Akalites, others gather as Perry Ekwunazu and wife hold grand reception.

Dr Perry Ekwunazu a certified US based pharmacist on December 30, 2025, held a very big event that attracted a whole lot of businessmen, politicians, the clergy and others. The event which was massively celebrated by family and friends was held at the palatial compound of the man known as Odogwu Njaba in the political terrains of Imo State. The occasion which came in three dimensions had the celebration of ezinne title by the wife of Dr Ekwunazu, Lolo Ogechi Joy Ekwunazu in one dimension, the chieftaincy title celebration of the couple and the reception of Umuaka Times Who is Who Merit Award 2025 as the last two dimensions.

For some reasons, the celebration did not start as early as expected but it lasted till 7 pm due to the influx of guests and other activities that added colour to the celebrations. When Umuaka Times reporters went round the event centre which was a part of the palatial compound of the celebrators, communities like Awo Omama, Obowo,Oguta and many other towns in the state, were represented in their canopies. Prominent among the canopies was the section which was occupied by a group known as G-86, aassociation of former students of High School Umuaka who graduated in 1986, of which Dr Ekwunazu was their school Senior Prefect in the year 1986.

Umuaka Times observed that there was also a special section for special guests such as prominent Nigerians and Akalites in diaspora. This group was in a canopy called VIP tent which was exclusively made for the special guests of the couple.

At exactly 4:23 pm, the master of the ceremony MC, called for an opening prayer and everybody was told to stand up for the prayers and after the prayer segment, the event officially kicked off. The next thing that followed was the presentation of kola nuts by the celebrating couple. An elderly man from the Dioribe kindred was called upon to bless the kola nuts and that was immediately done.

Several guests especially VIPs, were still coming for the event and the two MCs were busy announcing the names of the guests as they arrived at different intervals. HRH Eze Francis Ahanotu and HRH Eze Victor Ijeoma were the two royal fathers that graced the occasion with a royal touch. Because there was no specified program of events, guests were busy helping themselves with assorted drinks from Champaign to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic wines and different types of local and intercontinental dishes.

About 5:30 pm, the Odogwu Njaba, Dr Perry Ekwunazu and his family arrived at the event in a grand style. Some family members, friends and many other people joined the dancing procession that ushered in the couple that had pulled the high and mighty to their grand reception. They danced from the main entrance of the event centre to the high table area where a special chieftaincy chairs were reserved for them.

Shortly after they had arrived, the Odogwu Njaba went round from one canopy to another where he was personally greeting all his guests with fun and laughter. A guest who closely watched him disclosed to Umuaka Times thus, “Perry knows almost every guest that attended this great occasion by his or her name.”

The next activity that followed which was perhaps the most prominent of all was the presentation of Who is Who in Umuaka Merit Award by Umuaka Times newspapers. A poem specially written in honour of Dr Perry Ekwunazu by the Amiyi Akah born internationally acclaimed poet, Mr Nnaemeka Akanazu was used as a citation for the award. The poem was presented by two young girls of about 17 year old each.

The moment the citation ended, the royal father of Amiyi Akah, HRH Eze Francis Ahanotu also extolled the virtues of the award recipient before presenting it to him. The royal father urged Ekwunazu to continue his good works to the community and beyond.

In his acceptance speech, Ekwunzu thanked Umuaka Times for finding him worthy for the award and promised to continue his charity works to Amiyi Akah and Umuaka in general. He later announced a donation of N500,000 to support what he described as the journalistic excellence of Umuaka Times and donated the sum of N50,000 each to the little girls who recited the poetic citation before the award was presented to him.