Chief Nkeiru Ogbodo-Falana Honoured With Ugo Jerumba At Ofala festival

Ofala is an age-long festival usually celebrated by Igbo traditional rulers to re-establish their authorities over their kingdoms. It may be celebrated as an annual or biennial and in some cases triennial events.

It is also a moment of stocktaking and evaluation of individual and group contributions to the development of the community. The Igwe Engineer Okey Ogbodo, The Ezekwesili of Ikem Uno autonomous community in Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State observed his 7th Ofala Festival to mark his 17th year on the throne. 

The week-long festivity which began early morning on the 29th December 2025 with the traditional gun salutes by five ruling clans that make up the community was climaxed on January 3rd with the conferment of chieftaincy titles on deserving sons, daughters and friends of the community.

One of the recipients of the chieftaincy titles was an illustrious daughter of the soil, Chief Mrs Nkeiru Ogbodo-Falana who is married to an indigene of Abeokuta in Ogun State, southwest of Nigeria.

She was christened “Ugo Jerumba” which literarily translated as “Eagle who traveled to other land”. Igwe Ogbodo described her as an exemplary ambassador and bridge builder between the east and west.

Below is her abridged citation ;

Today, history records with honour and pride the conferment of the prestigious title Ugo Jeru Mba (Aka Ada Eji Eje Mba) I of Ikem on a distinguished daughter of the land, Chief Mrs. Regina Nkiru Akuabata Ogbodo-Falana.

She is a worthy daughter of Ogelegwu Village, Ikem, born into the noble family of the Late Mr. Christopher Ede Ogbodo Agbowalu, a man of integrity, discipline, and honour, renowned as one of the pace-setters of education in the then Nsukka Senatorial Zone. From him, she inherited dignity of character, love for knowledge, and service to humanity.

Chief Mrs. Regina Nkiru Ogbodo-Falana was nurtured in learning and excellence. She received her secondary education at Queen’s School Nsukka, proceeded to the University of Jos, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and further distinguished herself academically with a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

In service to the nation, she served diligently in the Ministry of Education and later at the federal level as a Research Officer with the National Council for Arts and Culture, under the Federal Ministry of Information. There, she contributed meaningfully to national development and collaborated with global institutions such as UNICEF and UNESCO, advocating against female genital mutilation, child labour, early child marriage, and in support of girl-child education.

She is a compassionate voice for the vulnerable, a defender of justice, equity, and fairness, and a woman whose heart remains firmly rooted in Ikem. A true grassroots mobiliser, she carries the pains, hopes, and aspirations of her people wherever she goes. Her vision is clear: an urbanised Ikem blessed with clean water, modern infrastructure, and sustainable development for present and future generations.

In marriage, she is fulfilled and blessed. In the year 2005, she was joined in holy matrimony to Mr. Oyebola Falana, and the union is blessed with twins—Oluwatomi Chinualumuogu and Oluwadamilola Chukwu Chetaram. In the United Kingdom, she continues her calling to service by working with the government within the Social Services sector.

On this auspicious occasion, she humbly acknowledges and honours His Royal Majesty, Engr. Okey Ogbodo, Ezekwesili I of Ikem, her kinsman by paternal and maternal lineage of the prestigious Nwachiewuakwu of Umuanywu, Ogor Village, and congratulates His Majesty on another glorious Ofala Festival.

For her character, achievements, service to humanity, love for Ikem, and worthy representation of womanhood and the community at large, His Royal Majesty and the good people of Ikem have found her deserving of this revered honour.