There will be much excitement as the people of Ihuokpara in Nkanu East Local Government Area will, on Friday, 9th January 2026, roll out the drums in honour of their revered traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Fidelis O. Nwatu, Eze Agabi II of Ihuokpara and Grand Patron of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, as he marks his 50th coronation anniversary.
The celebration will attract eminent personalities from across Nigeria, including the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who will attend as Special Guest of Honour, and former President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ken Nnamani, who will be the Chairman of the Occasion.
The anniversary activities which will commence with a High Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Uzam, Ihuokpara, at 10:00 am, will be officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga.
A grand reception will follow at the Igwebuike Primary School Field, Ihuokpara, where dignitaries, traditional rulers, sons and daughters of Ihuokpara, and well-wishers will celebrate the remarkable five-decade reign of Igwe Nwatu while the celebrations will conclude on Sunday, 11th January 2026, with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Uzam, Ihuokpara.
Igwe Nwatu, for half a century, has provided selfless leadership, upheld the cherished customs of Ihuokpara, and contributed immensely to peace, unity, and development in Nkanu East and Enugu State at large. His Golden Jubilee marks not only the longevity of his reign but the enduring stability and transformation his leadership has brought to the Agabi Ancient Kingdom.
The royal father was born into a life shaped by faith, discipline, and education, a journey that prepared him for the enormous task of rebuilding and guiding his community after the civil war.
From his early education across Enugu, Kaduna, and Kano, to his technical training at Rashia Philips Technical Engineering Company, and his professional service as an electrical engineer with Electrical Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), Nigeria Sweets and Confectioneries, and British Petroleum, he cultivated a broad worldview and a pan-Nigerian outlook that shaped his leadership style.
Eighteen years of sojourn in Northern Nigeria strengthened his belief in inter-ethnic harmony, a principle that has defined his inclusive and unifying approach to traditional governance.
Throughout his reign, Igwe Nwatu has remained a champion of moral leadership, cultural preservation, and progressive reforms. The landmark Ihuokpara Community By-laws of 2014, enacted under his guidance, stand as a testament to his commitment to justice, human dignity, and social order.
His advocacy for the welfare of traditional institutions and his counsel to younger monarchs on integrity and purposeful leadership have made him a model and mentor across the traditional landscape of Enugu State.
To add more verve to the celebration, friends, associates, well-wishers, and the general public are cordially invited to join the good people of Ihuokpara in honouring an icon of traditional leadership and celebrating this historic milestone in the life of a monarch whose reign has been defined by peace, compassion, and steady progress.
