The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, yesterday hosted a celebration of the traditional New Yam Festival, popularly known as “Iri Ndi,” at his country home in Amaokwe Item, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
The festival, which drew community members, youth leaders, elders, Labour Party faithful, and executives of the Abia Arise Movement, was a moment of cultural pride, unity, and reaffirmation of the state government’s commitment to agricultural development.
During the gathering, Dr. Agbaeze expressed deep appreciation to his people and supporters for honouring his invitation despite their busy schedules, describing their presence as an expression of love, solidarity, and confidence in his leadership. The atmosphere was filled with goodwill as participants applauded his inclusive approach as Commissioner for Agriculture, highlighting his consistent efforts to bring people together.
Speaking on the importance of agriculture in Abia’s socio-economic growth, Dr. Agbaeze underscored that the greatest form of insecurity facing society today is food insecurity. He stressed that unlike physical violence, hunger can cripple communities without the use of weapons, making food production and sustainability a critical priority.
The commissioner lamented the heavy dependence of Abians on food imports from other states, noting that rice, meat, tomatoes, and several staple food items are brought in from outside the state. He emphasized that under the leadership of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, the Ministry of Agriculture is open to ideas and innovations from all quarters that can add value to the sector. He encouraged everyone, regardless of status, to reach out to him freely with constructive suggestions, assuring that he would personally ensure they were given due attention.
Beyond agriculture, Dr. Agbaeze also used the opportunity to stress the importance of active participation in the ongoing voter registration exercise across the state. He reminded the people that political inclusion begins with voter registration, urging both the young and old to take advantage of the exercise to secure their democratic rights ahead of future elections.
Earlier, several community leaders and stakeholders commended both Dr. Agbaeze for his impact and Governor Otti for the remarkable development strides being recorded in Bende LGA and across the state.
The festival, beyond its cultural significance, became a platform for deep conversations around food security, grassroots unity, and the vision of Governor Otti’s administration to reposition Abia as a hub of agricultural excellence.
