Prominent Industrialist, Ibeto, Graces Okpuno Uruagu, Nnewi 2023 New Yam Festival
From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka
The 2023 Okpuno Uruagu Nnewi New Yam Festival held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, will remain ever green in the annals of history of the community, as the ceremony featured outstanding events and activities, and was graced by many illustrious sons and daughters of the community, including a prominent son of the soil, Chief Cletus Ibeto (Omekannaya).
The event also featured display of different masquerades, dance bands and groups, entertainments and other side attractions.
The traditional ruler of Okpuno Uruagu, Obi Afam Iloka, who performed the ritual of cutting the 2023 New Yam, thanked God for keeping himself and his subjects alive to witness the 2023 edition of the event. He also thanked Chief Cletus Ibeto, who he said was instrumental to the reconstruction and beautification of the palace; as well as Chief Oliver Nwagbala, who he praised for sponsoring the 2023 edition of the festival.
The traditional ruler described New Yam Festival as a period of thanksgiving to nature for blessing man with bountiful harvest, and said that apart from good harvest, God also blessed his kingdom with good health.
He finally called on Igbo people to embrace good cultural practices, and not to allow them go into extinction.
The patron of the community, Chief Cletus Ibeto, expressed his loyalty to Obi Afam Iloka for his good leadership qualities, which he said, endeared him (Ibeto) to the community. Ibeto also said that he attended Okpuno Uruagu New Yam Festival because of his love for his people and their culture.
Sponsor of the 2023 edition of the Okpuno-Ebenator New Yam Festival, Chief Oliver Nwagbala, who is the Obi Eze Ohamalu Dynasty of Okpuno, described New Yam Festival as an event that brings people together under one cultural umbrella, and called on the people to uphold our rich Igbo culture and traditions.
An Illustrious son of the community, Chief Mbazulike Iloka, aka Mba Mba, who organised the event expressed gratitude to Chief Cletus Ibeto, Obi Afam Iloka, Chief Oliver Nwagbala, and others who made the ceremony a huge success, and prayed for greater harvest for next year.
