The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, on Monday evening celebrated the 2026 New Yam Festival at his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, with a renewed call on governments at all levels to prioritise food security through deliberate investments in agriculture and sustained support for farmers across the country.

The annual cultural festival, which attracted traditional rulers, chiefs, farmers, community leaders, women and youth groups, featured colourful cultural displays, traditional rites, thanksgiving for a successful farming season and prayers for abundant harvests in the coming year.

In a statement by the Senior Media Officer, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni described agriculture as the bedrock of national development, stressing that no nation can attain sustainable economic prosperity without guaranteeing food sufficiency for its citizens.

According to the Ooni, the New Yam Festival remains one of the oldest cultural festivals in Yorubaland, symbolising gratitude to Olodumare for a successful harvest while honouring the invaluable contributions of farmers to the survival of humanity.

He urged the Federal, State and Local Governments to formulate and faithfully implement policies that would make farming more attractive, particularly to young Nigerians, through improved access to land, modern farming equipment, credit facilities, security for farming communities and adequate market opportunities.

“Food security should remain a national priority. Every government must deliberately support our farmers because they remain the backbone of our economy and the custodians of our collective survival.

“Nigeria is richly blessed with fertile land and hardworking people. What we need is the right commitment to agricultural development. We must continue to encourage our farmers, improve agricultural value chains and ensure that farming becomes profitable for both small and commercial-scale producers.

“Our cultural heritage must continue to complement economic development. The New Yam Festival is not merely a celebration of harvest; it is a reminder that agriculture remains central to our prosperity, food security and national stability,” the Ooni said.

Ooni Ogunwusi further noted that preserving indigenous festivals such as the New Yam Festival helps sustain the cultural identity of the Yoruba people while promoting tourism, economic activities and communal unity.

As part of the celebration, freshly harvested yam tubers were traditionally presented before the Ooni for prayers and blessings before roasted yam was shared among dignitaries in line with age-long customs. Hundreds of tubers of yam and other agricultural produce were equally distributed to participants as symbols of abundance and shared prosperity.

The colourful ceremony was enlivened by performances from cultural troupes, traditional drummers, praise singers and dancers who showcased the rich cultural heritage of Ile-Ife, regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race.

Speaking earlier, the Lowa Adimula of Ifeland, His Royal Highness, Oba Adekola Adeyeye, commended the Ooni for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the peace, unity and development of Ifeland.

The revered traditional ruler prayed for continued wisdom, sound health and long life for the Ooni, while also offering prayers for sustained peace, progress and prosperity across the ancient kingdom.

Oba Adekola equally appealed to political actors and residents of Osun State to uphold peace before, during and after the forthcoming governorship election, urging all stakeholders to place the interest of the state above personal and political ambitions.

He emphasised that peaceful coexistence remains indispensable for meaningful development, calling on the people of Osun to conduct themselves responsibly and allow democratic processes to prevail without violence or intimidation. (Nigerian Tribune)

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