Oron Union Commences Month-long Centenary Celebration
…Akpabio, Eno to Grace Grand Finale
By Ekemini Simon
The highest Socio-cultural Organization in Oro Nation, Oron Union has commenced a month-long celebration of its 100 years of existence.
At a press conference held on Friday in Uyo, the Union through its President General, Sir Essang Bassey said they are celebrating an organisation which has afforded Oro people the opportunity to grow educationally, culturally and politically coupled with the opportunity to unitedly live with other ethnic groups especially as their geographical location by the sea has made them a cosmopolitan society that has attracted people from other parts of the world to live and do business.
He said the celebration had commenced since the 26th of April, 2025, with the visitation and declarations of heritage sites which included the houses of the three progenitors of the organization and the second venue of their meeting at Abiakowo at Ebughu in Mbo local government area.
The President-General said the Centenary celebrations will continue on Monday, May 20 with visits of the eleven clans of Oro and non-indigenous communities to the President General of Oron Union coupled with a quiz and debate competition by school children across the five local governments of Oro Ethnic Nationality.
He said the same day in the evening, a novelty football competition will take place between Oro unity Forum and Oro Youth Movement (OYOM) at 4pm.
According to the outline, on Tuesday, the 21st of May, 2023, there will be boats regatta, followed by traditional wrestling called in the local parlance as mbok Oro.
On Wednesday, 21st May, 2025, there will be a special Concert Night at Oro stadium where both Oro best Artists locally, nationally and internationally, are earmarked to showcase their talents to the celebration of Oron people and the audience.
On Thursday, 22nd May, 2025, a colloquium will be held with the keynote address to be presented by Ledum Mitee, a nationally acclaimed Civil Rights Activist.
The programme shows that the lead discussant will be Prof. Peter Esuh of the Faculty of Communication and Media studies, University of Uyo and Prof. Emmanuel Onwioduokit of the Department of Economics, University of Uyo, under the Chairmanship of Professor Akpan Ekpo.
This President-General noted that the conference of Oro- Obolo people will be held earlier that same day.
He highlighted that the Grand finale of the one-month long celebration will hold at the Stadium to be chaired by Chief. O.B. Offiong(SAN) While the Senate President, Dr. Godswill Akpabio will be the Principal Guest of Honour with Governor Umo Eno expected as the Special Guest of Honour and Former Deputy Governor, Engr Etim Okpoyo serving as the Father of the day, While the Deputy Governor Sen. Akon Eyakenyi will serve as the mother of the day.
The President General said as part of centenary celebration, scholarship schemes will be launched coupled with centenary tower building for ICT and more.
Earlier, while giving background of how the 100 years journey of Oron Union started hundred years ago, Bassey narrated ” It was on the 26th of April, 1925, three patriotic Oronians who were colonial officers and agents, Ekpu Edubio Odoro, John Anwana Esin and Okon Eyokunyi Isong, gathered at AHTA Eyokunyi Isong’s house to conceive the idea of forming an association that can serve as a reservoir of cultural identity and vehicle of development to meet up with the increasing civilization in the territory and it’s contiguous areas.
“So, it was on exactly, the 23rd of May 1923, 88 people gathered at John Esin’s house to lay the seed to what has become one of the oldest socio cultural organizations in Nigeria, which has survived thick and thorns.”
He explained that their gathering provided a formidable platform for the nurturing and preservation of Oro identity and peoplehood adding that the scholarship schemes the Union introduced in 1933 for the training of teachers within Nigeria and its overseas scholarship in 1942, has led to the emergence of top class professionals in various fields of human endeavour.
Bassey who said the Union had visited Oku Ibom Ibibio and would soon visit Itai Efe Annang to officially inform them of the celebration called on other ethnic groups in the State to join them in marking the centenary.
While responding to questions, the President General noted that in the next century, it is the wish of the Union to produce the Governor for Akwa Ibom State.