BY PAUL EGEDE
IN a remarkable show of respect and solidarity, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Youth Mobilization and Chairman of OML 147 IKANDO Host Communities Development Trust, Comrade Festus Uwamagbe, has extended heartfelt felicitations to the Paramount Ruler and Obi of Abavo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi Uche Irenuma II, and the entire Abavo people, as they mark the celebration of the kingdom’s age-long New Yam Festival (Iwa-Igi).
Uwamagbe, who is also the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Abavo Chapter, described the Iwa-Igi, which commenced on September 27, 2025, and rounded off a week after, as more than just a festival, but a symbol of heritage, unity, and identity for the Abavo people.
He emphasized that the new yam festival was a revered cultural practice that has withstood the test of time, passed down through generations to promote communal peace, gratitude, and celebration of agricultural abundance.
“The Iwa-Igi is not just a festival; it is a celebration of life, unity, and the resilience of our people. It is a tradition that binds us together and connects us to our roots. It is our responsibility to keep it alive,” he said.
He further commended the planting of 100 trees at Obiayima-Abavo Community and Abavo Central, describing the initiative as a visionary step towards environmental sustainability and a significant complement to the cultural essence of the celebration.
According to him, such eco-conscious gestures during traditional festivals are commendable and should be encouraged across other communities in Delta State.
“Planting trees during the celebration is a commendable initiative that aligns with global calls for environmental action. It shows that Abavo is not just preserving culture, but also safeguarding the future,” he added.
Uwamagbe used the opportunity to call on the people of Abavo—both at home and in the diaspora—to remain united, uphold the cultural values of the land, and work collectively to ensure that age-old traditions like the Iwa-Igi do not go into extinction.
He, therefore, wished the monarch, HRM Obi Uche Irenuma II, and all indigenes of Abavo Kingdom a peaceful, joyous, and bountiful new yam festival, praying for continuous peace, progress, and prosperity in the land. “May this Iwa-Igi celebration bring renewed strength, wisdom, and unity to the palace, the people, and the land of Abavo. Long live the tradition, long live Abavo Kingdom”, he concluded.
