Izu Afia Chi: Afor Market Women Hail Obi Nduka For Shopping With New Mint

By Patrick Ochei

The Izu Afia Chi festival which held on Friday 15th August, 2025, has been adjudged significantly colourful, just as His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka did all his shopping and giveaways with new mint of the Nigerian currency, thereby sparking so much conversation amongst market people, particularly the women. For the purpose of emphasis, Obi Nduka is now referred to as “Obi CBN” by the market women in order to drive home their excitement of the spectacular 2025 edition of Izu Afia Chi.

The Issele-Uku amiable king who went to the market for his annual Izu Afia Chi, glittering in his beautiful regalia and doling out bundles of new Naira mint of different denominations from his native bag of money, was accompanied by eminent Onotu, Idime and Igbebor chiefs.

At the market after buying various items from traders, Obi Nduka paid homage to the Omu of Issele-Uku, Omu Beatrice Onwordi who was seated with her Ndi Ilogo and Ezinne of Issele-Uku, Chief (Barr) Mrs. Josephine Ada Kachikwu at the Odu Omu to receive him.

After the usual pleasantries, exchanges of gifts and prayers, Obi Nduka returned to the palace where he shared the items with those who accompanied him to the market and the ones awaiting his arrival at the palace.

It was a day to remember as joyous women and children receive giveaways in new mint, and in his usual happy mood, Obi Nduka danced gracefully in appreciation to God and his ancestors for another beautiful season of visiting the Afor market for Izu Afia Chi.

The Onotu chiefs who accompanied him included Chief Victor Isiekwenamgbu (Ozah of Issele-Uku), Chief John Ochei Ph.D (Okwalegwe of Issele-Uku), Chief I.G Memeh (Oloto of Issele-Uku) and Chief Fidelis Jigide (Esogba of Issele-Uku). For the Idime chiefs – Chief Peter Oduh (Ozoma of Issele-Uku), Chief Sunday Monyei (Osodi of Issele-Uku), Chief Austin Uche Maha (Uweh Obi of Issele-Uku) and Chief (Barr) Mrs. Josephine Ada Kachikwu (Ezinne of Issele-Uku). And of course, the Igbebor chiefs – Chief Egbo Adigwe (Chi-Obi of Issele-Uku), Chief Uche Ngbanwa (Ashi-Obi of Issele-Uku), Chief Okonkwo Ofiaju Okolie (Eze Dibie of Issele-Uku) and Chief Isichei Morka (Isekwute of Issele-Uku), including the Okpalabisis were all there with the monarch on this important public festival.