The Chairman of 2025 Aro Day festival, Mazi Victor Ike Okoronkwo has urged Arochukwu sons and daughters to embrace peace and unity as pathways to community development and shared prosperity.

Ike Okoronkwo made the appeal on Friday, December 26, on the sidelines of 2025 Aro Day celebration in an interview with select Journalists. He stressed that all the misgivings and conflicts occasioned by the Ezeship tussle should be laid to rest as someone has finally emerged in the person of His Eminence Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji.

The oil and gas magnet, who is the CEO of Aiteo Energy Group, a leading African Energy firm, implored all and sundry to join hands and make Aro greater.

“For the people of Arochukwu, my message is, please, let us seek the face of peace, let us all come back together – whatever issues or tussle that happened is happened – there is an established stool – there is a stool that has being given staff of office – let us galvanise all the energy rather than use it negatively to fight and pursue each other but channel it towards progress,” he appealed.

The Chairman highlighted the essence of the annual event, stating that it is the home-coming of Aro sons and daughters from all over the world to evaluate the past and plan for the future, even as they seek peace and unity in order to achieve significant progress for the community.

He noted that the scope of the 2025 celebration under his Chairmanship was widened to include sporting and educational (STEM) programmes for the youths and honouring of 100 Heroes and Heroins who have contributed to the development and global positive branding of the Aro Kingdom. He mentioned some Honourees to include; Alvan Ikokwu, his brother Stanley Okoronkwo, a football icon that played for Nigerian Green Eagles team, among others.

He lauded the leadership of the Royal Highness, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, who he described as a peace-loving man, and the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Oti, as one that has brought glory and overwhelming development to Arochukwu, pointing to various road construction projects going in the community. He prayed for God’s increased wisdom and guidance and good health upon them.

He appealed to the Governor to assist the community with a befitting sporting facility for the development of various sports and talents, noting that Arochukwu is a tourist destination with several economic and social opportunities; such as limestone, rivers, artifacts, cultural dances, etc.

At the event, the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Oti, reminded politicians who may be aspiring for seat come 2027 to reconsider their decision as there might not be vacancy. He highlighted the infrastructural development going on in the state and pledged to sustain the tempo, even as he attributed the strides to God.

He unveiled the 100 Heroes and Heroins list of honourees, commending His Eminence, Eze Oji for the thoughtful initiative to honour those that laboured and brought glory to Arochukwu.

Aro Day is an annual socio-cultural gathering of sons and daughters of Arochukwu from all locations within and outside the country with the aim to evaluate past and plan for the future development and wellbeing of the community and its people.

The 2025 edition was unique as it celebrated the 100 years of Omu Aro.

Marking the centenary, the traditional Ruler of the Aro Kingdom, Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji, stated that Omu Aro is the traditional Coat of Arms and identity of the Aro people designed in 1925.

Omu Aro represents order, moral balance, the authority of women, and the stabilising force of tradition in Aro society. It reminds the kingdom that its strength has always rested on shared responsibility—men and women, elders and youths, past and present.

Eze Oji noted that it was in the spirit of the centenary, that honours were conferred on 100 Heroes and Heroins who have brought glory to the Arochukwu Kingdom. “These Aro Icons have carried our banner high,” he remarked.

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was the Special Guest of Honour, a friend of Governor Oti and the Arochukwu Kingdom, extolled the Aro heritage and leadership of the Governor and the traditional council.

Emir Sanusi is an appointee of the state government, as Vice Chairman of Abia Global Economic Investment Forum, with Prof. Aruma Oteh as Chairperson.

Other eminent Aro sons and daughters who graced the occasion include; Prof. Aruma Oteh, former DG, Securities and Exchange Commission, VP World Bank and AfDB, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, formerly representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Constituency, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, former Executive Secretary, NEITI, PG Nzuko Aro Worldwide, Mazi Dozie Udensi, DIG (rtd) Ivy Okoronkwo, among others.