All Is Now Set For Igbo Community New Yam Festival On Saturday

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

All is now set for the Igbo Community’s annual New Yam festival in Lagos State slated for Saturday 30th October, 2021, with some dignitaries already arriving Lagos from different states to make the event unique and historic.

P.M.EXPRESS confirmed that so many activities have been lined up, which include Friday gala night at the Igbo Community Centre at Nwachukwu Drive, Okota area of Lagos State.

The gala night is being organized to host the dignitaries, who are coming from various states by the Igbo traditional leader known as Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu.

The event is expected to be attended by the Governors of Lagos and Imo States, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Some of the Igbo traditional leaders from various Local Government Areas in Lagos State spoke on the coming event and expectations. 

Ezendigbo in Ikorodu Local Government and Secretary of traditional rulers in Diaspora Lagos State, Eze Polycap Uhegbu, stated there will be display of Igbo cultural heritage such as dances, masquerades and other values that Igbo are known for. He said the two Governors are expected to attend including top government officials within and outside Lagos State.

In the same vein, Ezendigbo in Ajeromi, Eze Valentine Anyalebechi, stated that the event will be unique because there will be a gala night a day before the event, which will afford the dignitaries the opportunity to Interact with Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu. He explained that people from all walks of life will attend the event, which will afford the Igbo children the chance to learn more about Igbo culture.

Eze Chukwukadibe Umenweke of Oriada, on his part, stated the event will not only showcase Igbo cultural heritage but will provide the opportunity to interact with other ethnic groups including the Yorubas, Hausas and other tribes, which will enable all the ethnic groups to have better understanding and live in peace and harmony in Lagos State.

The theme of this year’s event is “Making Way For Peace and Unity of Ndigbo in Nigeria” under the distinguished Chairmanship of Dr. Nnabuihe Chigozie Bright of the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies of the University of Lagos, who is also the Guest Speaker for the day.  

Other dignitaries billed to attend the event are the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, Senators Solomon Adeola and Oluremi Tinubu, including top Lagos State Government functionaries and the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Groups.

The new elected State Chairman of the APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and various Chairmen of the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State are all expected to attend the annual event.

This was confirmed by the Igbo traditional leader, Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, who said that the festival is being organized by the Igbo Community, which is the parent body of all the Igbo associations in Lagos State under his leadership.

Eze Nwachukwu stated the significance of the New Yam festival to Ndigbo, which is the reason it is being celebrated by the Igbos all over the world.He stated that the festival has its origin from the forefathers of Ndigbo, who sustained eating yam in the time of lack and maintained that yam remained the chief crop for Igbo people.