2023 UMUERI NEW YAM FESTIVAL;MONARCH COMMENDS GOVERNOR SOLUDO’S FREE EDUCATION POLICY

Awka:Obiorah Anthony U Ugwonwa

The Traditional Ruler of Umueri Ancient Kingdom in Anambra East Local Government Area,Igwe Sir.Benneth Izuchukwu Emeka(Oke-Ebo 11 of Umueri),has congratulated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for granting free education for all School age children in the public Schools across the state ranging from Nursery One to Junior Secondary School in the State.

The Traditional Ruler, who made the commendation on the occasion of the 2023 Umueri New Yam Festival,held in his palace ,described the free education policy of Governor Soludo as welcome development and commendable.

Igwe Emeka,who said that most of the problems in the society today such as armed rubbery,kidnapping and other nagging social vices were because of the inability of the perpetrators of the kidnapping business in the Society to acquire quality education,noted that free education policy of Governor Soludo would afford the Anambra Children an opportunity to go back to School.

He expressed optimism that many of the out of School Children in the State would avail themselves the great opportunity offered to them by the free education policy of Governor Soludo to reshape their future and become public responsible figures in the State with the issues of kidnapping, armed rubbery and other social vices confronting the society become a thing of the past.

He noted the annual celebration of New Yam Festival of the Community, afford them an opportunity to celebrate their rich cultural heritage amidst their cheerful teeming invited guests and as well promote the Igbo culture and tradition outside the world.

He vowed that the Community could not engage in any form of war with its Sister Communities of Aguleri,Umuoba Anam,Nsugbe and Nteje again ,describing peace as the only way to go in the area in maintenance of mutual relationship among the Communities in the area.

Felicitating with the Traditional Ruler Igwe Emeka and the entire people of Umueri Community, the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engr.Kenneth Odumegwu,said that they come to pay solidarity to Igwe Emeka who bears the welfare of the youths,Umueri Community and the things of the State at heart at all times.

Also,the Chairman, 2023 Umueri New Yam Planning Committee,His Honour Chief Eugene Aghaebe,said that the celebration of New Yam in Igbo land was not fetish as argued by some people,rather it marked the emergency of new crops in the area ,moment of plenty of foods ,celebrations and peace making in the area.

From him,the Chairman Transition Committee for Oyi Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Ikechukeu,maintained that the feast of New Yam in this part of the word was the time when the people celebrate God for blessing them with bumper harvest and seamless farming season and prayed God to continue to bless Igwe Emeka in his quest to enthroning a lasting peace in the area and development in the Community.

The Secretary General ,Aguleri Town Union,Barrister Francis Okeke, aligned himself to Igwe Emeka that the Communities in the area would not engage in any form of war again, rather they should embrace dialogues as one of the fertile means of settling their dispute,calling on the Nigerian Government at all levels to work towards checkmating the exponential increase on consumption of hard drugs and its harmful effects on the Nigerian youths.

The event which featured conferment of chieftaincy title to notable sons of the State to include, Professor Emmanuel Onwubuya (Oranyelugo Umueri),Chief Pete Edochie (Ibobo Umueri) and (Chief Dr .Vincent Udobi) by Igwe Emeka,stared with interdenominational service
where the Vicar of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Aguleri,Reverend Canon Silvanus Onyeachonam, declared the event as the begining of journey for the desired freedom of the Community.

The Anambra State Speaker in the House of Assembly, Rt.Hon.Somtochukeu Udeze, his Deputy,Hon.Chukwuma Okoye ,the Academics,Party Officials and the Chieftains of the Organized Private Sector and cream of Traditional Rulers in the State among other top Government Officials were among the dignitaries who took their turns to pay homage to Igwe Emeka while cutting of the roasted New Yam into three pieces,representing the three quarters of the Community of Ezi,,Ikenga and Ivite by Igwe Emeka climaxed the event.