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“We are gathered here today to celebrate our family, our progenitors, our history and rich culture as well as our common achievements, courage and good example. Today, we also celebrate our spirit of brotherhood and volunteerism, our patriotism and triumph, our compassion and love for ourselves and fellow citizens, our generosity and finally, the new generation of young men and women who are going to keep the flag of our great family name and honour flying.”

With the above words, Major General Raymond N. Ochei, mni, welcomed the large gathering of members of the Umu Aghaeze Family, friends and well-wishers to Onicha-Olona for the four-day long activities to mark the 88th edition of the Aghaeze Family Reunion 2024, that usually comes up during Easter celebrations.

This year’s event began Thursday, March 28, with arrivals and registration from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the residences of Sir Ken Ochei and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, while dinner held at two venues from 6.30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Day Two of Friday, March 29, 2024 had the following events: Registration continued from 6 a.m.- 7 a.m., collection of meal voucher and branded T-shirts for morning walk, breakfast 7 a.m. – 7.30.a.m.; breakfast 7.30 a.m. – 9.30 a.m., all at the residences of Sir Ken Ochei and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei. Family fellowship held at 4 p.m. – 5 p.m in El-Olam Hall, at the residence of Major General Raymond Ochei’s residence, and the family seminar and dinner at same venue.

Day Three of Saturday was similarly loaded with activities that included morning walk in branded T-shirts, break fast at Major General Raymond Ochei’s residence and family get-together/feast at the Olona Mixed Secondary School.

Day Four events included family Thanksgiving service at the Church of Ascension, family lunch and distribution of souvenir, with children’s party at the residence of Major General Raymond Ochei. The reunion programme ended with the Diokpa (eldest man’s) prayers and blessings.

Shortly before he delivered his lecture titled Umu Aghaeze: A historical journey through time, Major General  Raymond Ochei, in a chat with journalists, said the Aghaeze Family Reunion event was started around 1936, about 88 years ago. Major General Ochei said: “The reunion started around 1936 by our fore fathers. To them, there was a need for all members of the Aghaeze Family to gather themselves to net work, plan ahead for the future; know their past mistakes, present and come out with modalities for the future. Since that time till now, it is something that we don’t joke with.

“So you find out that over time, every Easter, anyone who has Aghaeze blood must be around for the Easter celebration. So we don’t miss it. Right from when we were born. You may miss Christmas, but if you miss Easter, you’ll have to go for DNA test. We were born into it, and it started in 1936. What we do is that after every four years, we do what is called reunion.

“That reunion, everybody that has our blood – if you are a lady, you are married, you come with your children; if your children are married, they come with their children’s children. If your children’s children are married, you come with their children’s children.”

There’s the story of a nonagenarian, 93 years-old man who lives in the United Kingdom. His maternal grandmother was the daughter of Aghaeze. To express his commitment to the meeting, he sent money to someone to buy a ram, which was presented as his contribution to the reunion meeting.

Importantly, the Aghaeze family is a Christian family. And speaking about the family’s strong Christaian root, Major General Ochei said: “Ochei (first son of Aghaeze) in his wisdom had denounced traditional African religious practices and embraced Christianity after all his conquests after all his achievements.  He became a model of Christian charity as a strong member of St. Peters Anglican Church in Onicha-Olona. So, no one was surprised when he donated our family land to the Catholic Mission, even as an Anglican member, when the catholic Church eventually arrived in Onicha-Olona.”

Major general Ochei also recalled an incident that occurred in the 1980s, which had to do with Ichinmo (taking of traditional title). He said: “On that day, the issue of Ichinmo title-taking was raised by a member of our family who desperately wanted to be initiated into our town’s clan of red cap chiefs. This family member wanted to know why no one had deviated from the instruction of Ochei, our grand father, who had outlawed the Ichinmo title in our family due to his Christian faith. I still remember the look on Pa Samuel Ochei’s face as he responded swiftly: “We remain committed and united on the stand of our father, Ochei Aghaeze because we are Christians, and we have no fellowship with traditional practices. If we go against his instruction, we will all regret it. It is a no go area.”

Major General Ochei traced the Aghaeze family tree to Bini kingdom. He said: “There’s a family in the ancient Bini Kingdom known as Igbedion family. Igbedion was the father of Diagbor. Diagbor gave birth to Aghaeze; Aghnaeze now gave birth to Ochei, the first son, Anikwe and Okechukwu. This is the umbrella. Now, I, (major general Raymond Ochei, I’m a direct grandson of Ochei, the first born of Aghaeze.”

Answering a question, the General said himself and the former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, who showed prominent presence at the Aghaeze Family reunion are first cousins.

At the reunion family fellowship, which involved worship, praise and prayers to God for the Aghaeze family members worldwide, Pastor John Fejoku, delivered the sermon titled: “We need love in this family,” confirmed that the reunion meeting started in 1936, pointing out that it has been sustained by love.

He called on the family members not to harbor grudges, unforgiveness and other such vices that are antithetical to the cherished values of the Aghaeze Family. There should be love and respect for one another in this family,” Pastor Fejoku said.