It was a colourful occasion today in Lagos as the Igbo Speaking Community in the state gathered at the National Stadium, Surulere to celebrate the most revered culture in Igbo land, the new yam festival.
The event which brought together Ndi Ezes, Igbo leaders of thought, Captains of industries from Igbo extraction and other prominent sons and daughter of Ndigbo resident in Lagos witnessed the symbolic cutting of the new yam by the Chairman, Council of Ndieze Lagos State and Eze Ndigbo, Ikeja, HRM Agbawodikeizu Nwalozie.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President General of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, Chief Ebere Ubani noted that new yam festival had become for the Igbos an annual solemnity and a platform to showcase the depth and chasm of the enviable customs and cultural prowess to their people especially those born away from home, friends and their host community.
Ubani added that the festival had formed the fulcrum of their vanguard in their strident and modest strides towards the promotion and dispensing of the rich Igbo Customs and cultures here in Lagos adding that it was their humble desire that all who had gathered for the event would at fullness of time be happier to have invested their time with them.
He said,” This singular annual rendezvous which has become a carnival of sort, has been very directive and helpful in creating the desired awareness needed for a revitalized Igbo consciousness amongst our people. Therefore, Igbo speaking community in Lagos State places unambiguous and incomparable premium on Iriji festival as it avails us the needed opium to interface with the larger Igbo population both from home and within the precinct of Lagos state which ultimately, enhances our affinity towards a closer tie and oneness as a people.
“Suffice to reiterate that under my watch as the President General, this age long steadfastness on the promotion of our customs and cultural evangelism got heightened and today, it is yielding the desired dividends, thanks to the collective efforts of our teeming members and countless others”.
Highlights of the occasion are the symbolic cutting of the new yam, recitation of Igbo songs, alphabets and numbers by the children and presentation of awards to some deserving Igbo sons and daughters.
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