By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, has advocated for the preservation of cultural heritage at the 2025 Leboku International New Yam Festival, insisting that they remain the core of human existence, which must be preserved at all costs.
Otu made the advocacy during the 2025 Leboku International New Yam Festival, with the theme “Fostering Community Co-operation for Sustainable Food Security,” celebrated in Ugep by communities across the Yakurr Local Government Area, to mark the beginning of the new yam harvest.
He lauded the people of Ugep for their dedication to preserving their cultural heritage, which has contributed to the state’s rich tourism potential.
According to the Governor, “Leboku is an age-old tradition of Ugep and surrounding communities in Yakurr. The introduction of the international dimension to the event in 2005 by the State Government by bringing together the various communities of the Yakurr Nation was primarily aimed at reducing inter-communal skirmishes, creating a common tourism attraction, and increasing food production.
“This year’s event therefore marks the 20th edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival. A fair appraisal of the fundamental objective of the event has confirmed that a significant milestone has been achieved. May I therefore use this occasion to commend all the sons and daughters of the Yakurr extraction for their efforts in sustaining this event and its deliverables.
“The state is satisfied that over the years, the overall purpose of this festival has been achieved.”
He urged young people to embrace farming as a serious business to combat food insecurity.
“As we celebrate Leboku, I wish to draw the attention of other communities to draw inspiration from the unity and oneness of the Yakurr people.
“Beyond this, I wish to re-emphasize that Cross River State is among the few states in the Federation endowed with fertile land and a conducive climate for agriculture; thereby bestowing on us the comparative advantage over other sub-nationals in cash and food crops production.”
The Governor noted that there is apprehension over a generational gap in farming as an occupation and the youths seem to have abandoned farming to their aged parents in favour of white-collar jobs in urban centers.
He affirmed that if this trend remains unchecked, there may be food shortages in the next two decades, wallowing in hunger amidst plenty.
“We cannot have what it takes to achieve food security and then depend on other sub-nationals for food supply. It would be an antithesis of our natural endowments.”
He noted that the theme aligns perfectly with the administration’s emphasis on smallholder farmers’ cooperatives. “When farmers with a common crop preference unite, it becomes easier for these groups to leverage the numerous incentives provided by the state government. While food security is an achievable milestone of my administration, the target will be easily met when there is cooperation among farmers in our respective communities.”
Otu promised not to relent in providing tractors, planters, mini irrigation machines, soft loans, grants, improved seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, and other farming incentives to boost crop yield in the state.