All is now set for the 2023 New Yam Festival of Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. The festival is scheduled to commence tomorrow Thursday August 24, 2023 in the twenty villages of the community. It will start with a competitive display of yams by farmers under the supervision of the village heads or Ndi Ichie Ogbe. This competition at the village level will select the best village farmers of the year that will proceed to the zonal competition at the six zones of the town.
At the zonal levels of the competition to be supervised by the High Chiefs or Ndị Ichie Ukwu, the best farmers and their yams will be selected for a final competition at the Igwe’s Palace where the town’s best farmer of the year will emerge.
On Friday, August 25, 2023, the Traditional Ruler of the town, His Royal Highness, Igwe Innocent Elochukwu Obodoakor who is the custodian of the culture and tradition of Agulu will declare the 2023 New Yam Festival open with traditional breaking of kolanut, cutting of roasted yam and praying to God for a bountiful harvest in the years ahead.
According to the programme of activities for the event as signed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Celestine Okafor and Secretary, Mr. Godson Ezeani, the ceremony will be chaired by Ambassador Dr. Joachim Emenike Afojama, the CEO, BIG-C Investment Properties Ltd. The ceremony will start by 12noon with an interdenominational service at the Igwe’s Palace.
The New Yam will be then be officially unveiled by a business mogul, Chief Osita Ifedigbo, Ozo Oraezue of Agulu before the official Iwa Ji by the Traditional Ruler, Igwe Obodoakor.
The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, Odenigbo will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest of Honour while an illustrious son of the community, former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded general election in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi, CON, Okwute Ndị Igbo will be the Special Guest of Honour. Also expected is the Senator representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, Chief Victor Umeh, OFR, Ohamadike, the member representing Njikoka, Anaocha and Dunukofia Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi (Aja – Ajanze) among other distinguished Agulu indigenes, captains of industry, politicians, friends and well wishers from all walks of life.
The next day, Saturday, August, 26, 2023, the celebration will continue at the village squares while thanksgiving service will take place on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at various churches in the town.
Announcing the 2023 New Yam Festival during a meeting of his council in his palace, Igwe Obodoakor appointed a committee to organize a hitch free New Yam Festival for the community. He intended that this year’s festival will serve as a mass return for the people since the Covid-19 pandemic. He, therefore, urged the committee to organize activities that will showcase the cultural heritage of Ndi Agulu to the world.
The committee which has High Chief Celestine Okafor (Ichie Ugodinobi), the Chief Executive Officer of Lumen Kristi Maritime Services as Chairman has lined up activities to bring the vision to fruition. One of such is that four notably development oriented personalities from each of the twenty villages of the community have been nominated for recognition. The ceremony will also serve as a time for the community to x-ray the town’s activities in agriculture for the past one year with a view to encouraging and motivating farmers who distinguished themselves in yam and cassava farming for greater productivity.
The organizing committee led by Chief Okafor, the Traditional Prime Minister of Agulu, Onowu Paulinus Anagbaoso and the entire members of the planning committee have assured that they would leave no stone unturned to ensure a hitch-free 2023 New Yam Festival celebration.
The entire people of Agulu, therefore, heartily welcome the general public to this epoch making ceremony.
Written by COMRADE NATHANIEL ATU-ANIGBO
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