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When citizens are appointed to prominent positions, people rush to know their roots. The major appointments of Friday, October 24, 2025, were no exceptions. The military served meticulous dossiers: parents, wives, children, travels, qualifications, training, and degrees. Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the 23rd Chief of Air Staff, popped up like a supernova in a cosmic carnival destined to renew a dormant planet.
“He hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.” Folks of Agbaja extraction (Udi/Ezeagụ LGAs mostly) identified as “Udi”—a consequential colonial division. Udi town was the administrative capital of the East before colonial colliery took the government station and its airfield down to the valleys of Udi Hills. Enugu emerged. Coal City.
When Aneke’s root narrowed to Ụmụaga town, the gasp was loud. Although Aneke had been known in the area, encouraging youths to consider careers in the military setups, the name, rank, and town of the megastar with a brilliant resume remained intriguing. To emerge as the first Southeasterner to hold such a lofty position is no tobacco chaff.
So, where is Ụmụaga? The town nestles on the southern end of Udi LGA. General access is off Nkwọ Agụ market/Udi technical college on old Enugu-Onitsha highway, through Sullivan Chime-macadamized main road. The two thoroughfares geolocate Ụmụaga. The southern flank is washed by Oji River, which powered the East with hydrothermal electricity. Tentatively, one can sail from Ụmụaga to the Atlantic.
Called “Ụmụaga Obodoeze” by natives, it is one of eight communities in Udi South. According to legend, forefather Neke had seven sons, collectively called Umuneke (children of Neke). The last son, Aga, begot sons who founded villages of Ụmụaga and the eight town, Nāchị.
Sidebar: The singular form of ‘umu’ (children) is ‘nwa’ (child). In fast-paced dialects, ‘nwa’ becomes ‘wa’—as in some Abia, Enugu, and Ikwere parlances. Similarly, ‘w’ fades. So, ‘nwa Neke’ (son of Neke) becomes “a’Neke,” as in “Yar’Adua” but written as ‘Aneke.’
Someone asked succinctly: What is in this for Ụmụaga? By magnifying Ụmụaga, AVM Aneke is a shining light that reveals human potentials, vast land resources, best palm wine (‘anekeachime’), food delicacies, and its vibrant cultural heritage: ‘Iheaneke’ masquerade festival, youth-fascinating ‘Okomọyọ,’ new yam festival (‘Ajụ’), and end-of-year entertainments, especially inter-village soccer sponsored by Umuaga Diaspora Union—the community project powerhouse.
AVM Aneke could leave an indelible mark by establishing a permanent and prestigious presence of the air force in the southeast. The civil aviation activities at Akanu Ibiam International Airport should not constrain the air force base and the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS). Such an institution deserves ample open space.
IHFS should soar up the hills, where aviation began in colonial Southern Nigeria. Thus, during recruitment exercises into military establishments, there will be less complaints about the apathy of some sections of Nigerian youths. This will be an important yield from his appointment to the pinnacle of Nigerian Air Force.
Good deeds follow good news. Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke has generated excitement. The young ones will aspire to be like him. They cannot all be air vice marshals. True: they must aspire to be marshals—marshal mechanics, marshal managers, marshal mentors and mentees… even marshal politicians. In all professions, excellence comes with hard work, honesty, humanity, and humility.
M.O. ENE
@OkaaMoe
Thursday, October 30, 2025
