Nine Decades of Oron Union
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NINE DECADES OF ORON UNION ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE
May 23rd 1925
- Oron Union was founded led by a trio of Chief John Anwana Esin, Chief Ekpu Edubio Odoro, Okon Eyokunyi Isong along with 88 foundation members.
1933
- Moses E Mkpandiok became the first Oron man to receive financial support from Oron Union in pursuit of his education from Hope Waddel Training Institute, Calabar.
1935
- Ikot Ekpene Branch was established. It became the first branch of the Union outside Oro, with Dr. Esin A Esin as its 1st President.
1937
- Lagos Branch was formally inaugurated, becoming the 2nd branch of the Union outside Oro.
1942
- The historic meeting of Ibibio State Union Leaders with Oron Union Leaders took place at the old native court room in Urue Offong village, where Oro Leaders rejected the ploy for Oro to abandon Oron Union (founded in 1925) and join Ibibio State Union (founded in 1928)
- Organizational structure of the Union set up with the first Central Executive Committee instituted. Mr. Charlie Osukungudu became 1st President General and Chief Okung Ntofon Okung as 1st Secretary General, while E. H Emenyi became 1st Treasurer and Mfon A Eyo as the 1st Financial Secretary. Mr. Sam K. Okpo became 2nd Secretary General.
- Oron Union scholarship scheme instituted. Oro workers surrendered their one month salary for purpose of funding the scheme, in order to send Oro sons for training overseas.
- Mr. Oyokunyi O. Ita and Mr. Esin A Esin became first beneficiaries of Oron Union scholarship. Both left for United Kingdom to study Law and Medicine in 1942 and 1944 respectively.
1943
- Oro National Anthem, authored by Mr. Mfon A. Eyo (who later became Ahta Oro III) was adopted by Oro Conference held at Oruku.
1948
- Port Harcourt Branch established with Mr. Joe Edubio as its first President from 1948 – 1953.
1949
- Kaduna Branch formally inaugurated and was facilitated by Chief Philip E. Oyobio who became the first President of the branch.
1951
- Mr. Sam K. Okpo and Mr. Efiong I. Nkereuwen became the second beneficiaries of Oro Union scholarship scheme.
1955
- Crises within Oron Union degenerated to a worrisome level through 1962. The crises led to Oron Union being taken to court over the management of the scholarship fund.
1961
- Enugu Branch of Oron Union, led by Chapter President Rev. Etim J Ndekhedehe organized a revival meeting at Oron courtesy of Oro patriots namely, Ulo Nkponuko Enyenihi, Okon Edet Uya, Okon Odukwo Bassey, Sunday Mathew Essang, Iyanam Ukwa Iyanam, A. E. H Emenyi, then students studying at the University of Ibadan.
- A Revival Working Committee set up at the special conference with aim to resurrect Oron Union. Committee members included Rev. Etim J Ndekhedehe as Chairman, Mr. Iyanam U. Iyanam as Secretary General and Chief S. B Onobo as Treasurer.
1962
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe elected President General Oron Union with Mr. Iyanan U. Iyanam as the Secretary General at the end of a successful Oron Union revival conference.
- First Edition of the Voice of Oro Magazine published with Mr. Edet Asuquo Anwana as Editor-in-Chief. • Warri Branch formally inaugurated.
1963 – 1966
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe returned unopposed as President General Oron Union.
1965
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe presided over the Annual Conference held at Nsie (Afaha Ebughu), in the present day Okobo LGA. • Oron Union effort to hand over Methodist Hospital, Oron to government commenced in earnest.
- Six Oron sons: Effiong E. Eneyo, Edet Umo Edet, E O. Akaiso, Edet Ofose Udo and Edet A. Uno benefited from Oron Union revolving loan Scholarship of sixty pounds (60) each per year.
1966
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe returned as President General at Annual Conference held in Udung Uko Eyotai (Afaha Okpo), in the present day Udung Uko LGA. • Public Order Decree promulgated by the Military Government. A set back to Oron Union and similar cultural activities.
1967 – 1972
- Oron Union suffers another set-back. No Union activities due to civil war and Public Order Decree by Military Administration banning all Union activities in the Country.
1973
- Second effort to once again revive Oron Union. Name change to Oron Development Union adopted to evade the snare of the Public Order Decree. • Mr. Edet O. Ita, one of the revivalist, died through an auto accident at the vicinity of ODU Conference near the present day Methodist Senior Science School, Oron.
1974
- HRH Ahta Okon E. Isong enthroned as the 1st Ahta Oro and Paramount Ruler of Oron.
- Annual Conference held in Uya Oro (Afaha Ibighi), present-day Oron LGA.
1975
- Annual Conference held in Ukuko (Afaha Ibighi), in the present-day Urueoffong/Oruku LGA.
- Civic Center Project Implementation Committee set up with Prof. Okon Edet Uya appointed its Chairman.
1976 – 1977
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe elected President General once again at the Annual Conference held in Udonim Oro (Afaha Ubodung) in Oruko. • Oron Civic Center property acquired from Late Chief Akan Uwe Otoyo of Uya Oro. Arch. Maurice Archibong of Calabar contracted to design the structure for Oron Civic Center.
- December 26th, HRH Chief O.E. Isong, Ahta Oro I and Paramount Ruler of Oro laid the foundation stone of Oron Civic Center under the professional supervision of Engr. Okon Jacob Okon. Project completed on record with an initial cost of N250,000.00
- The Union for the first time, received regular grants from the Local Government to compliment its funding.
1977
- Rev. Etim J. Ndekhedehe presided over the Annual Conference held at MTTC, Oron (now Methodist Senior Science School.) • Constitution amendment approved for Clans (Afaha) to come in as Units of Oron Development Union.
1978 – 1980
- Major Ita Essang, Rtd, elected President General for the first time. Two Secondary Schools built by Oron Union in Enwang and Nsie.
1980
- Mr. Efiong R. Isang became President General of the Union with Mr. Nyong I. Nkereuwem as the Secretary General • Home Branch of Oron Development Union established.
1981
- Mr. Nyong I. Nkereuwem elected President General with Engr. Dr. Etim U. Uye as the Secretary General.
- Abuja Branch inaugurated with Mr. Asuquo Ofuko as its first President from 1981 – 1983 and Mr. Asuquo Okpoyo as Secretary.
1982 – 1984
- Mr. Okon B. Etienam elected President General with Engr. Dr. Etim U. Uye returned as Secretary General for the second time.
- Afiakeyit competition introduced as an annual activity of the Union with trophy donated by the President General Mr. Okon B. Etienam.
1984 – 1986
- Chief Okon Abia-Basseey elected President General with Mr. Edet O. Akaiso as the Secretary General.
1985
- HRH Ahta Otoyo U. Akan enthroned as Ahta Oro II and Paramount Ruler of Oron.
- Benin Branch established with Mr. Edet Anwana as its first President.
- Abak Branch inaugurated.
1986
- Voice of Oro Magazine (Vol. 1, No. 3) published with Mr. Bendy Bassey Bassey serving as the Editor-in-Chief.
1986 – 1990
- Chief Ambe Bassey elected President General with Mr. Efiong Edunam and later Mr. Asuquo Esu as the Secretary General. • Uyo Branch of ODU established.
1990 – 1992.
- DR.(Major) Ita Essang. Rtd, took over as President General with Mr. Kingsley Bassey Eyo Abia as the Secretary General.
1992 -1994
- Engr. Sunday U. Bassey elected President General with Mr. Emenyi Afiakurue as Secretary General.
1993
- Oron Development Union (USA) formally inaugurated in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
1994 – 1996
- Dr. Okon M. Amana elected President General with Mr. Benji Ekpenyong and later Mr. Okon D. Eneminyi and Chief Okon B. Etim as Secretary General, successively.
1996
- HRH Ahta Mfon Afahaeme Eyo enthroned as Ahta Oro III and Paramount Ruler of Oron.
1996 – 2000
- Chief Esin B. Nkereuwem elected President General with Mr. Kaktehene Uno as Secretary General. Both served in their respective capacity till 1999.
2000 – 2004
- Engr. Okon E. Efretuei elected President General with Engr. Okon E. Osung as Secretary General.
- Oron Development Union marked its 75th Anniversary Celebration at Oron Sports Stadium with a resolution to revert to its original name: ORON UNION.
- 75th Anniversary Edition of Voice of Oro Magazine published with Mrs. Ikwo O. Amana as Editor-In-Chief.
2001
- Enugu Branch of Oron Union revived on 16th December.
2003
- Voice of Oro Magazine, 2003 Edition published with Dr. Peter Esuh as the Editor-In-Chief.
2004 – 2006
- Chief (Dr.) Major Ita Essang, Rtd. Became the President General for the 3rd time with Chief Edet N. Ekeng as the Secretary General and later Prince Edet E. Okon as Ag. Secretary General
2006
- HRH Ahta Inyang Efiong Nyong coroneted Ahta Oro IV and Paramount Ruler Of Oron on August 26th 2006.
2006 – 2009
- Chief Okon I. Medekong elected President General and Chief K.B.E. Abia and later Prince Bassey I. E. Isong as Secretary General.
2009
- HRH Ahta Etim Ati Okpo coroneted Ahta Oro V and Paramount Ruler of Oron on August 29th 2009.
- Present. Chief(Barr.) Okon D. Okon elected President General with Elder Dr. Inyang Ating as Secretary General.
- Conference affirmed that only Ahta Oro in Council and Oron Union remained the official mouthpiece of Oro people on political, economic and social issues. • Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited entered MoU with Oron Union to fund the construction of perimeter fencing/gate house at Oro Civic Center, Oron.
2010
- 85th Anniversary Celebration of Oron Union marked at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Cathedral of the Cross.
- 85th Anniversary Tree planted by HRH Ahta Etim Ati Okpo, Ahta Oro V, assisted by HRH Ofong Efiong R. Amasi (Paramount Ruler of Urueoffong/Oruko LGA) and HRH Ofong Odiong Akan (Paramount Ruler of Oron LGA)
- Oron Union Elders Council inaugurated. • Construction of perimeter fencing/gate house project at Civic Center completed and commissioned.
- Voice of Oro 2010 Edition published
- Oro Nation Summit with the theme “Oro Ethnic Nationality, Self-Actualization in the Political Continuum of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria” convened on December 3rd and 4th, where Oro resolved unequivocally to endorse the production of a Governor in 2015.
2011
- Oron Union Education/Scholarship Committee inaugurated with Chief Okon U. Bassey as Chairman and Sir Paul O.E. Ukoh as Secretary.
- Oron Technical Committee on Oil and Gas also inaugurated with Chief (Engr.) Etim E. Bassey as Chairman.
2012
- Oron Union organized a reception in honor of Prof. Ita O Bassey Ewa on his appointment as the Nigerian Federal Minister of Science & Technology.
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