Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Executive Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Barr. Steve Emenike Nwankpa, has reaffirmed the importance of the New Yam Festival (Ojiji), urging leaders to strengthen traditional institutions as custodians of cultural heritage.
Speaking in Abakaliki at the grand finale of the 2025 festival, Nwankpa described yam as a sacred symbol of wealth, fertility, and strength to the Izzi people, stressing that the annual celebration is not just about harvest but also about identity, unity, and survival.
“Our existence depends on yam. Without it, life is threatened. He who has yam has everything,” he declared.
He likened the festival to the “Christmas of the Izzi people,” noting that it promotes fellowship, love, and open hospitality across families and communities.
According to him, the festival equally serves as an economic lifeline for rural dwellers and vulnerable groups who depend on the season to sell produce, access food, and support their families.
Nwankpa, however, warned that modernization, religion, and politics are undermining cultural values, insisting that heritage can only be preserved when communities and traditional rulers are empowered rather than sidelined.
“Politicians cannot sustain it. Culture is best preserved by living it. That is why I always ensure widows and families gather in my compound during the festival so the story continues,” he said.
He urged leaders at all levels to support traditional authorities and cultural custodians, stressing that the New Yam Festival embodies the moral codes, unity, and resilience of the Izzi people and must be safeguarded for generations to come.