By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

Chief Darlington Ifeanyi Okenwa has joined the distinguished club of Obosi traditional chieftaincy title-holders, following Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s conferment of a prestigious title on him.

Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III) of Obosi bestowed the prestigious traditional chieftaincy title, Igiligi Ogu Obosi, on Chief Okenwa when he celebrated his 15th Iwaji/Obiora festival at Obosi township stadium on October 24, 2026.

That class of title, which ranks next to Ndi-ichie Obosi title, is given to prominent Obosi natives, who have achieved distinctions in their careers, rendered services to Obosi town and Obosi natives, and are role models to the Obosi youth.

Chief Darlington Okenwa, a former banker, is a senior custom officer, who has given mentorship to countless lower-ranking custom officers to facilitate their rise in their profession.

And he has been deploying his financial resources and rallying the support of his well-heeled friends for the execution of infrastructural projects in Obosi. For example, he used his clout to raise a humongous amount of money for the renovation of the Obosi township stadium to make it suitable for the hosting of the 2023 Ito Ogbo Obosi festival.

More so, now, the mention of the name, Chief Darlington Ifeanyi Okenwa, evokes memories of his philanthropic deeds, which have lifted a great number of Obosi people out of the dungeon of poverty.

So today, not unexpectedly, a great number of Obosi natives look up to him for guidance, leadership, and financial support as he has become their role model owing to his sterling and glittering successful career, community service, mentorship of his junior colleagues, and his immeasurable philanthropic deeds.

His traditional chieftaincy title, Igiligi Ogu, means dews of war in English. And it is a snapshot of what he stands for, and an apt description of his admirable character traits.

Now, Obosi, a town of warriors, whose progenitor is Adike, is not levying or prosecuting wars over land, anymore; however, Chief Darlington Ifeanyi Okenwa, Igiligi Ogu Obosi, is levying war, single-handed, against infrastructural deficit and rot in Obosi.

And he is waging war against the economic hardship prevailing in his home town and beyond by giving financial empowerments to under-privileged people, sponsoring their acquisition of skills and learning of trades, and helping them to secure employments.

Chief Darlington Ifeanyi Okenwa, Igiligi Ogu Obosi, is, indeed, Obosi town’s dews of war. What a befitting traditional chieftaincy title for this dashing Obosi-born custom officer, who is a paragon of masculinity and handsomeness.

•Chiedu Uche Okoye, a poet and public affairs commentator, writes from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State, and can be reached via 08062220654.