The paramount ruler of Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Minen Takon Atangba Nkpa, has called for a centralised New Yam Festival to unite the people and attract investment, tourism and development to the area.

The monarch made the call during an interaction with the Nigerian Tribune, following the conclusion of the Ekpache Nkome new yam festival, held at the Ikom Stadium.

Nkpa described the festival as an important part of Ikom’s cultural identity and economic life, saying a coordinated celebration would provide an opportunity to showcase the area’s agricultural and cultural potential to investors and development partners.

According to him, the festival was not merely a cultural event but also an occasion for communities to appreciate God for the harvest and celebrate the contributions of farmers to the local economy.

“The New Yam festival is more than a cultural celebration. It is our way of thanking God for the bountiful harvest He has granted to the people of Ekpache Nkome in particular,” the monarch said.

He added that yam remain central to the livelihood and cultural identity of farmers in the area.

“For our farmers, the yam is not just food. It is life, wealth and identity,” he said.

The traditional ruler expressed concern over what he described as the fragmented manner in which communities and units in Ikom celebrate their new yam festivals on different dates and different formats.

He argued that such fragmentation diminished the potential economic and developmental benefits of the celebrations.

“Today, we see that various units and communities in Ikom Local Government Area celebrate the New Yam on different days and in different styles. When we celebrate in fragments, our impact is scattered,” he noted.

He said a unified festival will enable the government, investors and development partners to view Ikom as a united and potentially viable destination for investment rather than as a collection of smaller communities.

Nkpa urged the people of Ikom to emulate the annual Leboku festival in Yakurr Local Government Area, which he said had grown beyond a local cultural celebration to become a major tourism and development event.

“Take the example of Yakurr Local Government Area. Yakurr comes together as one people to celebrate the Leboku New Yam in a grand and centralised manner,” he said.

To achieve the objective, the monarch proposed the harmonisation of New Yam festival dates across Ikom, with communities agreeing on a central date or week for the celebration.

He also called for the establishment of a central planning committee comprising representatives of the various clans and communities to coordinate the festival and liaise with government agencies, corporate organisations and potential sponsors.

The traditional ruler further advocated the strategic packaging of Ikom’s cultural heritage, cuisine, music, dance and agricultural produce as part of the festival’s attractions.

Nkpa expressed optimism that a unified festival will increase government and private-sector attention to the area and stimulate investment in infrastructure, markets, tourism and other sectors. (Nigerian Tribune)