Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to bolster agro-tourism in the state through Leboku International New Yam Festival.
The Leboku Festival started in 2005 as an annual three weeks New Yam Festival celebrated by the people of Yakurr LGA in Cross River between August and September.
Subsequently, the festival was listed in the calendar of the state’s events under the events management department of the governor’s office.
Leboku festival, described as one of the largest cultural festivals in Africa has as its theme for this year: “Ugep International Festival, an agro-tourism event and a panacea for post covid-19 economy.”
Activities marking the 2023 Leboku International Festival in Yarkurr local government area, kicked off Tuesday with a press conference at the Umor-Otutu palace in Ugep.
Governor Otu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, explained that the government will continue to invest wisely and wisely in Leboku Festival, to keep the event on the world map especially as it represents a celebration of love, peace and fertility for the people of Yarkurr, state and nation.
“This is the season of sweetness and the sweetness will sweeten the activities of Leboku this year.
“The sweetness of the activity will be seen in the colourful event of the activities come August 20 and 21,” the governor assured.
Otu remarked that Leboku will continue to grow from strength to strength to enable the community to get more recognition, adding that the event will continue to create vistas of opportunities for investors both nationally and internationally.
Welcoming dignitaries, the Paramount Ruler of Yakurr and Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng expressed the readiness of the entire people of Yakurr towards the forthcoming event.
The Royal Father explained that the date of the celebration is not changed as “Leboku Festival is not marked by Gregorian calendar but follows our traditional calendar.”
“Leboku will continue, there is no year it will not hold. It is our major celebration, even if you fix elections on August 20, we will still hold Leboku.”
According to him, “For me not to do Leboku, I better die because Leboku is a period when people leave hunger period to a period of plenty where foodstuffs are gotten.”
Obol Eteng who disclosed that Leboku has many benefits including getting new wives, drawing community members in the diaspora to home, and the availability of food in the area, also said, “those who hardly eat pounded yam can be sure of one during the event.”
On his part, the regional Manager, MTN Calabar, Chibuzor Akuchie, revealed that the service provider had in the past years embarked on health, educational and infrastructure development of the area, adding that for this year, it will drive more on financial inclusion.
Highlights of the Leboku Festival activities include, the Mr & Miss Leboku Pageant, Etangala Masquerade parade and the Leboku International Festival Grand Finale at the Ugep Township Stadium.
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