By Ruth Ani
The date was January 8, 2026 and the destination was the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Charles Egbo-Nwoye, Obioha 11 of the Amurri Ancient Kingdom.
ESUT Monitor crew led by the Staff Adviser arrived the palace few minutes past the hour of 10am, the time scheduled for the exclusive interview with HRH.
Our first outing of this nature left us with experiences and memories to treasure in the future. The marathon interview which last for hours dovetailed into excursion as the King and some of his Sargent at Arm, High Chief Sunny White.
The traditional ruler of he shared the rich history of his kingdom, emphasized the preservation of Igbo culture, and addressed community concerns related to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
During the visit, the monarch welcomed the team to his ancestral domain and provided an overview of southeastern Nigerian history alongside the specific origins of Amurri. He noted that archaeological soil testing would help determine the precise age of the kingdom.
Igwe Obioha II highlighted the contributions of the late Warrant Chief Okoro Ogbodo, who introduced primary education to Amurri. He explained that the kingdom selected its first recognized king in 1975: His Royal Majesty King David Okonkwo Igwe Obioha I, who ruled until his passing in 2006. The current monarch served in the cabinet and as Prime Minister before ascending the throne.
Born in Sapele, Delta State, known for timber and rubber production. The king credited his parents for instilling a deep appreciation of his Amurri roots, despite growing up among the Urhobo people and later relocating to Port Harcourt. He recounted childhood experiences such as playing gongs, carving, and farming.
The king described key traditional practices in Amurri, including the “Oriri ani” ritual (honoring the land), the New Yam Festival, “I gu ibe” (traditional marriage rites), and “I ga afo.” He stressed that daughters of the kingdom are not commodified; bride price remains modest, with families conducting thorough character assessments of prospective spouses. He urged parents to raise children with strong moral values.
Igwe Obioha II expressed concern over the erosion of ethics and traditions, linking this decline to rising corruption. He identified fluency in one’s Igbo dialect as the foremost cultural marker. During the session, he questioned the ESUT Monitor editors about their origins and dialect proficiency, noting that many could not speak theirs fluently.
He attributed this to urbanization and parental priorities, urging the editors—and Igbo people broadly—to prioritize learning their mother tongue. He explained that the term “mother tongue” derives from mothers’ primary role in early language transmission and encouraged exclusive breastfeeding and dedicated childcare over career-first approaches.
The monarch shared how adaptability and resilience sustained him during the Nigerian Civil War. He advocated using Igbo names as call names, promoting citizenship, leadership, and research into cultural heritage. He underscored the importance of the girl child and motherhood in sustaining societal values.
The king identified poor road networks as his primary challenge, hindering connectivity and development. He acknowledged Governor Peter Mbah’s campaign visit to the palace, where he received blessings in the ancestral home, and commended the governor’s ongoing and completed infrastructure projects across Enugu State.
Following the interview, Igwe Obioha II personally guided the ESUT Monitor editors on a tour of the palace grounds, including the ancestral hut, the Oweregene wildlife area, and other significant sites, before bidding them farewell.
This engagement underscores the monarch’s commitment to cultural revival, community development, and constructive dialogue between traditional institutions and modern entities in Enugu State.
