Ahead of the planned Igbo – Hebrew Conference scheduled to hold at the International Convention Centre, Awka today , delegates from the Origin of Igbo Hebrew Cultural Heritage International, ORIHCHI, have paid a courtesy visit to the Anambra state Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji.
Addressing staff of the ministry, the leader of the delegation, Apostle Gloria Harris, said there is need for funding of cultural affairs and activities to enable lost tribes of Hebrew understand their history and common cultural heritage for a possible connection.
She said that part of the planned conference is to fund and promote agriculture in order to feed the hungry as directed by the Messiah, even as she encouraged others who joined online that the money they will be sending will be used for established purposes.
On her part, one of the foreign delegates, Cynthia Shefton, said she feels at home being in Anambra, Nigeria, and that she will be buying properties in the state, urging others who have negative narratives about Nigeria and black America to jettison them.
Contributing, Rabbi Ikechukwu Ogugua said the International Igbo – Hebrew Conference, first in Nigeria, had been held in United State of America, USA, twelve years ago, adding that the intent of the conferences, which will be preceded with an all-Igbo prayer today at Okpara Square in Enugu, is to bring together Ephraim and Judah – the lost tribes of Israel.
He noted that the state government, through the Anambra State Ministry of Culture Entertainment and Tourism, would be helpful in ensuring success of the conference in Awka.
On behalf of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Barrister Emejulu Okpalaukwu, who said that it is not by accident that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is at the helm of affairs now in Anambra, added that the Igbo group, Ohaneze, is fully involved in the conference, and that ORIHCHI has gotten a worship center at Aguleri, Anambra State.
Responding, the Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Onyenji, who noted that Anambra is open to the world, commended
the delegation for their planned programmes, including the Agric intervention, which he said is so dear to the Soludo administration.
He informed the delegation that the Soludo administration, being interested in getting value for money, is changing the narrative in governance of Anambra State, adding that Nigeria is not as painted outside.
Special prayer for the state and the ministry featured during the courtesy visit that had the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Laz Okafor, and the Director of Diaspora Affairs and Entertainment Department of the ministry, Dr. Nneka Nwankwo.
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