By Cyprian Evele, Onitsha

The Anambra state Commissioner for culture, entertainment and tourism, Don Onyenji, has attacked unbelievers of Igbo new yam festival, who describe it as being sin and fetish.

Reacting, during the new yam festival of his Akwukwu community, Idemili South Local Government Area, he reiterated that there is no iota of truth in what they said stating that the new yam festival is one of the rich cultural heritages of the Igbo race.

“It is our culture, time to thank God for the abundant harvest and for  guidance and protection during next season farming for bumper harvest. During this period also it calls for blessing from God on us and the land..The new yam festival is being observed mostly from August to September after which we plant for next season.

“In some communities it is called Ifejioku, Ilo Mmuo, and so on.So it is not fetish and whoever that says it is sin or fetish may not even know the name of his father.. Such a person should be taken to a psychiatric hospital,” he fumed.

On farming he stressed the need for all especially the youths to go into farming adding that it is a lucrative business and major means of fighting hunger in the land, saying, “We have yam barns and in those days the rich is measured by the number of yam barns he has”.

He advised all to emulate Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s action by going into agriculture stating that the governor has given out incentives to the people to assist them embark on farming even if it is on a small scale just to feed himself if he can’t go commercial.

He commended the President General of his community, Chief Udoka Ejiako who Presided over the new yam festival on behalf of the community in the absence of the monarch.

Earlier in his speech while cutting the new yam, the PG, said it was inherited from their forefathers adding that it is an age long cultural heritage  that will never go into extinction.

According to the PG during this period of the new yam festival there is no enmity among the people, stating, ” We prepare ourselves for this period to be on good terms with our brothers and sisters. There Will be no enemy. 

“Yam is the Chief of all crops and it is worshipped like deity. After the new yam we embark on next season farming . Tradition is dynamic and as such can not go into extinction. After my cutting the new yam the oldest man in the community will follow suit by doing the same before the entire community,” he disclosed further.

He advised those who believe that the new yam festival is sin and fetish to  repent adding that there is no way they will condemn yam which God made to be bigger when l cultivated, to be sin. 

Also the youth leader in the community, Peter Anamchukwu, said the new yam festival is inherited from their forefathers and can’t go into extinction.

“We inherited it from our forefathers and it is not fetish as believed in some quarters. It is a cultural festival of Igbo race,,, he explained.

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki 

The agrarian community of Nguzu Edda,  Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State has concluded its new yam festival ceremonies with a call on their people to sustain the prevailing peace in the area.

Leader of Edda Progressive Union, Calabar branch, Chief Collins Okorie Udu explained that the ceremony is the grand finale of their new yam festival celebrations, which is called ‘Igba nzu’.

 He said that apart from the merriment of the occasion, the celebration has remained a rallying point for unity among his people. 

“This ceremony was handed over to us by our forefathers. It has continued from generation to generation. It’s always peaceful. And the Nguzu man is known for peace”, he said.

Okorie,  Chief Executive Officer , MCRICH  Ventures Ltd enjoined his people to give more attention and priority to farming, noting that it is the solution to the harsh economic conditions in Nigeria.

“As you can see, I am at home celebrating our new yam festival with my people. It’s time to share with one another, the season of reunion. We come together as a people, appraising how the season has been. Above all we use the occasion to give thanks to God for life, for good harvest and pray together for better harvest in the next season”, he said.

He explained that, “My people are peace loving. Even our sons and daughters who are abroad are doing this same celebration wherever they are. Even at home here, you noticed that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru was at this year’s festival ably represented. That’s very good of him, to show interest in the cultural advancement of the State”.

He applauded the Governor for what he described as a show of commitment to the needs of the people and assured him that his Edda people would remain behind his administration.

From Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu 

The governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, on Tuesday, joined the people of the state in commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the state’s creation, saying that his administration was also getting ready to celebrate the 115th anniversary of Enugu city as a pre-eminent centre of history, commerce, and administration.

He paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the state, reiterating his administration’s determination to hasten their lofty dreams to fruition.

Speaking at the ceremony organised by the Enugu State Development Association, ESDA, in the state’s capital to mark the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the state on August 27, 1991, Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, said his administration was determined to bequeath a state where unprecedented development, social justice, and equal opportunity reign.

The governor said, “As we commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the creation of Enugu State, I congratulate Ndi Enugu and enjoin them to always take pride in its long and illustrious history. Enugu State may rightly be described as 33 years old as a formal state. Yet, its history stretches farther back.

“The history of Enugu is very much the history of Nigeria’s evolution from pre-amalgamation, when the discovery of coal in Enugu, in 1909, became a watershed moment for the then fledgling Southern and Northern Protectorates.

“So, today is an opportunity to recall the sacrifice of our founding fathers, for whom the creation of our dear state was a lifelong project. We honour their steadfast commitment, not just in words, but by our bold actions aimed at enthroning a new socio-economic order consistent with the dreams that birthed Enugu State.

“We carry in our hearts the fire of the dreams of the titans whose struggles helped make Enugu the cosmopolitan state that it is today.

“Indeed, we recall as well the sacrifice of our forebears whose sweat and toil built the coal mines from where much of the wealth that oiled the wheel of development of our dear nation was derived. Let us be inspired by their resilience and sacrifice.

“In November, we would be celebrating the 115th anniversary of Enugu as a pre-eminent centre of history, commerce and administration. The pride that Enugu State’s history inspires should never seem like a false dawn.

“Today serves as yet another reminder that we carry the weight of history and the people’s expectations, which could be lessened only through sustained delivery of people-centred governance. It is a cause to which I am wholly committed. 

“Together we can make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and a place where basic utilities can truly be taken for granted. We are actually ticking all the boxes – from public water supply to quality public education and expanding the primary healthcare system.”

Calling for optimism, Mbah assured, “The dreams of Enugu’s founding fathers are not dreams betrayed. We have an absolute fidelity to those dreams, and to our pledge to bequeath a society of which the generations yet unborn will always be proud.

“So, let optimism blossom where cynicism once reigned, for we are on the cusp of a renaissance.”

In his welcome address, the President-General of ESDA, HRH Igwe Ezeudo Abel Nwobodo, paid tribute to the founding fathers and leaders of the state from inception till date, lauded Mbah transforming dreams to reality at great speed.

“We are indeed particularly grateful to God for our amiable, capable, indefectible, and quintessential governor, whose mantra, ‘Tomorrow is here’, is a manifestation of fulfilment of the dreams of our founding fathers, who saw a greater tomorrow ahead of them,” the elder statesman said.

In his remark, the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, said Governor Mbah was divinely prepared and preserved to lead Enugu into the long-awaited development and prosperity.

Asadu also stressed the need to educate the younger ones on Enugu’s historic journey to statehood to enable them appreciate the sacrifices and struggles that birthed the state to prepare to work for its continued greatness.

By Ene Ene, Calabar 

Entertainers in Cross River have called on the state government led by governor Bassey Otu to assist the entertainment industry in providing infrastructure to enable them boost the economy, paveway for job creation in the state

They noted that the infrastructures, if provided will enable the entertainment industry to bring out their potentials, and boost the internally generated revenue, IGR, of the state. 

The request was made during a stakeholders interactive session in Calabar between the entertainers, the government and their fans.

They opined that the entertainment industry in the world over is a fast growing sector, which has the potential of providing employment for the youths and bringing income to the state. 

The entertainment clusters are made up of Guild of Editors, the Comedians, the Performing artists and the DJs.

Speaking at the event, a former commissioner for tourism art and culture in the immediate past administration, Mr Eric Anderson pointed out that Cross River State has one of the best sceneries in the country for film shootings but film makers must be encouraged by the government with infrastructures 

He stated that shooting films in locations like Calabar, Ikom, Ogoja, Boki and even Obudu Can expose the State to the outside world especially when these films are shown on DSTV stations or even on GOTV stations, film makers and even tourists from outside could be attracted to these beautiful sceneries that are abound in the State and may decide to come in and invest.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on event management, Mr Effing Ekpenyong in a separate interview said  CallyWood which was the creation of the former administration was to Carter for movie practitioners in the State, stressing that since the present  administration came onboard, that agency is yet to be constituted.

He however promised that, the agency would soon be constituted because according to him, “creative industry can not be overlooked adding that movie industry today is just a segment of the creative industry that can provide jobs for our unemployed youths and add value to the economy 

Ekpenyong then promised that when the agency is established, some grants would be given to movie producers in the State for them to produce short films.

The chairman of the occasion was the Chief of staff to the Governor who was represented by the Special Adviser, General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba who said it is the avowed determination of the present government to fight youth unemployment and bring them out of the street for them to be useful to themselves and the larger economy 

Akiba stressed that the Government would continue to support and encourage the creative industry because of the potentials that are embedded in that sector as it has to do with job creation and as an economic booster.

He also used the event to appeal to the entertainers mostly youths not to allow themselves to be used by anyone or group noting that what the state lost in the “ENDSARS” of 2020 are yet to be recovered but encourage them to use their positions and talents to preach peace and not violence to their fans and supporters.

From Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

The immediate past chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Enugu State,.Ben Nwoye, has urged Nollywood Stars to  emulate their  late renowned member, John Okafor, popularly known as Ibu in touching lives of  others.

He gave the advice shortly after a novelty  match in honour of the late Actor played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu.

The match between the reigning Nigeria Premier League Champions, Rangers International FC of Enugu and Team Ibu attracted soccer enthusiasts and members of the Nollywood family.

Speaking with Sports writers, at the end of the match, Nwoye, who was the first choice goalkeeper of the team Ibu, attributed the large crowd that watched the match to the way Ibu impacted on the lives of people while  alive.

He noted  that  while the match was going on, he felt the spirit of the late actor hovering around and  laughing as he always did when he was alive.

” I felt like a real goalkeeper, I felt vibrant and I felt the spirit of Ibu hovering around and laughing at us one by one , we made him laugh and happy”.

Nwoye, who hails from the same Amuri  Community in Nkanu West Council area of Enugu state with the  late Nollywood Icon, noted that they had pleasant meetings whenever they came across each other, adding that he was an Iconic man that made people laugh.

Going down memory lane, the APC stalwart recalled that when the wife  and kid of the late actor were kidnapped, the actor remained himself, noting that it was difficult to know that he was traumatized.

Prominent actors including Steve Eboh, ,identical twins in the Nollywood industry, Chidinma and Chidiebere Aneke among others  and the General Manager of Rangers football club, Ameobi Ezeaku featured for the Ibu team.

The late actor will be  committed to mother Earth  on  June 28, 2024.