CELEBRATING LEGENDARY CRAFTSMANSHIP: IMO STATE HONOURS NONAGENARIAN BICYCLE REPAIRER AS SYMBOL OF VOCATIONAL PRIDE
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By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
In a deeply moving ceremony held in Umuawoka, Umuowa, Ngor Okpala LGA, the Imo State Orientation Agency paid glowing tribute to 95-year-old bicycle technician, Mr. Festus Okere — popularly called “Opem Obi” — for his lifelong commitment to skilled craftsmanship. He received a formal award of recognition and a ₦100,000 cash gift from the state government in appreciation of his unwavering dedication to the bicycle repair trade spanning over seven decades.
Leading the state delegation was the Director-General of the Imo Orientation Agency, Dr. Ethelbert Okere, who described Mr. Okere as an enduring symbol of self-reliance and vocational pride. He expressed concern over the diminishing enthusiasm among young people for hands-on trades, warning that the dwindling number of artisans poses a silent but growing threat to Nigeria’s socio-economic fabric.
“Mr. Okere is a national lesson in dignity of labour,” Dr. Okere remarked. “Since 1951, he has depended on no one — just the strength of his hands, the integrity of his work, and the value of skill. He has lived with honour and raised a generation. This is the kind of example our youths must look up to.”
He further revealed that the recognition of Mr. Okere is part of a broader statewide initiative to spotlight and celebrate local icons of vocational discipline and resilience — a campaign intended to reposition skills acquisition as a powerful tool for economic independence.
Also present at the event was the Chairperson of Ngor Okpala LGA, Hon. Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, who praised the effort, describing it as an innovative step toward building a future grounded in practical empowerment. According to her, “While degrees are great, skills are essential. Mr. Okere has proved that vocational talent is an enduring treasure.”
Traditional support for the initiative came from His Royal Highness, Eze Emereuwaonu Njoku of Nguru Umuowa Autonomous Community, who attended the event alongside his Chief of Staff, Sir Sunny Ndukwu. The monarch lauded the honouree as a pillar of the community and a rare example of noble character forged through hard work.
“Mr. Okere built a life, not with entitlement, but with tools,” Eze Njoku said. “He gave meaning to the phrase ‘work is worship’. We need to return to such values.”
Responding to the accolades with visible emotion, Mr. Okere reminisced about beginning his bicycle repair journey in 1951. He shared how the skill enabled him to provide for his family, educate his six children, and live with dignity — even into his 90s. His message to Nigerian youth was direct and heartfelt: “Don’t waste time chasing shortcuts. Acquire a skill. With your own two hands, you can shape your destiny.”
The ceremony, simple yet symbolic, has ignited state-wide conversations on the urgent need to reinvigorate vocational training among Nigeria’s youth. As Imo State takes steps to honour its unsung heroes of craftsmanship, the legacy of Mr. Festus Okere stands tall — reminding the nation that skill, not circumstance, often defines a man’s journey.
