15 Male Adults from various quarters in Enhwe during Ogwere festival were inducted into the Traditional Edio and Elders council of Enhwe clan, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Ogwere festival/ induction ceremony is celebrated once every 5 years.
The historical age group ceremony and the rich cultural heritage of the people was held at Enhwe Town hall
According to a historic account, Enhwe Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, migrated from Ute in Benin kingdom Edo State ,during the end of the 12th Century.
Its founder was Oviota Oriro, son of the fourth to the last Ogiso that reigned in Benin Kingdom, in the first Benin dynasty.
The Ogwere festival is significant to the people especially Adults male who intend to become Elders of the community .
One after another the 15 men to be inducted as Elders were accompanied by their family members to the community hall venue for the induction ceremony.
The men to be inducted as Elders and Edio have served the community for 10 years without blemish .
The Elders and Edio played an important role in complimenting the monarch efforts in fostering peace and unity among the people especially land and other related issues in the community.
In an interview with newsmen Elder Michael Akpakpa ,Elder College Ogodo and Olorogun Abless Egbagba a retired Staff Sergeant in the Nigeria Army expressed joy to have completed their 10 years service to Enhwe community and thanked God that their service years was smooth and without any issues that would have prevented them from attaining their positions as elders .
For their part the 15 adults that were newly inducted into the Enhwe clan traditional Edio and Elders council stated that they would contribute their quota to the development of the community.
Some of the newly inducted Elders and Edio including Prince Isaac Ohoro Secretary of the group said the age long festival is important to them because as an aged adult if you are not inducted into the council no matter your age you will be called a youth.”if you don’t undergo this process you can not be an Elder in this community no matter how old you are ,you will be called a youth even though you are 70 years ” they revealed .
Prince Isaac Ohoro stated that the ceremony was not fetish but an important tradition worthy of experience by men of the Enhwe community.
The Ogwere festival ceremony featured presentation of drinks and money to the elders as part of the traditional rites before the commencement of the special greetings by the newly inducted Elders and Edio to members of the traditional Edio and Elders council.
The newly inductees later danced along major roads in the community to the admiration of all that attended the ceremony.
