Iri Ji Ofuji 2025: Honouring Heritage, Empowering the Future

Iri Ji Ofuji 2025: Honouring Heritage, Empowering the Future

Abia State gears up for the fourth edition of the Iri Ji Ofuji Festival—a colourful celebration of Igbo culture, communal gratitude, and youth empowerment, founded by philanthropist and entrepreneur Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyasọ.

The event celebrates the rich traditions of the Igbo people, with a particular focus on the revered New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Ọhụ).

Hosted annually in Dr. Anyasọ’s hometown of Ala Igbere, Bende Local Government Area, the festival is timed to coincide with his birthday. Since its debut in 2022, Iri Ji Ofuji has grown steadily in prominence, becoming a symbol of cultural pride, communal thanksgiving, and grassroots empowerment.

The 2025 edition, marking the festival’s fourth year, will take place from September 23 to 27, with the theme:

“Celebration of Two Decades of Bountiful Harvest: The Role of Education and Training in Cultivating the Next Generation of Wealth Creators.”

This year’s theme highlights Dr. Anyasọ’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment through education and skills development, positioning knowledge as the cornerstone of future prosperity.

With the unifying message #OfujiCares, this year’s celebration is expected to draw participants from across the state’s three senatorial zones—Abia North, Abia Central, and Abia South—as well as all 13 wards of the Bende Federal Constituency.

More than just a cultural gathering, Iri Ji Ofuji 2025 aims to inspire a renewed sense of purpose, togetherness, and gratitude. It is a time to honour tradition, celebrate community, and chart a hopeful path forward for generations to come.