — Chief Coleman Chinedu Nwafor —celebrated Chief Ejiogu as a model for youth-focused initiatives and local development, while Chief Frank Nnadi commended his ability to marry entrepreneurship with cultural responsibility, observing that job creation and social investment are the best response to the region’s development challenges.
To the Chairman of Foretec Investment Ltd — Chief Okeke Nicky Jonas MON (Ikenga Orsu)— captured the sentiment succinctly when he described the new title as a fitting recognition for “a progressive leader and established industrialist” whose work advances the South East’s economic prospects.
To Prince Joseph Okafor (Mmirioma Ihiala), this well-deserved honour is a defining moment of truth and acknowledgement of High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu’s large heart as a nation builder and champion of community development. Eulogizing the award conferment as a reward for dedication service to humanity and advancement for the economic development of South East, the duo of Chief Amb Emmanuel Odoh (Odogwu Na Nsukka) and High Chief Uche Umeh (Omeiheokwu of Imo State) saluted High Chief Ejiogu for his legacy of commitment to selfless community services and stellar performance as an established industrialist.
In the same vein, Chief Obinna Onuchukwu — Chairman of Muna Suites Hotel, Owerri and Chief Obinna Uzogu – all lauded the rare chieftaincy title conferment as a befitting testament to service to God and humanity.
This outpouring of goodwill maps neatly onto the circumstances that earned the honour: decades of quiet industry-building, mentorship, and community interventions that have strengthened livelihoods and opened pathways for young people. The congratulatory notes spoke less of spectacle and more of substance — factories and workshops that employ hundreds, skills programmes that reduce idle youth, and community development initiatives that cut across religious and social lines. In all, the message is consistent: Chief Ejiogu’s leadership is measured by outcomes, and the title affirms that record, Njoku Macdonald Obinna succinctly submitted.
For many who sent messages, the conferment also signals an opportunity — a prompt to widen collaboration. Several correspondents urged that the honour be leveraged to deepen public-private partnerships, expand vocational trainings, and seed projects that generate both wealth and dignity for local communities. That call is unmistakably practical: recognition at the level of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers comes with public expectations, and those who congratulated High Chief Duru Mike Chief Ejiogu made it clear they see him as someone who will answer those expectations with results, not rhetoric.
Indeed, beyond the plaudits, there is a quiet consensus that the ‘Aka Epuchionwa Igboland’ title should amplify, not merely annotate, a life of service. Friends and well-wishers alike asked for sustained attention to youth empowerment, infrastructure support, and cultural preservation — areas where Chief Ejiogu is already active and where his new standing can unlock additional resources and partnerships.
As the celebrations wind down and the formalities settle into history, the deeper work begins: translating ceremonial honour into measurable progress for communities that crave opportunity. If the tenor of the congratulatory messages is any guide, Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu has both the social capital and the mandate to lead that charge. For a man praised by kings, chiefs, industrialists and community leaders, the title is at once recognition and challenge — to keep building, mentoring and investing in a South East that must grow from its people outward.
Congratulations therefore pour in, not as the end of a journey, but as a beginning of renewed service: may the mantle of AKA EPUCHI ONWA IGBOLAND strengthen High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu’s resolve to turn honour into enduring impact for Igboland.
•Njoku Macdonald Obinna, MediaConsultant|Newspaper Columnist|Public Analyst|PR- Expert
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