Plans and preparations have been set in motion for the prestigious annual 2025 Iriji celebration (new yam festival ) by the first Ezeigbo in Lagos, HRH Eze Dr Sir Jossy Egwuatu(JP), and his esteemed Ozioma Traditional Palace, as the Planning Committee has recently been inaugurated.
The planning committee is headed by Chief Chukwudi Okafor, while Hon Tony Okereke is the committee secretary. Top on their agenda at the recent meeting was the Iriji 2025 celebration, Chieftaincy title conferments, and Eze Jossy’s 80th Birthday.
Eze Dr Sir Jossy Egwuatu JP. Posing for picture
with some members of the BOT,
Chief Sunday Udeh and Chief Chris Ekwilo
Though no date was confirmed as at Press time but a member of the palace who spoke exclusively to Lagos Focus News said, the Chukwudi Okafor led committee is capable of delivering a befitting event because Chief Chukwudi is a young enterprising Igbo Chief, who likes making things loud and his secretary Hon Tony is meticulous, articulate and versatile young politician who knows people of substance, both are deserving and capable of exceeding expectations.
One of the Cabinet Chiefs said the meeting was to fine-tune strategies and emphasize how to make this year’s celebration bigger than last year. He boasted that people should expect more from this year’s event.
The Golden ladies, the adorable women wing of the Ozioma palace, led by Hon Chief Mrs Ngozi Chinwuko JP. (Adaife), said the Golden Ladies are ready to add glamour to this year’s event, ”I and the ladies are ever ready with our razzmatazz that will make this year’s celebration a fun to catch”.
According to the cabinet chief, the planning committee promised to deliver in all sides because they know that people are expecting quality and standard event from the palace, being the first Eze Igbo palace in Lagos and they cannot afford to disappoint especially as it involves 80th birthday of Eze Jossy which will attract high profile guests.
Eze Sir Dr Jossy, who doubles as Eze Ndi Igbo Surulere, charged the newly constituted 2025 iriji Committee and the flamboyant women’s wing to ensure they surpass the enviable record of last year.
In his words,” Ozioma Traditional Palace is only moving forward to greater heights, we cannot be satisfied with our past achievements, as our guests commended our last year’s feat in organizing a befitting iriji celebration, we cannot therefore afford to do less this year”, he charged the committee.
The traditional Prime Minister of the Palace, Onowu Victor Samuel-Okpani, added that the women are expected to invite their husbands or any other guests. He remarked that those who took forms should return them on or before the event date, and those without forms should come with a passport photograph to complete the form at the palace, same day. Men members of the Palace are encouraged to invite their wives and any other guests.
Last year’s celebration attracted high-profile dignitaries, including the President of the prestigious Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), Chief Dr Ngozi Emechebe, who applauded Eze Dr Jossy and promised to support this edition of the Iriji celebration.
Eze Jossy explained that the traditional iriji celebration is a way that the Igbos thank God for a successful season, and it is celebrated outside Igboland as a way of promoting Igbo culture, tradition, so that Igbo children born outside can observe how the New Yam festivals are celebrated in Igboland. Eze Jossy Egwuatu was crowned the first Eze Igbo in Lagos in 1977
