Leboku Festival: Otu urges cultural preservation, youth engagement in agric

 

Governor Bassey Edet Otu has called for the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, emphasizing that traditions are central to human existence and should be safeguarded for future generations. He made the remarks during the 2025 Leboku International New Yam Festival in Ugep, an annual celebration marking the start of the new yam harvest and now in its 20th edition.

Speaking to a gathering of community leaders, residents, and tourists from across the Yakurr Local Government Area, Otu commended the people of Ugep for sustaining the festival and leveraging it to promote peace, tourism, and agricultural productivity.

“Culture and tradition are fundamental to the development of human society,” Otu said. “I commend the people of Ugep for their dedication to preserving our heritage, which has significantly contributed to Cross River State’s tourism potential.”

Leboku, an age-old festival of Ugep and surrounding Yakurr communities, was internationalized in 2005 to unify communities, reduce inter-communal conflicts, and create a platform for promoting food production and tourism. Otu noted that the festival’s 20-year milestone reflects the success of these objectives.

“The overall purpose of this festival has been achieved over the years,” the governor said. He used the occasion to appeal to young people to embrace agriculture as a viable profession, warning that the shift away from farming could threaten food security.


“We are endowed with fertile land and a conducive climate for agriculture,” Otu said. “Yet, if young people continue to abandon farming for white-collar jobs in urban centers, we may face food shortages in the coming decades. We cannot depend on others for food when our natural endowments position us to be self-sufficient.”

The theme for this year’s festival, “Fostering Community Co-operation for Sustainable Food Security,” aligns with the state government’s emphasis on smallholder farmers’ cooperatives. Otu encouraged farmers to work together to access government incentives and boost crop production.

“We will not relent in providing tractors, planters, mini irrigation machines, soft loans, grants, improved seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, and other farming support to enhance yields,” he pledged.

The 20th Leboku festival showcased traditional dances, culinary displays, and cultural exhibitions, drawing thousands of visitors and reinforcing the festival’s role as a bridge between heritage preservation and economic development in Cross River State.

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