Ogidi Fidelis Odey Sends Special Message and Advice to Youths on Yala New Yam Festival

Ogidi Fidelis Odey Sends Special Message and Advice to Youths on Yala New Yam Festival

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

As the people of Yala Local Government Area and across Cross River State gather to celebrate the 2025 edition of the historic New Yam Festival, the Chief Executive Officer of Primeo Enterprise, Ogidi Fidelis Odey, has extended his heartfelt goodwill message while also offering timely words of advice to the younger generation.

A Message of Gratitude and Unity

In a statement shared with Akahi News, Ogidi Fidelis Odey expressed profound gratitude to his Yala friends, mentors, religious leaders, and the entire community for their love, support, and commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

“May this year’s New Yam Festival fill your homes with joy, peace, and prosperity, and may the spirit of unity and harmony continue to bind us together as one people,” he said.

Odey emphasised that beyond the harvest celebrations, the festival is a symbol of togetherness that has held the Yala people for generations, reinforcing their shared values of peace, hospitality, and community development.

Looking Forward to the Igede Festival

While appreciating the significance of the Yala New Yam Festival, Ogidi Fidelis Odey also reminded the people of the Igede New Yam Festival, which will be celebrated on Thursday, 4th September 2024.

He extended an open invitation to friends and well-wishers, stressing that the Igede celebration is another opportunity to promote cultural identity, showcase rich traditions, and strengthen unity across ethnic boundaries.

A Fatherly Advice to the Youths

Beyond his goodwill message, Ogidi Fidelis Odey seized the occasion to directly address young boys and girls of Yala, calling on them to celebrate wisely and responsibly.

He observed that while many youths were busy preparing with new clothes, hairstyles, and festivities, some were even neglecting their apprenticeships and daily responsibilities just for the sake of the celebration.

“The New Yam Festival is a historic celebration that comes once a year, but the realities of life are with us every day and for a lifetime,” Odey cautioned.

While clarifying that he was not against looking good or enjoying the season, he warned against turning the festival into an excuse for “loose living, overindulgence in eating and drinking, or excessive merriment.”

He further encouraged the youth to think ahead, reminding them that the days after the festival would demand responsibility, discipline, and focus:

“Always keep in mind that there are many days after the festival when the true demands of life will call on us. Do not let a single day of celebration bring regrets into your future. Celebrate with wisdom, moderation, and purpose.”

Preserving Culture with Responsibility

His words, many community observers noted, reflect a deep understanding of the balance between cultural preservation and the pressing demands of modern life. Festivals, he said, must not become avenues for recklessness but platforms to inspire growth, instil discipline, and remind the people of their collective strength.

Odey concluded his address with a prayerful wish: “Wishing you all a glorious, memorable, and peaceful celebration.”

A Call for Unity and Progress

As Yala sons and daughters join hands to celebrate the festival, Ogidi Fidelis Odey’s message resonates as both a blessing and a challenge — a call to uphold tradition, embrace moderation, and prepare diligently for the future.

His emphasis on unity, peace, and purposeful celebration is a reminder that cultural festivities are not only about merriment but also about reinforcing the values that define a people.

Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org

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