The leaders of the Eneakpoyeri Family of Afeisere, Ughelli North local government, have called on the Urhobo people to continue to uphold family values passed unto us by our forebears, to preserve our customs and traditions.
Speaking separately during the Eneakpoyeri Family of Afeisere End-of-Year Party, the Chairman of the Family Executive Committee, Olorogun Anthony Ojefia and the Chairman of the Project Committee, Comrade Shedrack Onitsha, noted that the family yearly party was aimed at sustaining the family bound by bringing members of the family to eat, drink and get to know each other.
They stated that many individuals are staying away from their families because of civilization and fear of the unknown, stressing that such attitudes are leading to the loss of family values, history and customs.
Olorogun Anthony Ojefia, in his welcome address at the Eneakpoyeri Family of Afeisere End-of-Year Party, said: “This gathering is a time for us to come together as one family, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to look forward to brighter days ahead.
“As we look back on this year, I am proud of what we have achieved as a family. One of the biggest steps we took was to create family bylaws. These rules are to guide us, bring fairness, and ensure that we all know our responsibilities and how we should work together.
“Another major achievement this year was opening a bank account for the family. With this account, we can now keep our finances safe and transparent. It shows we are planning wisely for the future of the family, not just for now but for our children and grandchildren.
“We also have exciting plans to improve our Family Hall. We aim to expand it by adding a restroom and a storeroom, and we want to beautify it to make it even more welcoming. This project is for everyone, and I ask us all to support it.
Let us remember that our strength is in our unity. When we love and support each other, there’s nothing we cannot achieve. We are all important, no matter how small or big our contributions are. This year, we have tried to bring more members into the family circle, so everyone feels included. Let us keep this spirit alive—reaching out to those who may feel left out and drawing them closer.
“I also want to encourage all of us to take part in our family programs and activities. These gatherings, like today’s event, are how we build bonds and keep our family strong. Let us all play our part because the family’s progress depends on each one of us.”
Speaking also, Comrade Onitsha, who is also the chairman of the planning committee of the end-of-year party, called on Urhobo people to embrace their families and use skills, contacts and resources to better the running of extended family governance.
According to him, “Most people in the upper and middle class hardly identify with their local families; they think that the rural folks will not understand them or can’t connect with them. Hence they hardly attend family meetings or gatherings.
This attitude has alienated most of our people from their families and has made many lose touch with our customs and traditions. So, what we are encouraging here is that both the upper-class and rural folks can net well in love; by so doing, we are preserving our family history, values and traditions”.
