JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Post views: 61
By Silvernews
Preparations have concluded for the 2026 Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival, the annual New Yam celebration of the Mbaise people, scheduled for 15 August 2026 at Oke Ovoro Secondary School, Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing, Chairman of the organizing committee, Steve Onu, said the committee had unanimously agreed to stage this year’s festival at Oke Ovoro Secondary School, Uvuru, ensuring that all necessary logistics and arrangements were in place for a successful and memorable event.
He described Iri-Ji Mbaise as one of the most significant cultural festivals of the Mbaise people, bringing together sons and daughters of Mbaise from across Nigeria and the diaspora to celebrate the New Yam Festival, promote unity and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the land.
Steve Onu reiterated that the festival will continue to uphold its beloved traditions while introducing new innovations that would make the 2026 edition more colourful, attractive and memorable for participants and visitors.
Responding to questions on the role of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise as custodians of the Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival, Steve Onu acknowledged their historical and traditional responsibility in preserving the cultural heritage of the celebration. He stressed that Ndi Ezeji Mbaise remain the rightful custodians of the annual New Yam Festival and that the organizing committee fully respects their position. He added that the committee is committed to working in harmony with Ndi Ezeji Mbaise and any other stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, successful and culturally enriching celebration.
The well-attended media briefing attracted journalists from various media organisations, led by the Vice President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), South East Zone, Chief Eze Aduku. Members of the organizing committee assured the media that preparations for the Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival on 15 August 2026 were at an advanced stage, expressing confidence that this year’s edition would be one of the most successful and memorable in the history of the cultural celebration. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deliver a peaceful, well-organised and appropriate festival that will showcase the rich cultural heritage and unity of the Mbaise people.
The committee also disclosed that rehabilitation works on the road leading to Oke Ovoro Secondary School, the venue of the festival, are ongoing and will be completed before the event to ensure easy access for visitors and guests.
Speaking on the sidelines of the briefing, the Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area assured the people of Mbaise that Uvuru community and Aboh Mbaise are fully prepared to host the festival. He expressed optimism that the issues raised by Nde Ezeji Mbaise to his administration will be resolved before the celebration, paving the way for a successful and peaceful festival. He also assured that adequate levels of security, traffic management, health services and other logistics will be in place to ensure the safety and comfort of the thousands of visitors expected to attend the event.
As part of activities celebrating the 2026 Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival, Ezuruezu Mbaise will officially launch the proposed Mbaise Security Surveillance and Intelligence Command Centre, a technology-driven security initiative to be established at the Ezuruezu Mbaise Civic Centre, Aboh Mbaise.
According to the organizers, the project is designed to strengthen security across the Mbaise Nation through the implementation of modern surveillance and intelligence systems to support crime prevention, emergency response and community policing. They stressed that security guarantees life, security guarantees trade, security guarantees tourism and security guarantees the preservation of culture, stressing that a peaceful and safe environment remains the basis for the development of Mbaise.
The proposed command center is expected to serve as a central hub for gathering, monitoring and coordinating security information in the three Mbaise Local Government Areas in collaboration with relevant security agencies and community stakeholders.
Ezuruezu Mbaise appealed to well-meaning Mbaise sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, as well as all autonomous communities, to identify with and financially support the project, stressing that the technology-based initiative requires significant resources for its successful implementation and operation.
The 2026 Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival is expected to attract traditional rulers, cultural groups, government officials, community leaders, tourists and thousands of Mbaise sons and daughters from across Nigeria and the diaspora. The organizers expressed confidence that this year’s celebration will not only strengthen the bond between the Mbaise people but also promote the rich cultural heritage, unity, security and sustainable development of the Mbaise nation.
