Marriage and Family Life
Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua was first married in 1971 to Ingela Götting in Crivitz Germany and later to Maria in Udi Nigerian 1997. His marriages produced 6 wonderful children, 3 males and 3 females. Prof. Emea Okwara Arua was fondly called “Nwa Ndu” by his family and friends for surviving two serious accidents that saw him in hospital for many months; but above all, he was lovingly called Papa by family and many who knew him, because he was indeed, a father to all. He was the paradigm of a good father who instilled in his family the confidence to fight for what we believe in.
HRTH, Ezieogo, Ebube Dike Ekpudiogba Ofali Agwu III
Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua, alongside his position as a professor of Agricultural Economics,and his membership in the Men’s Christian Association of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Nsukka Parish, was also a strong proponent of the preservation of African tradition. In the course of his career in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was an administrative member of the Ikejimba Age Grade of Amaekpu, Ohafia, and served as its secretary for many years. He was also a member of the Nsukka Branches of the Ohafia Social Club, the Ohafia Improvement Union, and the Isiama and Amaekpu Development Unions, serving as their chairman in the course of his membership. Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua, long involved in the upliftment of his people, and made eligible for great responsibility by his lineage, naturally agreed, when the call came for his service, to become the traditional ruler of Amaekpu, Ohafia. Thus, on the 7th day of April, 1995, he was coronated, at the Okpocha Square of Amaekpu, Ohafia, as HRTH, Ezieogo, Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua - Ebube Dike Epkudiogba Ofali Agwu III.
His reign was notable for his recalibration of previous priorities of leadership. A tranquil man by nature, the establishment of constant peace in the community was his core mission. And this was exemplified, amongst other events, by the avoidance of certain bloodshed by his diplomatic easing of hostilities resulting after the mysterious death of an Amaekpu hunter held in police custody. Though he was inundated by court litigations after his coronation, he remained undeterred in his objective to establish peace and never resorted to strife or bloodletting. He condemned such acts even in the face of provocation, believing that a leader’s true power is illustrated by his ability to restrain, rather than abuse, his powers. When the lawsuits were eventually resolved in his favor, he would not permit his supporters to sound the traditional drum, the Ikoro, in jubilation. He did this to prevent further grievances; that peace might finally reign in an atmosphere of inclusion and togetherness.
In addition to his campaign for the maintenance of peace, HRTH, Ezieogo, Professor Dr. EmeaOkwaraArua, Ebube Dike EpkudiogbaOfali Agwu III, also introduced reforms in Age Grade ceremony procedureand goal prioritization. He instituted support for the Age Grades in actualizing their Uke-Naming and Igba Ota-Omu Ceremonies. This support facilitated the much needed development carried out by the Age Grades in the community. HRTH, Ezieogo Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua also ensured that projects proposed by the Age Grades held precise, logical relevance to the community, and initiated a maintenance culture that would ensure the continued service of completed structures and facilities to the people. HRTH, Ezieogo, Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua, Ebube Dike Epkudiogba Ofali Agwu III, was the first Ezieogo to recognize the service of the Town Crier to the community, and to honor his retirement with a gratuity. He was also the first professor to become Ezieogo in the history of Amaekpu, and Ohafia.
Conclusion
HRTH, Ezieogo, Professor Dr. Emea Okwara Arua, Ebube Dike Epkudiogba Ofali Agwu III, after a short period of severe illness, was taken into glory in Enugu, at 9:00 AM on May 15, 2018.
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