The Egbu people of Owerri North are in high spirits this weekend. On Saturday, August 16, the community rolled out its drums for the Mgbugbuzo Festival 2025 (Mgbugbuzo/Iri Ji Festival), a tradition that has outlived centuries and still holds the same magic today.
For Egbu, the new yam is not just food. It is history, identity, and thanksgiving. Families gather around steaming plates of roasted yam and palm oil, children dance in colourful wrappers, and the sound of the ekwe and ogene echo through the ancient kingdom. The festival is both a cultural compass and a spiritual covenant — a reminder that the land and its people remain inseparable.
Among those who sent goodwill this year is former Imo State Governor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, who has paid glowing tribute to the custodian of the kingdom’s throne, His Royal Majesty, Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole (Ọchoronma VI).
In his goodwill message, Dr. Ohakim said the Mgbugbuzo is more than a harvest feast; it is a moment when the Egbu people renew their bond of unity and celebrate the values that have carried them through generations. He commended Eze Egbukole for guiding the kingdom with wisdom and courage, stressing that leadership is proven by vision and service, not by the symbols of office.
The festival this year also shines its light on one of Egbu’s most illustrious sons, Pa Nathaniel C. U. Okoro. At 94, Pa Okoro still commands respect as a voice of wisdom and a model of integrity. This year, he will be formally recognised as a Great Achiever of the Ancient Egbu Kingdom.
Dr. Ohakim, in his personal tribute, described Pa Okoro as:
“A pillar of integrity, a custodian of values, and a source of inspiration.”
The recognition, he noted, was a round peg in a round hole, a worthy honour for a man whose life has been dedicated to service, development, and the nurturing of values in Egbu and beyond.
To outsiders, the festival may look like just another colourful Igbo ceremony. But to the people of Egbu, it is a living covenant with their land, their ancestors, and their God. It is the time when the first yam is broken, when elders pour libations, and when masquerades step into the village square to remind everyone that the spirits are never far away.
It is also a moment for stock-taking and renewal. Every Mgbugbuzo carries stories of resilience, survival, and faith. This year, with Eze Egbukole on the throne and Pa Okoro receiving his long-overdue honour, the people of Egbu have reasons to feel both proud of their past and confident in their future.
The relationship between Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and the people of Egbu is not new; it is a bond that has been nurtured over time through mutual respect, political inclusion, and shared values.
As Governor of Imo State (2007–2011), Dr. Ohakim gave the people of Owerri North, including Egbu, strategic visibility in governance. Under his administration, many indigenes of the area were appointed into key positions of trust in the state, ensuring that their voices were not just heard but actively shaping policy.
One striking example was in the civil service and youth empowerment programs: Egbu indigenes benefited significantly from Ohakim’s 10,000 Graduate Job Scheme, which opened employment opportunities for young professionals across the state. For many families in Egbu, that program remains a testimony of how responsive governance can uplift communities.
In terms of infrastructure, Ohakim’s urban renewal agenda touched Owerri North. The rehabilitation of link roads within Owerri capital territory directly improved access to Egbu, integrating the community more closely with the expanding Owerri metropolis. This gave Egbu traders, artisans, and professionals better opportunities to connect with markets and services in the capital.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Ohakim also showed cultural solidarity with Egbu. As governor, he regularly attended or sent official representation to the Mgbugbuzo Festival and other cultural ceremonies, reinforcing the message that governance must respect and protect the cultural soul of its people. His philosophy of “New Face of Imo” — anchored on peace, order, and social harmony — resonated deeply with the values of Egbu, a kingdom historically known for diplomacy, knowledge, and cultural preservation.
In return, the people of Egbu have consistently shown loyalty and friendship to Ohakim. Their traditional institutions, intellectual class, and grassroots population have embraced him not just as a political leader, but as a son whose philosophy of governance aligns with their heritage of equity, integrity, and progress.
The 2025 edition of Mgbugbuzo is therefore more than a cultural celebration. It is also a renewal of this historic friendship. By honouring Pa Nath Okoro and celebrating under the wise reign of Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole, Egbu has once again shown that heritage is best preserved when it is tied to values of integrity, service, and unity.
And as yam slices meet palm oil this Saturday, the Egbu kingdom once again remind the world — with Dr. Ikedi Ohakim’s voice echoing among them — that tradition is not a relic of the past but a living guide for today and tomorrow.
