REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution for the designation of the National Yam House in Igboukwu as a state tourism and festival centre.
The resolution was passed during plenary following a motion sponsored by the member representing Aguata Constituency Two, Mr Tony Muobike during plenary.
Presenting the motion, Mr Muobike emphasized that the move would harness the rich tourism and cultural potentials of the National Yam Festival domiciled in Igboukwu.
He noted that the Federal Government had designated three major cultural festivals as national festivals representing the three major ethnic groups in the country.
They include the Argungu Fishing Festival for the North, the Osun-Osogbo Grove Festival for the West, and the Iri Ji Ndi Igbo Festival for the East, which is hosted in Igboukwu, Anambra State.
The lawmaker noted that on October 4, 2007, the Federal Government also inaugurated the National Yam House at Etiti Village, Igboukwu, as the national secretariat for the Yam Festival.
He said that other supporting institutions were also established in the community, including the National Art Exhibition Centre, the Centre for African Arts and Civilization, the National Gallery of Art, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, and the Nigerian Arts and Cultural Directory Project.
Mr Muobike further highlighted Igboukwu’s historical significance as a centre of cultural renaissance, especially following the 1958 discovery of the famous Igboukwu Bronzes, dated to about 900 AD and recognized as among Africa’s oldest archaeological artefacts.
Supporting the motion, the member representing Aguata Constituency One, Mr Anayo Okpalaeke, the Majority Leader, Sir Ikenna Ofodeme and the member representing fOrumba South,Mr Emma Nwafor, all supported the resolution noting that designating the Yam House as a tourist centre would position Anambra State for significant economic gains through tourism.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary, stressed the need to promote the cultural heritage of people of Anambra state.
He assured members that the House would undertake a visit to the National Yam House
Radio Nigeria correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the House unanimously adopted the motion and urged the state government to take immediate steps towards its implementation.
