The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) Youths, in a spirited show of cultural solidarity and respect, have paid homage to their Global Chairman, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, who also serves as the Regent of Abagana, during this year’s Awam Ji Festival in Abagana, Anambra State.
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The Awam Ji Festival, one of the most cherished traditional events in Igboland, marks the annual celebration of the new yam harvest. Beyond its agricultural symbolism, the festival is a reaffirmation of identity, gratitude, and cultural continuity. For the people of Abagana, it also serves as an occasion to honour their leaders and uphold the values of tradition.
Leading the youth delegation was Comrade Chukwuebuka E. Ogbodo, IWA Youth Coordinator, who was accompanied by state coordinators of IWA, members of the Ezedike community, and Ambassador Gabriel U. Odi, South East Caucus Leader of the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN). Other executive members of the IWA Youth Council also joined the delegation, bringing youthful energy and a renewed sense of unity to the cultural gathering.
Dressed in colourful Igbo attire, the youths arrived with chants, songs, and symbolic gifts, merging the vibrancy of youth with the dignity of tradition.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Comrade Ogbodo congratulated Dr. Anakwenze, commending his visionary leadership and lifelong commitment to youth empowerment. He reaffirmed the loyalty of Igbo youths to the Regent’s ideals, stressing that “the future of the Igbo nation rests on leadership that invests in education, entrepreneurship, and civic participation.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Odi likened Dr. Anakwenze’s role to that of Igbo icons such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He described the Regent as a historic figure whose contributions transcend his community, declaring: “Your footsteps are already imprinted on the sands of time.”
Dr. Anakwenze, widely respected across Igboland and the diaspora, has been at the forefront of youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and community development. As Global Chairman of IWA, he has consistently championed unity among Igbo people worldwide, promoting education, economic growth, and political participation. His dual role as Regent of Abagana and leader of IWA underscores his significance as both a custodian of tradition and a bridge between generations.
The homage paid by IWA youths, marked by the presentation of a symbolic gift, represented more than a cultural courtesy. It signified respect, loyalty, and a shared commitment to sustaining the heritage of the Igbo people.
For Abagana and the wider Igbo nation, the 2025 Awam Ji Festival highlighted the importance of intergenerational cooperation. Elders and youths came together in dialogue, blending ancestral wisdom with youthful energy to chart a progressive future.
As the festival came to a close, the mood was one of celebration and optimism. With cultural dancers and masquerades thrilling the audience, and the voices of Igbo youths blending harmoniously with traditional chants, the future of Abagana, and indeed Igboland, resonated with promise.
The homage to Dr. Anakwenze was not just a tribute to leadership but also a pledge of generational partnership, ensuring that the cultural and developmental aspirations of the Igbo people remain vibrant, united, and enduring.