By Our correspondent
The Anambra State-born business mogul and philanthropist, High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, has called on the South-East Governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo to fix a particular date in a year when the entire Ndigbo of Nigeria will celebrate new yam festival.
New yam festival is a time of celebrating the beginning of the harvest of yam, considered to be king of crop among Ndigbo.
It is currently being celebrated by communities at different dates.
But Chief Ezeonu who is the Ikemba of Nnobi said at the celebration of new yam festival of his village, Ifite Ogbeadiji, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, which they call Ashaolu that a definite date by the entire Ndigbo would enhance the quality and profile of the festival.
The businessman said the centralised celebration of new yam festival at a particular date by Ndigbo would attract international attention for the event and make the celebration a tourist event which would attract tourists from different parts of the globe, saying that this would help expand tourism in Igbo land.
Chief Ezeonu said it would be modernized in a way that prices and awards would be created for farmers.
“This should attract more participation in agriculture especially the youths who would now be interested in participating in agriculture. In that way, we will have increase in food production to tackle hunger in most communities and households” said High Chief Ezeonu.
He expressed his excitement over the success of the first major celebration of Ashaolu which was wholly sponsored by Ikemba himself.
Explaining the significance of new yam festival which is the period the people celebrate the harvest of new yams, Ikemba said it is also a reminder to every Igbo man that they cannot forget their culture and tradition.
He said : “We have been able to bring together everybody in the village and the community. I am excited about this year’s Ashaolu festival.I hope next year will be better”.
In his speech the traditional ruler of Nnobi community, Engr Igwe Nick Obi (FNSE), debunked the claim that celebration of new yam festival amount to returning to idol worship, saying that it is the celebration of the people’s rich culture.
The traditional ruler commended High Chief Ezeonu for the sponsorship of the event and other
developmental activities in the entire Nnobi community.
He prayed for God’s continuous guidance and blessing over him and urged other successful sons and daughters of Nnobi to emulate Ikemba.
The chairman of Ifite Ogbeadiji village, Comrade Obioma Stanley Uzuegbunam, said he was elated by the success of the event meant to celebrate the culture and tradition of their people.
He said the event took them only two weeks to plan but expressed gratitude to Chief Ezeonu for electing to fund it.
Some prominent members of the community received awards for their various contributions to the development of the village, which Ezeonu and his wife, Dr.Thelm were among.
The Chairman of Idemili South Local Government Area, Iyom Amaka Obi and the President -General, Nnobi community, Barr. Dominic Okpala among many others were among prominent persons who graced the ocassion.
The high points of the ocassion were yam competition among farmers. display by women dance groups from the village and masquerade displays.
