The 2025 Ojiji Izzi New Yam Festival turned into more than a harvest celebration in Ebonyi State on last Monday as Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and community leaders used the occasion to drum support for peace, unity, and cultural preservation as the foundation for the state’s development.
In his goodwill message to the people of Izzi Nnodo-Ekumaenyi, Governor Nwifuru described the festival as “a reaffirmation of who we are as a people blessed with industry, tenacity of purpose, and unity of heritage.”
The governor, who extended special recognition to the traditional prime minister of Izzi clan, His Royal Majesty Elder Mbam Ngele, alongside other royal fathers and custodians of tradition, said the peaceful celebration across Izzi land was possible because his administration has given “special recognition and treatment to traditional institutions and created an enabling environment where peace thrives.”
“It is with immense joy and a deep sense of pride that I felicitate my dear kinsmen, the great people of Izzi, on this auspicious occasion.
"As we gather in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, let us also renew our commitment to peace, brotherhood, and collective progress. I remain confident that through diligence and perseverance, the Izzi spirit will continue to inspire the Ebonyi family towards prosperity and harmony, he said.
The Ojiji Festival, traditionally marking the beginning of the new year for the Izzi clan, is observed with thanksgiving, cultural regalia, and symbolic first tasting of yam. Its significance goes beyond food because it is a covenant of unity, reconciliation, and renewal.
The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Stephen Uchenna Igwe, said the festival is deeply rooted in the values of peace and forgiveness.
“The new yam festival is not just about harvest. It is a period of unionism, a time when people forgive, forget the past, and forge ahead. Last year’s troubles are left behind; this year is embraced with prayers for peace, good health, and progress," Igwe said.
He added that the calm enjoyed across Ebonyi today was a direct reflection of Governor Nwifuru’s peace-driven leadership, noting: “All over the state, there is relative peace, and we are celebrating without rancour.”
Prince Chinedu Augustine Uburu, ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, emphasized that the Ojiji Festival is not ritualistic, but purely cultural and historical—an inherited tradition that unites every Izzi son and daughter irrespective of politics or religion.
“This is a day set aside by our forefathers for unity and thanksgiving. Even as children, we grew up singing Ojiji songs. Today, whether young or old, everyone feels the joy of this heritage. It is a festival that erases tribal differences and brings us together as one," the Chairman said.
Uburu dismissed misconceptions about the festival being anti-Christian, noting that many churches and parishes actively participate in the celebration.
“It is misleading to say the Ojiji Festival is un-Christian. It is simply our cultural heritage, just like other Igbo communities celebrate their new yam festival," Uburu said.
He further urged Izzi people to return to agriculture, describing yam as the “king of crops” and a symbol of sustenance. “We must cultivate the culture of farming. Oil cannot replace agriculture. I have over 26 hectares of rice farm, and many others are venturing into agriculture because the Governor has made it easier for farmers.”
Uburu also stressed the need for synergy between culture, religion, and politics in sustaining community development.
“Politics has come to stay, even in churches. What matters is to play it with human feeling and understanding. In culture, however, there is no tribalism. The Ojiji Festival binds us together, reminding us of what we share as a people, he said.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for infrastructural development and cultural preservation policies, including the promotion of local dialects in schools. “Only Africa measures intelligence by how much English one speaks. Our governor has taken a bold step by ensuring children learn their mother tongue in school. This is how culture survives," he added.
Beyond its cultural colour, the 2025 Ojiji Festival stood out as a rallying point for unity and progress. The speeches of leaders echoed a single message: that cultural heritage, when properly harnessed, can drive peace and development.
The ALGON chairman pledged that local governments will continue to partner with traditional rulers and opinion leaders to preserve heritage for future generations. “If South Africa can keep museums to showcase their cultural heritage, why can’t we?” he asked. “We must protect this legacy for the unborn," he hinted.
As the festival drums rolled and yam delicacies were shared, the underlying tone remained one of thanksgiving, reconciliation, and progress. For the people of Izzi, the festival reaffirmed their resilience and pride in identity. For the state government, it was an opportunity to reemphasize the centrality of peace and unity in governance.
Governor Nwifuru’s final words captured the spirit of the celebration: “I pray this year’s Ojiji Festival usher in abundant blessings, renewed unity, and greater accomplishments for our clan and for Ebonyi State at large.”
