Omu Martha: Nze Omu, the Okpanam Sacred Staff of Authority Passed to Successor
By Emeka Esogbue
The revered Nze Omu, the traditional staff and symbol of authority of Okpanam, which was held in trust following the passing of the legendary Omu Martha Dunkwu, has been successfully transferred to the newly enthroned Omu of Okpanam.
According to a report by Patrick Ochei, publisher of Anioma Trust and former Media Assistant to the late Omu, the Nze had been under the strict, dutiful custody of Dr. Afamefuna Dunkwu, the son of the late Omu. For two years, Dr. Dunkwu bore the profound traditional responsibility of safeguarding this sacred object, which symbolizes the absolute power and spiritual essence of the Okpanam Omuship.
With the Nze now officially transferred to the substantive occupant of the throne, Dr. Afamefuna Dunkwu has fulfilled his traditional obligation and is now culturally absolved of the custodial responsibility.
The late Omu Martha Dunkwu was a towering, highly respected female traditional leader, cultural advocate, media practitioner, and champion of community development. Hailing from Okpanam in Delta State, Nigeria, her influence cut across boundaries, earning her the revered titles of Omu of Okpanam, Omu Anioma, and eventually Nneoha ("Mother Without Borders").
Before ascending the throne, she acquired professional training both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, blending Western education with deep-rooted African values. She built a formidable reputation as a media professional and public relations expert, skills she later deployed to project the Anioma culture to the world.
Passionate about women's empowerment and girl-child education, she established the Obi Martha Dunkwu Foundation, which continues to provide indigent girls with academic scholarships, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
During her historic tenure, Omu Martha Dunkwu single-handedly modernized and elevated the profile of the ancient Omu institution. She became a vocal advocate for the revival of female traditional leadership, successfully inspiring several Anioma communities to re-enthrone Omus in their respective domains. She firmly believed that women are indispensable pillars of governance, peacebuilding, and grassroots development.
She was crowned as the Omu of Okpanam on January 26, 2002, cementing her role as a traditional leader and the custodian of women’s affairs in the community. In 2010, she was recognized and elevated to the status of Omu Anioma, expanding her leadership and cultural jurisdiction across the entire Anioma nation in Delta State.
Omu Martha Dunkwu peacefully passed away on February 16, 2024, following a brief illness, drawing the curtain on more than two decades of an impactful, glorious reign. Her transition was widely mourned across Delta State, the entire Anioma nation, and by Nigerians in the diaspora who recognized her as a peerless cultural ambassador.
With the successful transfer of the Nze Omu, the people of Okpanam not only honour her memory but seamlessly step into a new chapter of traditional leadership.
Emeka Esogbue, writer and former Research Assistant to Omu Martha, writes from Lagos, Nigeria
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