CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA : IGBO COMMUNITY HOST GOVERNORS,OTHER DIGNITARIES AT THEIR MEGA NEW YAM FESTIVAL HOLDING IN LAGOS TOMORROW , OCTOBER 30TH

The Igbo Community Council of Ndieze and Chiefs in Lagos State,  have assured their numerous guests , Sons and daughters that they are fully set to host them tomorrow, October 30th, 2021 ,at their Mega Cultural Day and New Yam Festival.                

As it stands, all roads led to the Igbo community center, located at 17/19 Nwachukwu Drive, Okota, Lagos, tomorrow, as Igbos in Lagos celebrates their new yam festival October 30th, 2021.

Indeed the annual event is expected to be a gathering of political bigwigs , Egg heads from the Academics,  traditional leaders and cultural icons .     

 A roll call of some of the expected guests ,according to the organizers are the  Governors of  Lagos and Imo States, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Hope Uzodinma, Minister of Science and Technology,  Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Ambassador Chief Clifford Nzeruem,  Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola(Yayi),   Hon.Abiodun Ganiyu Johnson , Jude Idimugo,  Two Army Generals ( Names withheld) , Commander NPF Mopol 20, ACP  Muktar Garuba , Area Commander , Area  ‘D’ , Mushin, Divisional Police Officers in charge of  Ago and  Okota Divisions ,the Oba of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka  , amongst others.

According to the organizers, all plans have been concluded for the Igbo Community in Lagos State to mark their annual New Yam festival slated for 30th October, 2021, with the Lagos and Imo States Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Hope Uzodimma as Special Guests of Honour at the event.

It was learnt that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Solomon Adeola, Oluremi Tinubu including top Lagos State Government functionaries and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Group led by Alhaji Aminu Suleiman are expected at the event.   

The newly 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, which will be held at Igbo Community Centre at Nwachukwu Drive, Okota area of Lagos.

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. 

This was confirmed by the Igbo traditional leaders in Lagos, represented by Four respected Members of Igbo Community Council of  Ndieze in Diaspora,  namely  :  Eze Polycap Uhegbu , Eze Ndigbo in Ikorodu ; Eze Valentine Ezeugo Anyafebechi  ,  Eze Ndigbo in Ajeromi -Ifelodun LGA , Eze Apollos Chukwukadibia Umenwekwe , Eze Ndigbo in Oriade LCDA and Eze Peter Umeh JP, Eze Ndigbo in  Mushin.                                                                                         

They unison confirmed  that the festival is being organized by the Igbo Community, which is the parent body of all the Igbo associations in Lagos State under the able leadership of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State,  Eze Dr. Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu JP ,Igbo 1.

Eze Uhuegbu while clarifying the significance of the New Yam festival to Ndigbo, which is the reason it is being celebrated by the Igbos all over the world, 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.

For Eze Chukwukadibia ,  “The historical perspec­tive helped their forebears to assess their economic performance and also posi­tioned them to look forward to another year of prosperity.”

He also stated that the fes­tival helps to bring Igbo sons and daughters together to thank God for the farming season and to  teach Igbo children the culture and tradi­tion. 

On what should be expected at the event , Eze Valentine Ezeugo said thus : This is the major  New yam Festival event in Lagos and we promise that the event will linger long in our guests memories. It is all about culture and tradition.                                 

“Our forefa­thers specifically told us to continue with the tradition. So we have the responsibility to also teach our younger ones the same; some of our chil­dren are born and raised in the Diaspora and most of them do not have the oppor­tunity of being in Igbo land. So we must teach them our tradition, which as you know includes the Igbo language, our food, dance, clothes, masquerades etcetera”,Eze Valentine added. 

Eze Nwachukwu stated that the festival also affords the Igbo the opportunity to appraise Government policies and work to enhance them for better working relationship with the Lagos State Government for the betterment of Ndigbo in the State.

He explained that many Igbo sons and daughters within and outside the States will be coming to the event including the Chairman of traditional rulers in diaspora in Nigeria, Ezendigbo in Kano, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe , Eze Dr. Uche Egenti , who is the current Chairman,  Building, Road Research  Institute  Of  Nigeria and other traditional rulers across Nigeria.

There will be display of the Igbo cultural heritage like masquerades, dancing groups, while awards and honours will be given to those who have distinguished themselves in their various fields in the society.