Confers awards of excellence on Nigerians, African leaders

The Iriji Igbo, new yam festival of the Igbo people, is practised throughout Igboland, West Africa, especially in Nigeria-Ghana, and even beyond the African continent. During the festival, people celebrate their ancestral roots, showcase the Igbo rich cultural heritage, language nuances, cuisine, dancing, and hospitality.

It is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo nation held at the end of the rainy season, which symbolises the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next cycle. Of all the Igbo cherished foods, yam has remained the king of all foods, thus, it is given a global status as the most widely celebrated crop among the Igbos around the world.

Barely fortnight after the epoch-making event of the Igbo New Yam Festival in the Republic Ghana hosted by His Royal Majesty, Eze Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu (Ezeigbo Ghana), the sounds and bites of that global watershed event have continued to dominate discussions in the cyberspace, especially among the Igbos living in Nigeria, Ghana, and within the West African region.

The 2024 Igbo New Yam festival in Ghana was quite remarkable for a number of reasons as the monarch personally extended special invitations to South East state governors , prominent Igbo leaders, eminent Nigerians, and members of the National Assembly.

This year’s event which is the 12th edition of the Igbo New Yam festival in Ghana was a huge success by all standards, as it recorded approximately 20 thousand attendance of people from all walks of life who graced the occasion.

A very friendly weather, massive turn-out, warm and accommodating host nation, Ghana, tourists from the Caribbean, the USA, Indonesia, Guinea Conakry, South Africa, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Dayo Adeoye, Representatives of the Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, led by the trio of Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Kanayo Onyemachi, Majority leader of the Imo State House of Assembly, and Chigozie Nwaneri, Chief Whip of the Imo State House of Assembly, Representatives of the United Nations, the business and political class from Ghana and Nigeria, a galaxy of traditional rulers from the Ijaw nation, the Yoruba nationality, traditional rulers from the ruling Ashante Kingdom; National House of Chiefs, Regional House of Chiefs and Traditional Councils.

The Chief Host, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu (Eze Ohazurume of Ghana), alongside his wife, Her Royal Majesty, Ugoeze Liberty Ihenetu, seized the occasion to thank God for the favour of nature, rich Igbo culture and a bountiful harvest. He also appreciated in no small measures, the creme of elders in Council of Obi Ndigbo Ghana – Obi Eziokwu, whose show of love, tireless efforts, unflinching commitment, avowed support and strong solidarity played strategic role in ensuring a hitch-free and successful historical 12th edition of the Igbo New Yam Festival in Ghana, Sunday, September 15th, 2024.

In his opening address, Ihenetu said: ”Today is a remarkable day for Ndigbo in Ghana as we celebrate our New Yam. It is a day of thanksgiving for all Igbos around the world, a day of remembrance of the legacy that our ancestors bestowed on us. We have come again to celebrate, we are here again to ask God to let us see the year 2025. We have come again to thank the gods of the land in Ghana as well as people from all walks of life who came to celebrate with us.As we eat the yam, so we pray that God Almighty will bless all of you.

“We are using this opportunity, the throne of Ndigbo Ghana, to make sure that our people in Ghana and those coming in today, tomorrow and eternity will respect the traditions of Ndigbo and also the laws of our host country, Ghana.

“I also thank the Eze Udos and elders in Council, who helped to take care of our people across the regions. We also thank God Almighty for keeping us alive to harvest the New Yam.”

On why the Igbos celebrate yam over other crops, the Eze maintained that it was one lasting legacy and cultural heritage bestowed on Ndigbo by their ancestors, and it has been handed over from one generation to another.

However, looking forward to hosting the largest black nation in Ghana and the rest of the world during the historical 13th Edition of Igbo New Yam Festival which will also herald his 13years anniversary on the throne of Obi Ndigbo in Ghana, a rather visionary, pragmatic and proactive traditional ruler, Eze Ihenetu and palace elders of Obi Eziokwu have rolled out a broader people-based developmental agenda for inclusive leadership, which aims at bringing back home Black Americans, who lost their ancestral roots and traced same to African continent. In the same vein, build an Igbo community, which serves as a catalyst for uniting Ndigbo and bringing them much closer home, while putting up economic empowerment schemes for a number of them, who have no source of livelihood in a foreign land.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the new yam by the monarch and conferment of chieftaincy titles and Ndigbo Cultural Diapora Excellent Awards on well deserved Igbo sons and daughters as well as other patriotic Nigerians and African leaders in recognition of their immense contributions towards the promotion of Igbo culture and their service to God and humanity through philanthropy.

On the spotlight also was a presentation of an award of Excellent Oil Magnet in Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry to Chief Ejike Chukwu, Chairman of Megadrill Oil Ltd in recognition of his immense contribution towards the development of Nigeria’s upstream oil sector.

Other dignitaries at the event include: wife of Ooni of Ife, Her Imperial Majesty Olori Mariam Anako Ogunwusi, Queen of Shebah, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Shebah Sai ‘Ra
Queen Shebah III, The Head of State of The Queendom of Sheba Nubian Nation African Kingdoms Federation and Federation Queendom Crown Government, HRH Alh. Isah Okatahi Mamman (Ohi of Okene, Kogi State), HRH Mallam Ahmed Garba Gunna FCNA, FCTI (Attahiru II), Emir of Kagara, Nana Brimah Akoto Danso 11, Chief of Akyem Pameng in the Easten Region, Colonel Prince Tandoh, Director of Operations, Minister of National Security, King Nii Teiko Tsuru VI
Ga Mantse, Henry Quartey
Minister for the Interior, Republic of Ghana, His Eminence, Sheikh Alhaji Usman Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam of Ghana, Naana Eyiah, Deputy Minister, Ministry of the Interior/ Mp for Gomoa Central Constituency, ACP DAVID ably represented by the CID Boss.

The event witnessed dignitaries from all walks of life who throng to the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, venue of the New Yam festival, as traditional Igbo dancers, Igba Ndieze, masquerades of different sizes, Bongo live band performed by the duo of legendary King Saro Wiwa and Chijioke Mbanefo, and other cultural dancers from Yoruba, Itsekiri, Ijaw, and others thrilled all guests.