Anambra community in Enugu celebrates New Yam festival, honours IPMAN boss

The beauty and richness of Igbo culture resonated Saturday afternoon when the Association of Anambra State Indigenes in Enugu State gathered to celebrate the New Yam Festival at the Micheal Okpara Square.

The event, the biggest of it’s kind attracted participants from both Anambra and Enugu states, including captains of industries, business community and officials of state governments.

Deserving personalities were according special recognition for their outstanding contribution to humanity and business fields.

One of those who were celebrated at the event was Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Enugu Depot Community in Charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.

Anyaso who entered the Square with a rousing ovation was accompanied by the full complement of downstream operators of petroleum sector in Enugu and members in surrounding states.

Anyaso was conferred with an award of “Outstanding Business Personality” for way the way he had conducted his personal business and piloted the the affairs of marketers in the three states under his jurisdiction.

The Ekwulummiri business mogul is broke the jinx of serving the IPMAN for terms following his ability to manage the relationship between marketers and government of the member states to the mutual benefit of all parties.

The award was given to him by Chief Linus Mgbakogu, (Atta Obosi) his grand predecessor in the presence of his immediate predecessor, Chief Ikechukwu Nwankwo, an industrialist, Chief Akai Egwuonwu of the Anambra Rice and Zara Fame among other dignitaries.

Presenting the award to him, Mgbakogu urged congratulated Anyaso and charges him to continue to be the worthy of IPMAN that he had been.

In a short response, the Outstanding Business Personality said he was humbled by the award and had only be spurred to continue to do more ‘to the glory of God and good of humanity’.

Earlier in his remark, Chief Chike Obidigbo, Chairmen of the occasion called on governors of Southeast states to do more than constructing roads and building hospitals to evolving a virile economy where youths would be gainfully engaged.

Obidigbo, an elder statesman and CEO of Hardis and Domedas said Southeast had the potential to be a contender in the league of world economic powers but the bad economy in the region was driving youths into many types of vices

He called on the governors in the geopolitical zone to collaborate for coming good adding that Southeast needed statesmen who could say the truth at all times

“Let us be truthful to ourselves, our youths are suffering, it was not bad like this in our time.

“Our New Yam festival has become a world event, we should think about harmonising the festival like the Jewish festival and nation day of western countries,” he said.

The New Yam cutting formality was conducted by Chief Pete Edochie, the iconic nollywood personality alongside Chief Don Onyenji, Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo, among other dignitaries.