Odu Na Izuoha Agog For Aku Ruo Ulo Initiation

Odu Na Izuoha Agog For Aku Ruo Ulo Initiation

The small community of Odu Na Izouha on Saturday, January 2, 2016 came alive as over 70 young men who have come of age were initiated into manhood in a grand ceremony tagged Iwa Akwa. The event which witnessed a large turn-out of relations, friends and well-wishers of the initiatees, was incredibly colourful as long-flowing wrappers were twined around each of the young men as a symbol of attaining the age of responsibility whereby they should no longer go about nude like little kids.

Adressing the newly initiated men who are members of Aku Ruo Ulo No. 14 Age grade, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Zephrinus Njoku, admonished them to be of good behavior and responsible ambassadors of Odu Na Izuoha in particular and Nigeria in general.

Iwa Akwa is a tradition indigenous to many of the communities in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA, Obowo, Mbano and their environs. For Odu Na Izuoha Autonomous Community in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, the ceremony was first staged by Uzodimma No. 8 Age Grade in the early 1980’S and has since gone from one age grade to another periodically.

Apart from becoming men who can be trusted with responsibility of ensuring that their community is well administered, the Iwa Akwa event symbolizes the assignment of significant role position to those initiated into manhood in the community.