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Glorify God through your Cultural heritage-Rev Fr Dim urges Parishioners  …As St Anthony Imo-Abia community celebrates New Yam Festival 

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By Ignatius Okorocha
It was celebration galore as Parishioners of St Anthony Imo-Abia Catholic community in Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) Kurudu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday, September 15, 2024, rolled out their drums in celebration of their New Yam Festival, popularly known as( Iri Ji- Ohuru Festival in Igboland)
The occasion which displayed traditional Yam-Ban containing yams of different sizes and roasted yams one of which was cut to pieces by the traditional ruler of Ndigbo in Kurudu known as H R H,      Igwe Goodluck,Eze Igbo Gburugburu of  Kurudu who was the first to test the yam and followed by the Parish Priest, Very Rev Fr Thaddeus  Chike Dim and other dignitaries invited to grace  the occasion.
The event featured traditional dances by Imo-Abia community women and men in their numbers even as members of Imo-Abia community appeared in their Isi-Agu ceremonial attire.
The community used the occasion to raise funds in support of the on-going church projects.
Fielding questions from Our Correspondent, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dim, called on Parishioners to glorify God through their diverse cultural heritage.
“It is something beautiful for Imo-Abia community in my Parish to have come together to celebrate part of the Igbo culture “New Yam festival, popularly known as ( Iri Ji- Ohuru)”  in our Parish, Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) Kurudu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kurudu.
“You can see that since we gathered here, it has been a thing of joy. Different cultural groups, singing, Dancing, cutting and eating the New Yam.
“This is the yam that was cultivated this year, it has blossomed and we are celebrating it.”
On the significance of the celebration of the new yam festival in the tradition of the church, Fr Chike said,” traditionally in Igbo culture before you plant yam, you go and pray to God, if you remember in the literature book known as “Things fall apart” by Chinua Achebe Onoka before he planted his crops he went and called on his gods to bless and make it fruitful. He reminded his (Chi as it is known in traditional religion) that it  was a new planting season and that he was  going to plant his crops and begged his gods to assist him so that they will give increase to his crops.
So, today’s ceremony is something that we should do before the commencement of farming season  and after we have  harvested our crops. Again if we experience bountiful harvest there is need for us to come back to thank God.
” Traditionally, that is how it should be done. So, as Christians, our believe is  in Christ and therefore all our praises go  to God in our planting season.
The very significant thing that we are doing today, is that we are thanking God for giving us increase, giving us a bountiful harvest this year. The ceremony has a very significant place in the Catholic Church and I encourage all  communities in the Parish to celebrate it.
We are thanking God for his blessings.
On why out of the two major Igbo communities in CKC parish Kurudu, comprising St Anthony Imo-Abia Catholic community and St Joseph Enugu-Anambra and Ebonyi, only St Anthony Imo-Abia community are celebrating this core Igbo culture ( Iri-ji Ohuru), Fr Dim, an Indigene of Imo state said at the planning level he asked the leadership of the st Joseph community why his community was not joining their counter part in celebrating the new yam festival and he was told that St Joseph’s community would celebrate theirs next year.
 He said he was looking forward to seeing st Joseph’s community perform it’s new yam festival by next year.
On his advice to other ethnic nationalities in the parish on how to celebrate their culture, he said, “You know in the past, many people used to think that the church does not promote culture, it is not true. There is what is called inculturation: things like Kola-nut, Yam etc and these things we celebrate in our culture should be something that the church should continue to celebrate and   promote.
“So, I call on the other communities in this parish in particular and even in the diocese at large, to make out time and  celebrate their cultural heritage. One beautiful thing that this will do for us is  that we would be able to hand over our culture to our younger ones.”
Continuing he said,”Some of our children are growing outside the Igboland and it is the duty of our parents to introduce our culture to them. And so, if we celebrate our culture in the cities where we reside, our children and younger generation will learn our culture and this culture will be handed over from generation to another generation.
 “It is not something that will die because they are no more living in their places of origin such as the villages  and as such our culture should not die. No! these are beautiful things that God has given to us.
“The yam is a beautiful thing that God has given us today, we are eating it, it is something that makes our people proud.
“So, we should maintain such culture in all the communities and I encourage my parishioners to emulate their diverse  cultural heritage just like St Anthony Imo-Abia community is doing today.
“Please bring your cultural heritage up and let the younger generation learn from it and remember that at the end, we are all giving glory to God who has blessed us and given us these verities that we have in different cultures.”
In his remarks, Chairman of Imo-Abia community in CKC Kurudu, Chief Honorus Obasi took out time to trace the origin of New Yam festival in Igboland. He said,”The festival is a joyful celebration in appreciation of a successful farming season, that is, when the yam and other crops are satisfactory, good, indeed very bountiful.
“It is a celebration of culture, well-being and life achievement. In times past, large-scale yam farming was considered a symbol of prosperity and one’s maturity. But who are the Igbo one may ask?
“Origin: Iri ji ohuru has its origin in the Igbo homeland, but now celebrated around the world where Igbos are found in reasonable numbers. Its celebration typically depicts Igbo history, tradition, religion and culture and thanksgiving with Emume, Ifejioku, Iwa ji, Ahajioku, Ofala, etc. The event holds on a market day generally at the end of the cropping season.
This is often presided over by the Eze or traditional head of the community, assisted by Ndi Ezeji and the eldest person in the community. Prayers are made to Chukwu-Okike-Abiama, the Igbo God, who has given plenty of yams to the people, that He continues to bless us to prosper the growth, cultivation and harvest of yams in our communities.”
Continuing he said,”The Igbo people are found in many states in the southeast, as well as Delta, Benue, and other adjoining states. The area is located in the rainforest belt, stretching from the delta in the south and bounded in the north by the Igala and the Idoma; in the northeast by the Tiv and the Yako; in the south by the Ogoni and the Ijaw; in the east by the Umon and the Ekoi; in the southeast by the Ibibio and the Annang; in the west by the Isoko and the Urhobo, and in the northwest by the Bini and the Ishan. With an estimated population of 32,000,000 (thirty-two million) by 2010 population count, leaving an average Igbo land of 2,025 people per square mile, making it one of the most densely populated regions in Africa.
“Yam in Igbo Civilization:One of the world largest producers of yam is Igbo land. This implies that the Igbo are traditionally agriculturists, and yam has long served as the principal dietary staple food. In many areas, its tuber is widely recognized for its medicinal properties, and its leaves chewed to relieve gastric distress and the root provides steroids with anti-inflammatory properties that reduce cholesterol levels, swellings caused by arthritis, rheumatism and fungal growths on human skin. The Igbo have built a unique ‘civilization’ around her own genius of the crop. Due to its prime social value among the people, it is considered the king of their crops. All interests, desires and dreams converge upon it; prestige, fame and power rest upon it, and around it are organised institutions, rituals and ceremonies such as the Yam Festival as demonstrated in today’s occasion.
“The annual festival of Iri ji ohuru re-ignite our belief in the philosophy of Umunna Wu Ike, the typical Igbo solidarity. Religiously speaking, this event reminds Ndi Igbo of the implications of the Christian doctrine of Holy Communion, the Resurrection and Fellowship that characterize the gathering around the Lord’s Table as a people of God. We recommend its concept be adapted into the Christian liturgy so that the ceremony can become fully Christianized and add pep to the liturgical celebration.
“We pray for good health, protection against diseases, the fertility of our people, domestic animals and our farmland. The climax of the Thanksgiving is the distribution of the cooked and roasted tubers of yam with mmiri oku ya and chicken pepper soup to all the gathered people present, singing, dancing, drinking and generally making merriment. The Iri ji ohuru festival ranks as the most esteemed of all Igbo festivals. It reminds us that we have a religious obligation to cultivate yams, no matter how small
The Iri ji ohuru festival is a vibrant event in Igbo culture and tradition, highlighting the importance of yam in Igbo society. It also demonstrates the rich cultural heritage of the people.”
The event was graced by the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Thaddeus Chike Dim(OCD) who was accompanied by the associate Priest, Rev Fr Cyril Udom (OCD),Rev Johncross  Onyedikachi Ozo(OCD) and other dignitaries.

General News

WAEC, NECO to adopt CBT for exams 2026

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Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa
By Our Correspondent
 In a bid to ensure that Nigerian students compete favourably with their counterparts in West African subregion, the Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to adopt full Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the monitoring of the ongoing exams alongside JAMB officials, in Bwari on Monday.
Recall  that more than 2 million candidates registered for the ongoing examination in more than 800 centres across the country.
Alausa revealed that both the WAEC and NECO would start administering their objective papers via CBT effective this November.
According to him, subsequently adopting the CBT for the essay and objective components would commenced fully by May/June 2026.
”If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same.
“We are going to get WAEC and NECO to also start their objective exam on CBT.
“By 2026 exams which will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essay will be fully on CBT. That is how we can eliminate exam malpractices.”
Alausa also disclosed that a committee is currently reviewing examination standards nationwide, with recommendations expected next month.
Earlier, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while speaking on the early schedule of the exams, clarified that the board’s UTME exams had always begun at 8:00 a.m.
Oloyede said that candidates were only expected to be on ground by 6:30 a.m., to enable them get accredited before the exams.
He dismissed complaints about early arrival times, noting that it was necessary to screen candidates before exams begin.
“We have always started our exams at 8 o’clock. The first session is 8 o’clock, second session 10:30, third session, 1 p.m, and fourth session 3:30p.m.
Oloyede also debunked claims of candidates being posted to centres they did not choose, stating that investigations showed no such cases happened.
He confirmed that more than 1.6 million out of 2.03 million registered candidates had completed their exams, with about 50,000 remaining.
The registrar also disclosed that more than 40 candidates had been arrested for malpractice, including impersonation and attempting to smuggle out exam questions with hidden cameras.
He declared that of the registered candidates, more than 41,000 were underage.
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Construction Company debunks roof leakage in NASS . .says report driven by ‘bad belle’

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NASS complex

 

By George Mgbeleke
The Managing Director of Laralek Ultimate Construction Company , Olalekan Adebiyi has debunked media reports on purported roof leakage at the white house segment of the National Assembly on Friday during storming downpour .

An online platform had in the early hours of Saturday , reported that the violently storming rain that fell on Friday , made mince meat of renovation work carried out by one of the subsidiaries of Laralek (Visible Construction Company ) on roofs and other areas of the National Assembly complex from 2022 to 2024.

The online medium in the report alleged that some staff of the National Assembly lamented that if the N38billion renovation work was given to Julius Berger , there wouldn’t have been problem of roof leakage again during rain fall , positing that the Federal Capital Development Authority( FCDA) that awarded the contract to Visible Construction Company , compromised .

But hours after the publication , the Managing Director of Laralek Ultimate Construction Company , Olalekan Adebiyi in a telephone conversation with journalists covering the National Assembly said the report was fake as investigation carried out by them through their subsidiary company used to execute the contract ( Visible Construction),, revealed that there was no leakage from the roof at the White House segment of the National Assembly

According to him, Amothene , imported from United States of America ( USA) and applied to the points of leakages on the roof , is water tight and can never leak .

” The report to us , is unfounded and simply put , bad belle because if it was Julius Berger that carried out the renovation work , no such fake report , will be written against it .

” I wonder why some Nigerians always like to be enemies of their fellow country men for no good reason whatsoever .

“We checked and found out that it was an ingress of water that came through the Smaller windows at the upper part of the Chamber Building that flooded the floor and not roof leakage .

” The said story or report , has no single picture of points of leakages from the roof which to us , is very unprofessional and unethical .

“The report is fake as there was no leakage from any point on the roof. We did a good job and stand by it and shall surely be vindicated as more and more rains will still fall in the coming weeks and months “, he said .

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Imbibe the culture of humility, love, sacrifice Says, Apostle Godfrey Omodubor – as BMNA honours him

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Apostle Godfrey Omodubor being honored by BMMA

 

By David Owei, Baylesa

Pastors have been advised to imbibed the culture of humility, love and sacrifice towards their members and the society in general.

This was handed down on Sunday by Apostle Godfrey Omodubor at the Faith Gospel Revival Deliverance Ministries Worldwide in Eteqwe, Yenagoa the bayelsa state capital during an award ceremony in his honour.

The award which was bestowed on him by the organizers of the most prestigious award, the Bayelsa Media Network Award (B.M.N.A) as the “Prophet of the Year 2025″ due to his outstanding love and care for the people.

Prophet Godfrey Omodubor said, he was honoured by the award and it is a call to do more for the society.

” I was not expecting it neither did I solicited for it, but as it please God to honour me this way, I must say am very happy and God will empower me to do more”.

” If God called you, he will back you up and give you all that you needed to succeed. It only required patience, endurance and hard work. God is not a magician neither is God a debtor, he paid everyone at the right time and in due season”.

He thanked the organizers for deeming it fit to recognize his little contributions to the society.

Presenting the award, the Project Manager, Bayelsa Media Network Award Mr. Blessing Ozegbe said, the award was as a result of Apostle Godfrey Omodubor contributions to the development of society in general.

The Project Manager described the man of God as a faithful and hardworking man, saying despite being a spiritual Father he still reachout to people within and outside his domain.

“We have been observing him from far and from investigation and testimonies of people around, his is truly a man of God full of humility and respect for both young and old alike. His character is worth emulating and I pray that other men of God will learn from him.

“This is an award that is not commonly given and because we couldn’t find a worthy person last year, this category was suspended and by the grace of God this year, we discovered this man of humility, full of love and sacrifice to be given the award “.

He encourage the man of God not relent in doing good to people and to see his calling as a genuine call from God.

The award ceremony was witnessed by his large congregation and visitors which also happened to be his birthday.

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