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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru has described culture as the foundation of economic and social growth of any nation.
He also said culture unites every nation and urged people of the state to uphold their cultures and traditions.
Nwifuru stated this at the weakened in Edukwu Igweledeoha, Amagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state during the grand finale of Aji-Ereke festival of the community.
Represented by his Principal Secretary, Chief Mathias Adum, the Governor said no nation, community or group will succeed without culture and commended the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah for yearly organizing the Aji-Ereke grand finale to preserve the community’s culture.
“Our culture is the foundation of our economic and social growth. No nation, no community, no group should allow their culture to die.
“If you lose your culture, you will lose your tomorrow, you will lose your identity and the ones you assimilate to acquire, you will never get them..
“Youth should imbibe the virture of culture starting from their language. Don’t lose your language because you want to speak French or English because it will never place food on your table.
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“Culture has come to stay, it will never die. You can see the type of tourism going on here in this festival. If you don’t know your history and culture, then you will not get anywhere”, he stated
Addressing the mammoth crowd at the festival, Ogah called for cultural reawakening, cautioning against the gradual erosion of tradition through digital abstraction and performative identity.
He urged the people to return to the lived experience of culture, to practice, preserve, and transmit it as a functional legacy.
According to him, Aji-Ereke remains a strategic instrument for reinforcing kinship solidarity, strengthening communal bonds, and galvanizing collective will towards a shared vision of progress.
He emphasized unity, peace, and inclusive prosperity as both cultural imperatives and political necessities.
He invoked divine blessings for a fruitful planting season this year which the festival represents, thereby reinforcing its intrinsic alignment with agrarian productivity, renewal, and abundance.
In his royal benediction, a traditional ruler in the community, Isaiah Otubo, extolled the unity and resilience of the people of the community.
He reiterated the urgent need for authenticity in cultural practice and implored the people to resist the dilution of their heritage and uphold tradition as a living legacy rather than a symbolic performance.
