…urges mass turnout for Iri-Ji Anambra 2024
By Rose Oranye and Peter Onyejegbu
In fulfilment of the promise to Ndị Anambra by Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, to provide Commissioners and Heads of Government Agencies on the weekly program to expose the good works of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the Commissioner of Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji, featured in this week’s edition of the radio program, ‘Ask the Commissioner,’ at Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Awka, along with the Commissioner for Information.
Comrade Onyenji, who used the opportunity to promote the 2024 Anambra New Yam Festival, which will be held on Saturday, described New Yam Festival as the number one festival in Igboland, traced to many centuries of history and meant to renew relationships between individuals and communities, among others, adding that it brings people back home, encourages unity and enhances the culture and tradition of communities and Igbo land.
According to him, this year’s ceremony will combine the New Yam and Mmanwu Festivals, and there will be ‘Di Ji’ prizes for the biggest yam tubers produced in Anambra.
He recalled that last year, the governor gave N1 million to the producer of the biggest yam, adding that all the LGAs in the state are expected to attend with at least one masquerade.
He disclosed that his ministry has the list of all the masquerades in Anambra State and is promoting the use of the Igbo language. He also commended Mr Governor for promoting culture through dressing in Akwaete and wearing made-in Anambra shoes.
The Culture Commissioner also commended the Information Commissioner, Dr Mefor, for promoting culture through the use of the Igbo red cap and commended the Governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, for encouraging people to patronise homemade foods instead of synthetic foods.
Onyenji, who regretted the lavish style of burials in Igboland, equally frowned at the attitude of undertakers who abuse corpses, urging them to desist from it.
He called on mothers to teach their children how to cook Igbo foods and charged children to embrace the tradition of greeting elders each time they come across them.
In the area of tourism, he emphasised that tourism goes beyond the many newly constructed roads, schools, etc., pointing out that with the Solution Fun City, which is expected to be the biggest in this part of the country and beyond, Anambra will be the talk of the town.
He disclosed that Anambra leads in filmmaking in the country, adding that the state intends to return the prestigious ANAWOOD to enable Anambra to take its rightful place in the film industry.
The Commissioner commended Mr Governor for awarding the dual carriageway from Amawbia to Ekwulobia and Nwagu Agulu to Okija, which he said was part of tourism.
Dr. Mefor, in his contributions, urged Ndị Anambra to come out en masse for this year’s Anambra New Yam Festival.