Historical Background of the Age Grade: The Mezie Age Grade of Amawbia was formed after the Nigerian-Biafra Civil War which lasted from July, 1967 to December, 1970. It is the 14th out of the 23 Age Grades formed in Amawbia, both before and after the Civil War, starting from Ulomma Age Grade, 1854 – 1859, to Atu Age Grade 1924 – 1928, vide record compiled by the Late Nze B. E. Nwana, Patron of Okokpa, Amawbia and former President – General of Amawbia Town Union.
The Mezie Age Grade comprises of all male citizens of Amawbia born between the year 1929-1933, the aims and objectives of forming the Mezie Age Grade are as follows:-
- To seek and cater for the welfare, happiness and progress of the Age Grade.
- To faster the spirit of love, mutual respect, comradeship and solidarity among members of the Age Grade.
- To instill and promote the spirit of responsible citizenship, patriotism and love for their fatherland in members of the Age Grade.
- To inculcate in members of the Age Grade an exemplary and enviable standard of good behaviours, moral rectitude, honesty and personal industry thereby earning respect for the Age Grade.
- To encourage respect for and loyalty to constituted authority, and to spearhead the social and economic development of Amawbia.
- To uphold truth at all times and to promote peace and unity in Amawbia.
Initially, some people who call themselves “Born Again Christians” and were supposed to be members of Mezie Age Grade, did not care to register as members, either because they did not want to pay the token registration fee of N50 or that their religion forbids them from joining any other organization or association. Such fanatic religious believe is not peculiar to Mezie Age Grade alone but apply to other Age Grades in Amawbia.
However, SECTION IV, Sub-Section 8 (b) headed “Age Grade” in the Constitution of Amawbia Town Union, 1987 stipulates as follows:- it shall be compulsory for every Amawbia male citizens to belong to an Age Grade. The Age Grade shall work towards the achievement of the Aims and Objectives of the Union by:-
- Adequate organization and disciplinary control of its members.
- Carrying out such assignment as may be authorized by the Union from time to time.
- Isi-Isiakpu shall regulate the Age Span and mode of operation of all Age Grades.
It is important to note that this quote section of Amawbia Town Union 1987 Constitution is in line with the Aims and Objectives of Mezie Age Grade, Amawbia, the antics of our religious bigots notwithstanding.
Membership list of the Age Grade: It will be observed from the attached membership list, that the number of Mezie Age Grade members both before it was formed and after those who joined it later on was 113 (One Hundred and Thirteen). Out of the whole lot, from number 1 – 32 members are still alive while from number 33 – 113 have died. May their souls rest in perfect peace, Amen.
Activities both documented: Before 1976 Amawbia had no comfortable place to hold its meetings. Town Union meetings and “IZU” Amawbia were held under the shade of an Old Fig Tree situated at the Eziokpaligwe Square. The big protruding roots of this age-long fig tree served as seats during the meetings. During the raining season, the foliage could not shelter the participants. The Mezie Age Grade noticed this problem and used its spirit of philanthropy to erect a Grand Stand at Eziokpaligwe square. This Grand Stand was completed and handed over to Amawbia Town Union on 25th December, 1976. Even till today that Amawbia Town Hall has been built, the Mezie Age Grade Stand is still being used especially when the Town Hall is occupied with other activities. It is this Grand stand that accommodates people, including VIPs whenever out-door activities are performed at the Eziokpaligwe square.
Mezie Age Grade also promotes cultural activities. The Age Grade learnt a Dance called Odenigbo Dance in 1976, this Dance had four masquerades, the Obuibu, the Nne-Nmonwu, the Osi-Asili, and the Agbogho-Nmonwu.
These four masquerades have special attributes. The Obu-Ibu was decorated with mirrors that reflect objects as it moves, horse-rider sun and moon as well as coloured pieces of cloth. All these materials it carries on its head. Hence the name Obu-ibu, meaning ‘Load Carriers’, as it moves from one end of Eziokpaligwe Square to another, majestically, the women spectators hail it with a very loud ovation.
The next masquerade is the Nne-nmanwu, the mother of the masquerades. As a mother she was queenly dressed and sat down at a convenient place watching the activities of her children.
The Osi-Asili is a male masquerade. It’s work is to move about from one corner of the square to another, telling people funny stories and presenting some false kola-nut to them to break.
Perhaps it is the Agbogho-Nmonwu of all the other masquerades that kept the other masquerades that kept the whole atmosphere alive. Being a female masquerade it displayed all women attributes and danced with vitality, agility and enthusiasm, so that the spectators rushed out from all the nooks and corners of Eziokpaligwe square and sprayed various sums of money on her.
This dance was exhibited by the Mezie Age Grade on 25th December 1976 at Eziokpaligwe Square. Another Cultural display by the Age Grade, was the outing ceremony of the Famous Ijele Cultural Dance exhibited by the Enugu Branch of Mezie Age Grade at Police College Enugu, on Easter Monday 8th April, 1985.
The importance of all these Mezie Age Grade Dances and exhibitions is that they thrilled both the spectators during the occasion, and helped in increasing the revenue based of Amawbia Town Union.
It is worthy to note that in the year 2009, it was observed that most of the plastic chairs at Eziokpaligwe Town Hall were broken down. This State of Affairs resulted in people who attended meetings and functions at the Hall to continue standing up during the duration of such meetings and functions, the Town Union had no money to buy new chairs at that time, it became necessary to seek for help from somewhere. The central council of Amawbia Town Union, therefore told the then Secretary-General of the Town Union, Mr. Dijeh, to make a passionate appeal to all the Age Grades and organizations in Amawbia, asking each of them to buy five new plastic chairs to replace the broken ones in the Town Hall. The Secretary-General carried out the instruction as directed.
It was Mezie Age Grade, the Igwebuike Age Grade and two other Age Grades only, that bought and presented these required chairs to the Central Council, despite repeated requests on these other Age Grades and organizations which fell on deaf ears. From the above explanation it will be seen that Mezie Age Grade is interested in the infrastructural work of the Town Union and should be praised for its acts of magnanimity.
Pictures and Videos: Mezie Age Grade may likely have pictures and video coverage of its activities and ceremonies, but none is available right now. The custodians of such records are likely to be the Late Emmanuel Onuorah Chiedozie or Mr. Raphael Okeke, who was the former Chairman of Mezie Age Grade. Unfortunately, Mr. Okeke is presently abroad and cannot, therefore, supply the needed materials.
We are however, attaching a copy of the group photograph taken by a few members of the Age Grade during their End of year party held on 11th December, 2011.
Other Information that will help the image of the Age Grade: The Mezie Age Grade by nature is made up of self-made persons. By dint of hard work many of them rose to all shades of human endeavour producing men of honour like Late Odogwu Oranekwulu Osakwe and Odogwu Sir M. S. C. Okoye. In the education sector it has produced Nze Christopher Odumodu, the proprietor of Krosa Model Schools and Colleges as well as Late Samuel Obi, the proprietor of Unique Commercial Comprehensive School, Amawbia. In the medicine sector it has produced Professor ABC Nworah and in the secretarial sector Mr. Edwin Dijeh who served Amawbia Town Union meritoriously for more than ten years both as Assistant-Secretary-General and Secretary-General while in the security sector it produced the Late Emmanuel Onuora Chiedozie, the former vigilante boss who during his life time helped to prevent crimes in Amawbia.
Mr. E. A. Dijeh Odogwu Sir M.S.C. Okoye
(Treasurer) Onwa Amawbia (Chairman)
Mezie Age Grade, Amawbia Mezie Age Grade, Amawbia
LIST OF MEMBERS OF MEZIE STILL ALIVE
- ODOGWU SIR, M.S.C OKOYE
- BENJAMIN OKONKWO
- EMMANUEL E. NWANA
- NWACHUKWU GBOGU
- RICHARD OKONKWO
- EDWIN A. DIJEH
- EPHRAIM OKOYE
- THOMAS OKOYE
- EBELE NWOKOYE
- NZE, ENGR. CHRISTOPHER
- RUEBEN OGU
- SYLVESTER ANIEKIE
- BENDICT AGHANYA
- ALPHONSUS AGHANYA
- CHRISTIAN OBI
- SIR, ABC NWORAH
- OBMNEME E.AGHANYA (RTD)
- ARIZE OBIAKOR
- RAPHAEL E.C OKEKE
- SAMUEL EKEEMEZIZ
- NWONUEGBUNE NZEAMALU
- GODFREY 1. ONUORAH
- GILBERT NWOKOYE
- PATRICK NWOKOYE
- DAVID C. OKAFOR (RTD)
- JOHN ONWUASOANYA
- NEBEMGBEDE MOGONU
- RAYMOND NWOKOYE
- CHIKE ORIELI
- JOSEPH C.DIJEH
- EMMANUEL NWOKAFOR
- SUNDAY AJULU
