Igbos under the aegis of Igbo Stakeholders Forum in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA),recently celebrated their new yam festival. The event which was held at Greenfield Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, was graced by prominent government officials like the Commissioner for Land Affairs, Ladi Ajomale, the Executive Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Area, Samsudeen Olaleye and his vice chairman ,Bayo Olaseji, the former House of Representative member for Oshodi- Isolo Federal Constituency, Hon.Hakeem Muniru.


Also in attendance were notable Igbo traditional rulers like Eze Uzu Ichida, in Anambra State, Eze Ambrose Ubah, the Eze Igbo of Mushin Land, Eze John Nwosu, prominent Igbo leader in Lagos, Chief Oliver Akubueze among others. Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of Igbo Stakeholders Forum Isolo, Prince Nixon Okwara said yam in Igbo land is regarded as the king of crops.

Okwara who is the son of the late traditional ruler of Isiekenese in Ideato Local government Area in Imo State, Eze Okwaruba said the new yam festival signifies to the Igbos, the beginning of harvesting season. He said Igbo uses the festival to show appreciation to God Almighty for keeping them alive through out the planting season and also use the opportunity to pray for good health and protection while they await the next planting season.


According to him, the main reason why they are celebrating it outside Igbo land is to acquaint their children who are born in Diaspora with the culture and tradition of their people. On the origin of Igbo stakeholders Forum, he said it was a child of circumstance. According to him, after the 2015 general election, the relationship between the Igbo and their host community, that is the Yoruba deteriorated considerably.

He said some well meaning Igbo men living in Isolo came together to think of a platform that they could use to dialogue with their host community who has been good to them. According to him, they came up with a chatter of demand which included government giving the Igbos in the area sense of belonging by constructing the roads in Igbo highly populated areas ,giving them employment, political appointments and other things. He said the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Alliance, Chief Henry Ajomale and other leaders of thought in the Local Council Development Area adopted the chatter of demand and magnimously begin to implement them. According to him, that has led to the Igbo been given two councillorship slots out of the seven in the last Lagos Council poll. He also said the tenement rate they pay in the area has reduced considerably as part of the demands of the forum Okwara said the Igbo stakeholders forum has brought about harmonious relationship between the Igbo and their host community.

In his contribution ,the Executive Chairman Isolo Council Development Arwa,Samsudeen Olaleye described the Igbos living in his council as partners in progress. According to him ,they have contributed immensely in the development of the area. He described the chairman of the forum, Prince Okwara as a man with a midas touch. According to him, when Prince Okwara was the chairman of Greenfield estate, he made Isolo proud by winning the best Community development area in Lagos State. He also said that before the council election, Okwara ssured him that Igbos living in his council would vote for him and they did so massively.

“I am very proud of the chairman of your forum. Whatever he touches turns to gold. I want to form Okota Stakeholders forum and he is one of the two people that I am going to work with because he is a great mobilize of men and means.

Also contributing, the Commissioner for Land Affaira, Ladi Ajomale commended the harmonious relationship existing between the Igbos and the Yoruba in Isolo in particular and Lagos State in general. According to him, the other name for democracy is development. However, he said there cannot be development in the absence of peace. He appreciated Prince Okwara for his efforts to ensure there is a platform where the indigenes and non indigenes can sit at a round table to iron out their challenges and move forward.

He also promised to ensure that Igbos would be getting their fair share in the scheme of things in the state.

Igbo amaka!
Proudly Igbo!!

In my next life, I'll still be IGBO

fh