The Amolu Clan in Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha LGA, Anambra State was agog last weekend as the people held the maiden edition of Yam Contest at the 2019 annual new yam festival which was celebrated with pomp and pageantry.
The annual festival which marks the end of the traditional farming season to herald the arrival of yam, the king of crops began on Friday, August 30, 2019 with the yam contest and climaxed with the traditional roasting, cutting and eating of the new yam by the entire Adazi-Nnukwu people at the Afor Market Square on Saturday, August 31, 2019.
Fides gathered that the celebration was an avenue for the indigenes in the community to appreciate God for the bountiful harvest granted onto them and to encourage farming through the contest which was organized for yam farmers.
Speaking at the event, the head of Amolu Clan, Chief Pius Obiakonwa (Ezeani Udoka Mma) thanked God for the relative peace and unity being enjoyed in the clan and town in recent times and enjoined the people to continually embrace peaceful virtues for enhanced development.
In an address, the President General of Adazi-Nnukwu Town Development Union (ATDU) Hon. Frank Mmaduike thanked the people of Amolu clan for successful organization of the innovative competition in the community and maintained that the town was considering its adoption as part of activities for its annual new yam celebration. He stated that such healthy competition was capable on engendering the much needed peace and progress in the community.
An agricultural consultant and Patron/Specia Adviser to ATDU (Women) on Agricultural matters, Dr. Matthew Nwike in his contribution advised the people to always key into various agricultural programmes such as the recent Yam Mass Production and Export Scheme of the Governor Willie Obiano Administration. He stated that the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has procured special variety of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) which was currently being organically planted by selected farmers in the state for export purposes.
The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Prof. Augustine Obiekezie (Adama) represented by the Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Kanu Ugwumba (Odu), conducted the traditional rites of cutting the new yam and prayed God to sustain the peaceful and brotherly love among people of the town.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairman of Anaocha LGA, Hon. Barr. Ndubusi Obiadi (Ide) presented gift prizes to the winners of the yam competition. Mr. Cyprian Ndulue emerged winner and received the grand prize of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) followed by Mr. Ikenna Nwilo and Chief Pius Obiakonwa as second and third place winners, receiving Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) and Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000) respectively.
#Source:Fides Newspaper