The First Ezeigbo Lagos, HRH Eze Dr Sir Jossy Egwuatu(JP), who is also Eze Ndigbo, Surulere local government and his cabinet recently celebrated the 2024 ‘iriji’ festival, ( New Yam festival), as they also officially unveiled the logo of Ozioma Traditional Association Inc.
The event at the Ozioma Palace had other highlights, such as the conferment of chieftaincy titles and an award of honor.
In his opening remarks, HRH Eze Dr Sir Jossy Egwuatu(JP) said, “The traditional ‘iriji’ celebration is a way the Igbos thank God for a successful season, in English word, it is translated as Thanksgiving and we do it in places outside Igbo land for our children and friends outside Igbo land to observe how Igbos celebrate new yam.
But it is not only when one does Yam farming that he is into agriculture, people engage in different businesses and Yam farming is just one”, he explained
Chief Sunday Udeh, President of Igbo Speaking Community in his speech, explained that the essence of ‘iriji’ is to uphold Igbo traditions and culture; he prayed that God will keep everyone alive till 2025 to celebrate more new yam festivals.
The President of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) Chief Dr Ngozi Emechebe in his speech, applauded Eze Dr Jossy as a gentleman, ‘Our father is a polished gentleman and would not be forgotten as one of the people who started the reorganization of ASPAMDA. He promised that the popular market would support the palace in the subsequent editions of the Iriji and congratulated the palace on a successful event.
In his contribution Eze Onigbongbo Lagos, Eze Tony Anosike emphasized the essence of the event as a promotion of Igbo culture for the knowledge of our children and friends outside Igboland.
High Chief Monday Ukpa, who holds many chieftaincy tittles both in Ebonyi, his home state, and outside the state, promised to use the Chieftaincy honor conferred on him to continue to help humanity, especially the youths.
Other notable dignitaries at the occasion included Hon Engr Nihi Gbodimowo, a Chairmanship aspirant in Surulere local government among other Ezes and Chiefs
