It was indeed a rich display of Igbo tradition and culture in Lagos as His Highness Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo celebrates the first ofala Iri-ji new yam festival  Lagos.

Speaking to Ipledge2nigeria.net webteam at the event Engineer Chuks Odimegwu, Secretary General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos said: “The New Yam Festival is a unique celebration in Igboland. The yam is a chief harvest of every farmer. When you talk about Igbo food, the yam is the king among all of them. So we celebrate the yam festival every year because it is a very important food to us.

 

“Every community in Igbo land organises their Iri-iji to mark the end and beginning of a year. Today we are bringing the South East culture to our sons and daughters here in Lagos. We want those who were not opportune to witness an Ofala in the east to witness it here and participate.”

According to His Highness Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo said: “The ofala Iri-ji new yam festival is an annual event that every Igbo man celebrates. It is a culture handed over to us by our forefathers, and we are also going to hand it over to our children and grandchildren.

The idea is to bring a lot of Igbo men and women, even non Igbo together to witness the richness of our rich culture.

Eze Nicholas also used the opportunity to pray for Nigeria and that God Almighty will continue to bless Igbo men and women and make the Igbo nation great.”

According to Eze Dr. Ezeokpoko, Chairman, Council of Ndieze Igbo, Lagos State. Ezendigbo of Ijegun Kingdom.

Iri-iji (New Yam Festival) is a powerful culture in Igbo land. That is why you will see some of our Igbo sons and daughters travel to Germany, England, and Italy to celebrate the Festival. It is a culture that is dear to the hearts of every  Igbo son and daughter. During the festival, the King of the land prays for the prosperity of his subjects and the land to yield her increase.”

Meanwhile, the former Lawmaker, who represented Oshodi/Isolo ll in Lagos State Constituency in the 9th Assembly, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Omobowale ldimogu called on Igbos living in Lagos to embrace peace and tranquillity.

ldimogu gave the charge at the first ofala Iri-ji new yam festival organised by His Highness Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo and the entire Igbo community in Ejigbo.

 ldimogu said: “I call on my Igbo brothers and sisters in the east to give peace a chance. The truth is, the blood that is being shed in the east is mostly Igbo blood and when you shed all the blood, who will you rule? So both the rulers and the ruled should give peace a chance and understand that nothing is permanent.

“Leadership will come and go, other people will take over. But the bottom line is, let there be peace in Igbo land.