The 19th edition of Leboku featured the parade of maidens, women groups, and traditional fathers, a display of cultural dances, a drama presentation, a dance by cultural troop and a wrestling contest.
By Judex Okoro, The Beagle News
Mr Mbui John Ikpi and Miss Williams Kokolu have emerged as winners of 2024 Mr and Miss Leboku respectively.
The 2024 Mr Leboku 27, is a graduate of Animal and Environmental Sciences, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) while Miss Leboku, 22, is an undergraduate student at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Ikpi defeated nine other contestants to clinch the coveted prize while Kokolu defeated 14 other contestants to emerge the winner.
In his Goodwill message at the grand finale of the 2024 Leboku International New Yam festival held at Peace Stadium in Ugep, in Yakurr local government area on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, said the government is committed to taking Leboku to higher heights.
Otu said the time has come for all Yakurr sons and daughters to embrace their cultural festivals as our tradition and customs have not only come to stay but will continue to take the centre of our tourism drive.
He said that the government has concluded arrangements to procure an additional four aircraft to ease the difficulty tourists encounter while coming to the state, adding that making Cross River the preferred tourism destination point is a top priority of the present administration.
He called on the community leaders and farmers to cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and all the agencies involved in grants to framers to make the facility accessible to them, adding that the administration will continue to ensure the cultivation and production of cash crops to boost food security.
In his address, the Special Adviser, Events Management, Governor’s office, Effiong Ekpenyong, said “The fundamental objective of the event had since been achieved as all the communities have continually fostered concord and harmony among themselves.”
He said the Leboku International New Yam festival was conceptualized by the state government, primarily as a veritable means of fostering unity and brotherhood among the previously uneasy communities of Yakurr, adding that Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration has brought in a paradigm shift from consolidating on the prevailing peace in Yakurr to the enterprise development of the people.
He said: “The event is now a development catalyst; as entrepreneurs in the tourism sub-sector have upgraded hotel facilities to meet the taste of our tourists.
“There is an ongoing rehabilitation of the Ugep network of roads to facilitate the movement of goods and services.
“Besides, the provision of a pick-up van for the best harvester among other coveted prizes by the state government, Leboku is encouraging the production of yam and cassava beyond subsistence level and conveyance of same to the urban centres.
“We, therefore, use this opportunity to urge the locals to explore and exploit other inherent economic potentials of the Leboku International New Yam Festival such as tour guide to tourist sites, exhibition and sale of arts and crafts, display and sale of staple food crops etc.
“Besides, the rich cultural dances and cuisines indigenous to the Yakurr people should be harnessed for commercial purposes.
Leboku celebration is always a season of sweetness. “We, therefore, urge our discerning tourists, friends and the good people of Yakurr to enjoy the fruits of their handwork in agriculture and resilience in sustaining this cultural heritage.”
In her welcome address, Elder Mrs Rita Ayuk, Head of Local Government Administration, Yakurr local government area, commended Governor Bassey Otu for his commitment to driving the Leboku International New Yam festival.
She said the festival has become imperative coming at the time federal and state governments are diversifying into non-oil sector with the potentials to create jobs and harness local economies to empower the locals.
She appealed to the government to facilitate single-digit loans and grants to enable farmers to boost their cash crop production, adding that such grants would encourage the farmers and feed that state.
Also speaking, the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr local government area, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, said this event is to thank God for helping us to harvest the half yams planted into full-grown yams.
He said the community will continue to cooperate with the state government to promote the Yakurr cultural festival as it has catalysed into community development and unity among the people.
The Paramount Ruler called for the construction of a second phase of rural road development in Yakurr to enable farmers to harvest their produce and evacuate it to markets and urban cities.
Dignitaries present include Hon Cyril Omini, a member representing Yakurr I, other House of Assembly members, commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Abubakar Ewa, Managing Director of Tourism Bureau, Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, Chief Judge of the state represented by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Alphonsus Eba, represented by Dr Abubakar Efoli, Deputy Chairman, APC Central, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon John Gaul Lebo, royal fathers from across the eleven communities, and other political appointees.
The 19th edition of Leboku featured the parade of maidens, women groups, and traditional fathers, a display of cultural dances, a drama presentation, a dance by cultural troop and a wrestling contest.