The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State Chapter, has called on the people of Izhi land to preserve the bonds of brotherhood, unity and communal solidarity, warning that no political ambition or transient personal interest is worth sacrificing the ancestral ties that bind the people together.
The NYCN Chairman, Comrade Douglas Ochishi, made the call in a special congratulatory message to the people of Izhi Nnodo clan as they celebrate the 2026 Ojiji Izhi, the traditional New Yam Festival.
Ochishi, who felicitated with the illustrious sons and daughters of Izhi land at home and in the diaspora, described the annual festival as a profound cultural institution that embodies the history, identity, philosophy and collective consciousness of the Izhi people.
According to him, Ojiji Izhi transcends the ceremonial consumption of new yam, as it marks the commencement of a traditional new year, the end of the season of famine and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle, with yam occupying a position of honour as the “king of crops.”
He said the festival provides an important opportunity for the people to reflect on their shared heritage, strengthen communal bonds, promote reconciliation and recommit themselves to the values that have sustained Izhi communities across generations.
The NYCN chairman urged the people to guard jealously the sacred bond of brotherhood that has historically remained a major pillar of the Izhi identity.
“Politics will come and go. Political offices will change hands. Governments will rise and fall. Interests will shift. But blood, brotherhood, culture and community remain,” Ochishi said.
He cautioned against allowing political differences, personal ambitions, material considerations or external cultural influences to undermine the unity of the people, stressing that political competition should never degenerate into permanent communal division.
“No political ambition is worth the destruction of our ancestral bonds. No temporary disagreement should become a permanent division. And no individual interest should be allowed to consume the collective interest of Izhi land,” he added.
Ochishi advocated dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation among individuals and groups where disagreements or misunderstandings exist, urging the people to make the 2026 Ojiji Izhi a season of renewed friendship, peace and collective responsibility.
He said the strength of Izhi land was not merely measured by its population or material resources, but by its ability to remain united as a people bound by common ancestry, history, culture and shared destiny.
The NYCN chairman also called on the younger generation to take deliberate steps towards preserving and promoting Izhi cultural heritage in the face of globalisation and rapid technological advancement.
He noted that although modernity and cultural preservation were not mutually exclusive, some traditional practices, languages, institutions and customs were increasingly vulnerable to neglect, distortion and eventual extinction.
Ochishi therefore challenged Izhi youths to deploy digital technology, artificial intelligence and contemporary communication platforms to document, preserve and project the cultural heritage of the people to the wider Nigerian and global community.
“Our culture should not merely be remembered during festivals; it should become a living heritage that informs our conduct, strengthens our institutions and inspires our children,” he said.
He further urged traditional rulers, elders, political leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, farmers, religious leaders, women and youths to contribute collectively to the socio-economic transformation of Izhi land.
According to him, just as yam requires fertile soil, diligent cultivation, patience, perseverance and collective labour before it can produce a bountiful harvest, the development of Izhi land also requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
“A prosperous Izhi land cannot be built by government alone. It requires the collective labour, wisdom and sacrifice of traditional rulers, elders, political leaders, professionals, youths, women, entrepreneurs, farmers, religious leaders and every responsible citizen,” he stated.
The NYCN chairman commended the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for what he described as his administration’s commitment to peace, development, unity and the welfare of the people of the state.
He also extended his greetings to the First Family of Ebonyi State, the Traditional Prime Minister of Izhi Land, His Royal Majesty, Elder Mbam Ngele; traditional rulers, custodians of Izhi culture, elders, community leaders and other stakeholders.
Ochishi particularly commended the Izzi Nnodo Forum President, Comrade Andrew Chibueze Elom, and his executive members for their commitment to community mobilisation, unity and the advancement of the collective interests of Izhi people.
He charged Izhi youths to understand that their cultural identity comes with corresponding responsibilities, including the preservation of the virtues of hospitality, honesty, integrity, industry, courage and communal solidarity.
“As we break the yam, let us also break the walls of division. As we share the harvest, let us share hope. As we celebrate our heritage, let us renew our commitment to preserving it,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the 2026 Ojiji Izhi would usher in abundant harvests, peace, prosperity, unity and sustainable development across Izhi communities.
Ochishi also prayed for greater opportunities for youths, prosperity for farmers, wisdom for leaders and continued flourishing of traditional institutions, while urging all stakeholders to make peace the foundation of the future of Izhi land.
“The yam may be the king of crops, but unity is the strength of a people,” he declared.
