■ It’s a period to acknowledge Owerri people’s resilience and industry
Former Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has enjoined the people of Owerri Nchi Ise in Imo State to leverage this year’s Oru Owere Festival to reaffirm love and tolerance among themselves. He described Oru Owere as a festival that reasserts Owerri people’s industry and deep-rooted cultural identity.
Dr. Ohakim stated this in his goodwill message to the Owerri Communities Assembly (OCA) and the people of Owerri Municipality, Imo State, as they celebrate the 2026 Oru Owere Festival. The festival begins today with the traditional roasting of yams garnished with oil beans and will climax with a colourful procession and other cultural activities at the Ugwu Ekwema Civic Centre, Egbu Road, Owerri, on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The former governor opined that the 2026 Oru Owere Festival signifies more than the eating of the new yam. “It marks thanksgiving, unity, culture, and renewal of bonds among the people of Owerri,” he said.
According to Dr. Ohakim, “Oru Owere is a reminder that after toil comes harvest. It symbolises that God and Owerri people’s ancestors have blessed the land. It is a time to acknowledge Owerri people’s resilience, industry, and deep respect for tradition that has kept their cultural heritage alive for generations.”
Dr. Ohakim averred that the festival is a mark of gratitude to God for granting the people a bountiful harvest. “It also symbolises homecoming, reconciliation, and the strengthening of the bonds that unite Owerri people. It is equally a celebration of Owerri people’s identity, music, attire, hospitality, and their pride as Ndigbo,” he noted.
The former governor told Owerri people: “As you gather with family, friends, and well-wishers to cut and eat the new yam, may this season bring more bountiful blessings upon your homes and farms, peace and unity across all the communities of Owerri, progress and prosperity to your sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora, and God’s continued protection and good health for your elders, the custodians of culture, as well as God’s guidance for the younger generation who will carry the torch forward.”
Dr. Ohakim further expressed his hope that the 2026 Oru Owere Festival would usher in a new season of growth for Owerri people in education, business, security, and development. “Let this festival rekindle your commitment to upholding your cultural values of hard work, respect, and communal living,” he reiterated.
“On behalf of my family and all well-wishers, I wish Owerri people a joyous, peaceful, and memorable Oru Owere 2026,” Dr. Ohakim posited.
