Dangote, Honeywell to participate in 2014 Leboku festival

The Cross River Government says that this year’s Yakurr International Leboku New Yam Festival will witness more private sector participation.

The Special Assistant to the Cross River State Governor on Events Management, Mr. Totsman Etoty, stated this in Ugep, headquarters of the Yakurr Local Government Area, during the pre-event press briefing.

Etoty, who was represented by Ekpenyong Ojoi, added that the international festival now has a presence on Facebook and YouTube courtesy of the official sponsor, MTN Nigeria.

“As I speak with you now, the Leboku International festival is on Facebook and you can also visit our Youtube channel. Again this year’s festival will witness a lot of corporate participants, including Dangote Group and Honeywell.

“All of these are part of new innovations that the state government is putting in place to ensure the continuous preservation of the festival,” he said.

He solicited the continued cooperating and support of the people of Ugep and Yakurr in the preservation and celebration of the annual festival.

According to him, the festival has brought development closer to the people through increase in the volume of investment in Ugep and participating communities.

Etoty further said that the government had introduced an independent assessment method in the selection of winners of the new yam festival to ensure government’s neutrality.

Also, the South-South zonal representative of MTN, Mr. Emmanuel Okereke, said the company would continue to introduce various innovations to upgrade the festival.

“This is the best New Yam festival in Nigeria. It is brand and that is why we are associated with it,” he said.

The Chairman of the Yakurr Local Government Area, Mr. Ikpi Akpama, described the festival as the root of the culture of the Ugep nation.

The unveiling of the new yam festival comes up on August 26, at the Ugep Parade Ground, with a traditional ceremony to be performed by the Paramount Ruler of Ugep, Obol Lopol,Ubi Inah.