… as Community Celebrates 25th Anniversary

JOS, Plateau State — Beneath colourful canopies, surrounded by men and women dressed in traditional Igbo attire, the aroma of freshly prepared delicacies and the sound of cultural celebrations, Igbo residents of Plateau State gathered not only to celebrate the new yam festival but also to reaffirm their shared identity, unity and commitment to peaceful coexistence.

For many of the participants, the gathering was more than a traditional ceremony. It was an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, strengthen relationships and remind themselves that living far from their ancestral homeland does not diminish their cultural identity.

At the centre of the celebration was Chief Hillary Chidi Onah, President-General of the Igbo community in Plateau State, who combined the 25th New Yam Festival celebration with his birthday anniversary, using the occasion to call on Nigerians to embrace unity, tolerance and forgiveness.

Speaking at the event held at Green Belt Garden, Terminus, Jos, on Sunday, Chief Onah described the Iri Ji festival as a celebration of the values that define the Igbo people, including hard work, resilience, enterprise and respect for tradition.

“Igbo culture is an embodiment of hard work and resilience. It represents who we are and celebrates our business spirit,” he said.

For Onah, the significance of the festival extends beyond colourful dances, traditional outfits and ceremonial displays. He explained that Igbo culture reflects the people’s everyday lives, including how they speak, dress, relate with others and uphold the values passed down through generations.

His message carried particular significance for an Igbo community living in Plateau State, where cultural identity and peaceful relationships with other ethnic groups remain important to community life.

Onah said bringing Igbo residents together under one cultural celebration would help showcase their heritage to the wider society while strengthening the bonds among people who share common ancestry.

He described the 2026 gathering as historic, noting that it was the first time Igbo people from all 17 local government areas of Plateau State had come together for the celebration.

The turnout, he said, offered encouragement to sustain the festival and make future editions even more successful.

“We organise this New Yam Festival every two years to bring together sons and daughters of the Igbo community and encourage unity among our people,” he explained.

He expressed optimism that the celebration would grow in scope and participation in subsequent years, while contributing to peace, cooperation and development in Plateau State.

Onah also reaffirmed his desire to live peacefully with people of different backgrounds, stressing the importance of tolerance and forgiveness in a diverse society.

The celebration featured the arrival and introduction of guests, an opening prayer, presentation and breaking of the kola nut, speeches, awards and displays of Igbo cultural heritage.

The kola nut ceremony, an important traditional practice symbolising hospitality, fellowship and respect, provided a moment to acknowledge the cultural values that connect generations.

Chief Fedilis Nnamdi, Onuwa/Onowu of Igbonine, Jos North, who performed the kola nut breaking, urged Igbo residents to demonstrate love and respect for their culture and traditions.

He said the festival would continue to serve as a platform for strengthening unity among Igbo people at home and abroad, while encouraging peaceful relationships across Nigeria.

Similarly, Chief Igwe Sam Achi called on Igbo residents to sustain their unity and participate actively in the forthcoming general elections, urging them to vote for candidates of their choice.

High Chief Livinus Ochenje Achi also described the Igbo as peace-loving Nigerians, encouraging community members to support peace and contribute to the continued development of Plateau State.

For the speakers, cultural solidarity and civic participation were closely connected. They urged residents to exercise their democratic rights while maintaining respect for people with different political opinions.

Mrs Lolo Achi expressed satisfaction with the growing sense of togetherness among Igbo residents in Plateau State. Reflecting on her family’s journey, she expressed gratitude to God for the blessings, opportunities and progress they had experienced since coming to the state.

She said the family’s achievements had reinforced their appreciation for the opportunities they had received and their desire to contribute positively to the society in which they live.

Barrister Peter Obi Ezeamalu, the Peoples Democratic Party legal adviser in Jos North Local Government Area, praised Onah for bringing together important stakeholders from the Igbo community.

He said the gathering provided an opportunity for the Igbo people to showcase their rich cultural heritage while reaffirming their contributions to the development of Plateau State.

Ezeamalu also encouraged community members to remain united, participate in the electoral process and support candidates of their choice.

As the celebration drew attention to the food, attire, customs and traditions that define Iri Ji, its deeper message remained clear: culture can serve as a bridge between communities rather than a barrier separating them.

For Igbo residents living in Plateau State, the festival offered a reminder that preserving their heritage does not prevent them from embracing their neighbours or contributing to their host state.

Chief Onah’s call for tolerance and forgiveness therefore extended beyond the celebration ground. It was an appeal for Nigerians to look beyond differences, respect one another and recognise the value of peaceful coexistence.

Ultimately, the success of the festival will not be measured only by the number of people who attended or the richness of the cultural displays, but also by the relationships strengthened and the spirit of unity carried beyond the celebration.

As the Igbo community looks forward to future editions, the hope is that the bonds forged through Iri Ji will continue to inspire cooperation, peaceful coexistence and shared progress across Plateau State and Nigeria.