Onunkwo’s New Yam message emboldens Igbo Unity and Collective Responsibility 

By Ifeanyi Ndukwe (Saint), Awka

In a time when cultural values risk being overshadowed by modern distractions, one man is proudly standing as a custodian of Igbo heritage in the person of High Chief Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo.

Last weekend, the atmosphere in Dunukofia was electricifying. Dancers, drummers, and dignitaries all gathered for the New Yam Festival, a colourful tradition rooted in gratitude, harvest, and community.

Among the distinguished guests was High Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who was warmly received at the country home of his close friend and host, High Chief Chikezie Vincent Udobi, popularly known as Onwa Dunukofia.

But beyond the festivities and feasting, Onunkwo brought a message replete with purpose, perseverance, and pride.

“It’s a miracle to put a seed into the ground and, after a certain time, dig and harvest something larger,” he told journalists on the sidelines.

“That is a true picture that hard work, plus dedication to duty, pays.”

With those words, Onunkwo captured the essence of the New Yam Festival: a celebration of harvest, but also a metaphor for life. His voice carried the weight of a leader grounded in cultural integrity, yet forward-thinking in vision.

Onunkwo known affectionately as Akaepunchionwa N’Umuchu, is more than a ceremonial figure. He is a symbol of excellence, a bridge between tradition and transformation. His appearance at the event was not just about yam; it was about youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and uniting the Igbo people under a shared identity.

He urged Nigerians particularly the Igbo community to use festivals like these as platforms to reignite brotherhood and unity across ethnic and political lines.

“Let us come together, not just to eat and dance, but to reflect on who we are, where we come from, and how we move forward as a people,” he added.

Onunkwo’s track record speaks for itself. As a philanthropist and youth advocate, he has consistently used his platform to drive initiatives that promote education, community development, and conflict resolution across Anambra and beyond.

His Reconciliation Committee has played a quiet but impactful role in rebuilding fractured relationships; politically and socially within the Southeast region.

As the drums of the New Yam Festival faded into the evening, one thing was clear: this was more than a tradition, it was a testimony. And Onunkwo is writing it boldly.

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