AMAWBIA COMMUNITY CELEBRATES IWA JI 2024, RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING MEMBERS

By Regina Igwebuike :

The Amawbia Community in Awka South LGA, Anambra State, has celebrated 2024 New Yam Festival, popularly known as Iwa Ji among the people of Igbo extraction, gave Community Service Award to outstanding members for their contributions to the development of Amawbia and humanity.

The event, which took place on Sept. 21, started with paying homage to Osojeze Amawbia, Arc. Emeka Maduka in his palace before going to the Event Centre at the New Era, Amawbia.

Cutting the yam in his palace, Osojeze said that Iwa Ji festival is to thank God for bountiful harvest, praising God for growth and human flourishing, an event that promotes values like hard work, explaining that soiled hands brings oily mouth.

He noted that the ceremony was called ‘Iru otite’ in Amawbia before it was modernized to Iwa Ji, thanking God for giving the community another opportunity to celebrate with family, friends and well-wishers the gift of life and new yam.

The traditional prime minister extolled Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s giant strides in all sectors, especially in Agriculture, pleading with him to look into annual crops like improved tomato, cucumber and pumpkin seeds for family sustenance this critical period, encouraging all to embrace farming even if it is backyard farming.

He also advised parents to ensure that their children behave according to the norms and values of the society and eschew restiveness.

At the Amawbia Event Centre, Prof. Lilian Oby Orogbu, member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, said that she has the interest of Amawbia town at heart, noting that Amawbia’s name is embedded in African Union, emphasizing that credible, transparent, quality education and wisdom from God are what we want in governance.

While thanking Ndi Amawbia for their unwavering support, Prof. Orogbu promised to leave her signature projects in the community.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, represented by the Administrative Secretary Traditional Rulers Council, Government House Awka, Prince Donatus Orjika, noted that the ceremony is a special one for Ndi Amawbia.

According to him, Iwa Ji festival helps to unite the community, celebrate their uniqueness; a time to make merry and pray for the progress of the community.

He wished Ndi Amawbia peace, unity and prosperity, praying that anyone who would emerge as the next Okpaligwe should be a man of peace.

While noting the economic crisis in Nigeria, the commissioner advised the Igbos, especially the youths to take life easy, engage themselves meaningfully and avoid acts capable of bringing curses on them.

The President General (PG), Amawbia Town, Engr. Goddy Aronu welcomed all, saying that some community members will be honored with recognition awards for their outstanding contributions and achievements toward human and community development to inspire others to strive for excellence, emphasizing that dedication and hard work are rewarded.

The Awardees are Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, DG Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Pharm Emeka Okafor Nwachukwu, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Esq,mni,FNIM, Engr. Arize Obi, Chief Mrs Oge-Chukwudi Okonkwo and Engr. Arize Anyadiegwu.

Engr. Aronu thanked the people for their unflinching support, wishing those that graced the occasion journey mercies back to their destinations.

The Awardees in their separate speeches thanked the community for finding them worthy of the recognition even as they promised to do more.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Emeka Nwachukwu, represented by Nze Amobi Nwoye, noted that Iwa Ji festival is not alien to the community.

He praised the leadership of Amawbia and prayed for more successful celebrations going forward.

In an interview, the image maker of Amawbia community, Engr. Nzubechukwu Menuba said that Iwa Ji festival is significant in Igbo land, noting that yam is the mother of all crops, urging all to embrace farming.

He thanked President Tinubu’s administration for local government elections for grassroots development even as he commended Gov. Soludo for giving a fair playground for all political parties to contest.

Engr. Menuba, who is contesting for Councilorship position for Amawbia Ward II, under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noted that he is the best and if given the opportunity to serve will perform creditably.

Also in an interview, the Chairman, Amawbia Youth Vanguard, Mr. Chukwunenye Nwalusi, prayed for progress, long life and peace in the community, asking God to bless the leaders of the community with more wisdom to uprightly serve well.

He thanked Gov. Soludo for empowering the youths through 1Youth 2Skills Solution program to enable them to be independent and self reliant, urging the youths to utilize the opportunity, engage themselves meaningfully.

Alhaji Mamood Sani, Sarki Hausa Community commended Ndi Amawbia for being their host, and the unity that exists between them, praying for peace and progress in the community.

Nze Chukwukadibia Odumodu, Chairman Enuoji Village during interview, said that the ceremony is symbolic; a time to thank God for a bountiful harvest, explaining that in March, seedlings were blessed during Eziokpaligwe, planted and harvested, followed by Iwa Ji festival in September to thank God for bumper harvest.

He prayed God to remember Amawbia and for individuals to embrace farming, explaining that he has joined the train.

Engr. Arinze Obi in an interview said that he has received many community development awards to the glory of God for impacting positively on the community, which he said would spur him to do more, praying God to give him the resources and enablement even as he thanked the community for the recognition.

Earlier, the Chairman of Eke Oyibo Market, Amawbia, Mr. Ifesinachi Daniel Nwokoye fielding questions from the press after paying homage to Osojeze with his group at the palace said, “We are here to the glory of God for the New yam festival, to appreciate Osojeze for all his support, especially during the building collapse at the market.

He noted that a town without a market is not a community but a mere play ground.

According to him, we have prayed for the family of those who lost their lives during the incident. This Iwa Ji festival will serve as a heart cooling to the family. We have seen them one on one, touched them with what we have in the spirit of the ceremony.

The market chairman prayed that they shall live more years in good health to celebrate the festival harmoniously to the glory of God.

Also at the palace, one of the Okpaligwe aspirant, Dr. Emeka Obi in an interview, thanked God for the successful ceremony, praying God to give the community a good traditional ruler come next Okpaligwe selection.

He promised to foster unity, empower the youths and secure Amawbia land if selected the next Okpaligwe.

In a vote of thanks, the Cultural Committee Chairman, Mr. Chijioke Nwolisa thanked all who made out time to come and celebrate the Iwa Ji with Amawbia people, wishing them journey mercies back to their destinations.

Mr. Nwolisa also thanked the ATU leadership led by Engr. Aronu for their support even as he commended the cultural committee for working round the clock for the success of the event.