Asaga, Odunwa, and Adibe Hail Ezza Nation on Okeaku New Yam Festival

Prominent leaders across Ebonyi State have joined in celebrating the Ezza Ezekuna people as they mark the 2025 edition of the revered Okeaku New Yam Festival, a cultural event symbolizing renewal, gratitude, and community solidarity.

Christian Asaga Nwali, Chairman of the C-Sagas Foundation, extended warm congratulations to the people of Ezza Ezekuna, describing the festival as a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings. He emphasized the importance of culture in shaping identity and fostering unity.

“This festival symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings, offering an opportunity for introspection, reconciliation, and rebuilding,” Asaga stated. “May God bless Ezza Ezekuna with renewed hope, prosperity, and a fruitful new year.”

In a separate message, the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, also felicitated with the Ezza people, urging them to uphold their rich heritage. He lauded the community’s enduring reputation for unity, respect, and progress.

“Okeaku is an annual celebration in Ezza land with deep cultural significance. It marks a new beginning, enhances communal bonds, and reinforces gratitude for nature’s provisions,” the Speaker said.

Odunwa further congratulated Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, and other leaders from Ezza Ezekuna for their dedication to preserving the festival’s legacy. He called on them to continue fostering peace and harmony.

“May you continue to strive to create a clan where peace is not just a dream, but a reality for all—a clan where love triumphs over hate, and harmony prevails over discord,” he added.

Similarly, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State, Hon. Dr. Mrs. Jennifer Adibe Nwafor, commended the Ezza community for sustaining the festival’s vibrant traditions. She encouraged sons and daughters of Ezza Ezekuna to remain steadfast in promoting unity and respect.

“Okeaku is a profoundly inspiring celebration that promotes heartfelt gratitude for nature’s provisions,” Adibe noted. “I urge all to uphold the vital principles of peace, unity, prosperity, and kindness that distinguish this culture.”

She also extended congratulations to traditional and political leaders in the area and expressed her hope for a season filled with prosperity and communal joy.

The Okeaku New Yam Festival remains one of the most important cultural events in Ezza land, heralding the harvest season and reinforcing centuries-old bonds among families and communities.