By Paulyne Eba
The State Government says it will use the celebration of the Leboku International New Yam Festival 2016 to re-engineer a focus on the need for youth to return to Agriculture and participate actively in both food and cash crop production.
The Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade stated Government position in his address at this year’s celebration of the festival held at the Peace Stadium, Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area of the State.
He used the occasion theme “Festival of Peace” to urge our youth across the State to key into the farming initiative and contribute to the overall development of our economy, emphasizing that we must produce and package Cross River Rice and other agricultural produce for export.
Governor Ayade maintains that Leboku as a festival holds a great future, both for the Yakurr indigenes, the State and the Nation at large, adding that the proper packaging of the event into a tourism brand is a deliberate attempt by government to offer value addition to our food crops in order to encourage micro enterprises.
He then used the occasion to specially commend corporate partners on Leboku like Multi Media Telecommunication Network (MTN), Nigeria and Multi Choice, noting that all efforts are paying off as many hotels and hospitality industries are springing up in Ugep to provide accommodation and other sundry needs for our ever teaming tourists.
While wishing all present a warm and fruitful celebration, Sen. Ben Ayade admonished all Cross Riverians to as a matter of deliberate policy endeavor to own a family fish pond or a small garden behind their houses in order to put nutritious meals on our tables and also contribute to family income.
In his welcome address, His Royal Majesty, the Obol Lopon and Grand Patriarch of the Yakurr Nation, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng expressed his appreciation of the people of Yakurr to Governor Ayade for his responsiveness to issues that border on them, the rehabilitation of 2no. Urban Roads in Ugep urban among others and pledged the loyalty and commitment of the people to the success of the Senator Ben Ayade administration.
Obol Ubana Eteng also charged the youth to do away with vices that are inimical to the peace and overall development of our society and appealed to government to continue to keep peace within the Laboku International Festival.
Also speaking the Chairman of Yakurr L.G.A, Hon Ikpi Ikpi Akpama, who described Yakurr as the paradise of culture and tradition, noted that his people believe in the value of hardwork entrepreneurship, integrity and hospitality which is expressed in their intricate traditional rituals and dances.
He said the 2016 edition of the festival took a spectacular dimension because of the brilliant administrative re-engineering of the present administration thereby inspiring greater interest and participation by youths. Tourists and visitors to the International Festival and appreciated governments profound interest in the development of Yakurr.
