Wednesday, 11th day of May, 2022 was a remarkable day in Owerri as National Museum Owerri celebrated International Day of Monuments and Sites which was marked globally on the 18th of April.
The Celebration started with a visit to Nworie Stream (isi mmiri Nworie), a Heritage Site in Owerri, Imo State. Nworie stream is the source of domestic water to the Owerri people, home to rare aquatic life and flora.
On arrival at the site, the custodian of the site (Nworie Priest) conducted the group made up of the Curator, Management and staff of the Museum, the chairman of the occasion, the guest lecturer, students of the tertiary Institution and other guests on tour of the Site. He explained that Nworie river has its source in Owerri, flows through River State and eventually emptied its contents in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to him, the goddess of the stream is a peaceful entity but punishes those who disobey the rules of the stream. women for instance, are not allowed to visit the stream on Orie market day and when they are on their menstrual period.
He further said that Urashi river (the male counterpart of Nworie) from Rivers State visits Nworie every seven years to renew their conjugal vow.
After the tour, the guests came back to the
Museum, venue of the celebration, where lecture on the theme of the year’s celebration: Heritage and Climate was presented by Dr Sir Uche Opara, a lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies,
Alvan Ikowu Federal College of Education, Owerri.
Dr. Opara took time to explain the concept of climate, heritage, their relationship to Monuments and sites; and benefits to humanity.
Earlier in the day, the address of Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, Director General NCMM was read by the Curator, Mrs Carol Agbamuche.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief (Sir) Innocent Igwe, former Chairman NUJ, Imo State commended the Commission for maintaining the Monuments and Sites in the country and encouraged the guests to take time out to visit a site.
