The Traditional Ruler of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom and Chairman, Orlu Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze E.C. Okeke (Eze Udo II) has called on Imolites to preserve Igbo culture, stressing that an ethnic group should be known with some particular traits.
Eze Okeke made this call while celebrating the 2016 Iri-Ji Festival at his palace in Amaifeke, Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State.
Answering questions on the importance of the festival, Eze Okeke stated their ancient fathers introduced it as a way of resting and appeasing the land for bumper harvest after series of stress during the planting season.
Continuing, the royal father said the observance of annual Iri-Ji Festival was very important because it brings people in the community together as both farmers and non-farmers afforded them the opportunity to interact and discuss the way forward for the new planting season.
Furthermore, Eze Okeke said now that the Federal Government was laying emphasis on economic diversification through agriculture, Nigerians should welcome it and pursue agricultural business with every vigour in order to meet with the challenges of food shortages.
He advised the colleges and universities of agriculture in the country to come up with ideas that would help the nation to compete with other countries of the world in terms of agro business.
