Glitz, Glamour as Vitel Wireless lights up New Yam Festival in Anambra

..CEO tasks Indigenes on self help for community development

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      BY THEO RAYS / ONITSHA

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It was a movement of groove, excitement and carnival of sort at Akanano village in the ancient town of Ogidi in Anambra State just as Vitel Wireless, the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) pulled the strength as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSO) to lights up the 2025 edition of the annual Akanano Ogidi New Yam festival with colourful activities and business opportunities.

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The event which attracted massive turn out as a carnival of sort was described as an ancient culture and tradition of Akanano Ogidi when the people settle down after harvesting their new yam, to relax and make merry and appreciate God after the tedious months of farming. In attendance were High Chiefs, Ndi Ichie Akanano, the women and the children including Umu Ada na Ndi Inyom (the daughters of the family and the wives) with assorted masquerades performing in turns and conviviality.

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Our correspondent reports that the occasion which is known and called “Ili Iji Akanano, Ogidi New Yam Festival” was also used to launch a 10klm road drainage construction and installation of street light to boost development in the village. In his address, the Traditional Prime Minister of Akanano High Chief Engr Emeka Ken Nwabueze (Ajie Okpalla Ogidi) described the festival as a time when the people converge to appreciate the goodness of God following good harvests in the farm noting that Akanano which is the first born among the four quarters that make up the ancient town of Ogidi is doing well endowed to the glory of God.

Admitting God’s endorsements on the people repeatedly, the Vitel Wireless boss announced the launch of a dual project of 10klm road drainage construction and installation of street light to be embarked upon by the good people of Akanano on a self help basis, adding that the dual project is to boost movement, security and night life needed to enhance the economy of the village.

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He donated N20million for the dual project and called on the people to appreciate the goodness of God by providing their widow’s might into the  dual project for completion in no distance time.

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According to him “Akanano has no land to sell nor borrow pit for sand excavation, but the community is blessed with quality human resources who are doing well in their various walks of life.We are calling on our people at home and in the diaspora to leverage our resources by taking up a project that can transform our community into an industrial area with a boulevard to attract our youths and keep them out of crime and criminality”, he opined.

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In a remark, the traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Pharm. Alex Onyido, represented by the Onowu Ogidi (Traditional Prime Minister of Ogidi), High Chief Eddy Ndichie explained that Igwe Ogidi had heralded the celebration of the New Yam Festival in Ogidi when he blessed the New Yam for Ndi Ogidi which is usually followed by the consumption of the New Yam (Ili Ji ) by all the Quarters in Ogidi led by their Quarter Ministers according to the ancient culture of Ogidi. He prayed for long life and prosperity in good health for Ndi Akanano in particular and the entire good people of Ogidi in general.

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In their separate remarks, the President, Akanano Central Executive Committee, Chief Ndubisi Akaobi, the Chairman of Ndi Ichie Ogidi, Chief Benjamin Obiechina, and the Chairman of the Youths, Mr. Ikechukwu Okonkwo paid tribute to High Chief Nwabueze for his forward looking approach in the development of Akanano Ogidi and assured that they will do their best to ensure that the project will be safeguarded.

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Speaking on the sponsorship, the MD/Chief Operation Officer (COO) of Vitel Wireless Mr Chudi Nwabueze explained that the MVNO company deemed it good enough to be part of the festival and its grassroots gathering to start connecting urban and rural dwellers with its innovate goods and services in communication business hence the decision to sponsor the Akanano Ogidi New Yam festival.

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The MD/COO said the Akanano festival provided the urban and rural dwellers like, farmers, traders, market women, teachers, local Church leaders and students among others in Akanano and its neighbourhood the opportunity to buy into the nationwide program of Vitel Wireless tagged “operation double your hustle” with several offers including opportunity to onboard 3,000 entrepreneurs, distributors and agents nationwide within a short period.

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Other highlights of the festival is cutting and eating of the new yam with oil bean source, homages to High Chief Nwabueze by different groups, cultural display of masquerades and dancing groups, free distribution of Yam tubers to selected people and presentation of Award of Merritt and installation of the Chief host the Ajie Okpala Ogidi High Chief Nwabueze as the Grand Patron/Pillar of the House (Ide Ji Uno) of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Ogidi by the Parish Priest Rev Fr Dr Patrick Agba.