Ugochinyere Lauds Prof. Amupitan's leadership, Sues For Peace 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted the proposed relocation of the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency headquarters/collation centre from Urualla to Dikenafai, a decision that has restored calm and confidence among constituents.

The development was disclosed by the Member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency and Caucus Leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.

In a statement issued on behalf of the good people of Ideato Federal Constituency, Hon. Ugochinyere expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the Commission under its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the Federal Commissioners for their intervention.

According to him, credible information available to him indicates that the Commission, through its internal mechanism of all-inclusive engagement, verification, wide consultations and credibility-driven decision-making, arrived at the decision in line with due process, to stop the proposed relocation.

Hon. Ugochinyere, who is also the founder and caucus leader of the APP, said the action has reaffirmed public confidence in the capacity of the Prof. Amupitan-led INEC to remain independent, fair, transparent, incorruptible and neutral.

"Our confidence in Prof. Amupitan's-led INEC capacity to be independent, fair, transparent, incorruptible and neutral has been proven," he stated.

He commended the new INEC leadership for ensuring that public interest and due process are jealously guarded and protected.

The lawmaker also appreciated the people of Ideato, lovers of Ideato interest, President Generals, youths, traditional rulers, political parties and church leaders who, in a peaceful manner, lent their voices during the period of uncertainty over the collation centre.

While calling for reconciliation, Hon. Ugochinyere urged all stakeholders in Ideato to forgive one another and cease all hostilities in the overall interest of peace and continued peaceful coexistence.

"As your trusted messenger, I want to publicly urge all our people to immediately forgive one another and cease all hostilities in the overall interest of peace. Let us find a place in our hearts to forgive those whose desires might have clashed with our general interest," he appealed.

He further called on Ideato people to continue to support and have confidence in the present INEC leadership, praying that God will sustain the Commission in its ongoing reforms towards delivering credible elections anchored on public trust.

Hon. Ugochinyere concluded by proposing a rally to publicly reaffirm confidence in INEC's capacity to lead the nation to peaceful and credible elections.

By Prof. Protus Uzorma

Hair extensions have become far more than a fashion accessory. Across Africa, Europe, America and particularly among women who wear braids, twists, wigs and other protective hairstyles, synthetic hair has become an important part of personal appearance, culture and convenience. It is affordable, versatile, lightweight and capable of producing countless styles without repeatedly manipulating natural hair. Yet beneath the beauty, colour, texture and convenience of some synthetic hair extensions lies a question that deserves much greater public attention: what chemicals are actually in the hair we attach to our heads? A significant 2026 study published by Elissia T. Franklin, Kristin Favela, Radonna Spies, Jacqueline M. Ranger and Ruthann A. Rudel in the American Chemical Society's Environment & Health provides an important reason for consumers, manufacturers and regulators to ask that question. The researchers analysed 43 commercially available hair-extension products, representing synthetic and bio-based fibres, using sophisticated chemical-screening techniques. They detected 933 chemical signatures and 5,275 individual chemical detections, with 169 chemicals confirmed or tentatively identified. Forty-eight of those chemicals appeared on at least one public hazard list, while nearly 10% of the samples contained hazardous organotin compounds.

The first point that must be made, however, is one of scientific accuracy. The study did not establish that synthetic hair causes brain cancer, “hair cancer,” cancer of the head, or mental illness. There is presently no sound basis for telling women that wearing synthetic braiding hair has been proven to cause brain cancer or psychiatric illness. What the Franklin et al. study establishes is different—and still sufficiently concerning. It demonstrates that some hair extensions contain chemicals with recognised or suspected hazardous properties, including chemicals associated with carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption and other toxicological concerns. The researchers themselves emphasised that further research is needed to understand actual exposure levels and health effects. More than 80% of the chemical signatures detected could not be fully identified because appropriate analytical standards or reference spectra were unavailable. Thus, the responsible conclusion is not that every synthetic attachment is poisonous, but that the chemical composition of these products is inadequately understood and, in some cases, contains substances that deserve serious health scrutiny.

Among the substances that deserve particular attention are organotins, phthalates, polyaromatic compounds, nitroaromatic chemicals and certain halogenated compounds. Organotins are especially noteworthy because the 2026 investigation found them in nearly one-tenth of the samples, with some products containing tin concentrations above 0.4% by weight. The researchers confirmed four organotin structures using reference standards and identified seven additional structures through chemical analysis. Organotins can be used as stabilisers in plastics, including polyvinyl chloride, and some members of this chemical family have recognised toxicological concerns. The researchers also detected five phthalates, predominantly in bio-based and unspecified products, with some appearing in synthetic hair. Certain phthalates have been studied extensively because of their endocrine-disrupting properties. The presence of such chemicals does not automatically mean that a person wearing a particular extension will become ill; hazard and actual risk are not the same thing. Risk depends on the chemical, its concentration, the route of exposure, duration, frequency and individual susceptibility. Nevertheless, when a product is worn against the scalp for weeks, sometimes continuously, the question of chemical exposure becomes legitimate and important.

The concern becomes even more significant when synthetic hair is heated, burned, sealed or otherwise processed during braiding. The ACS researchers specifically noted that burning or heating synthetic hair is a common practice used to set and seal braids. Heating plastic-based materials can alter what chemicals are released into the surrounding environment. Earlier research has already demonstrated that hairstyling practices can release volatile organic compounds, while studies of hair products have identified chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, cyclosiloxanes and other substances of concern. Helm and colleagues (2018), for example, examined 18 hair products used by Black women and detected 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals across the products studied. James-Todd and colleagues (2021) subsequently found hormonal activity in commonly used Black hair products in laboratory testing. These studies do not prove that wearing extensions causes cancer or mental illness, but they reinforce a broader scientific message: hair and beauty products can be sources of chemical exposure, and repeated exposure deserves careful examination.

There is also a broader issue concerning women's long-term exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Some chemicals used in personal-care products can interfere with hormonal signalling, and scientists have investigated possible relationships between these exposures and reproductive, metabolic and cancer-related outcomes. A 2024 study involving reproductive-age Black women found that hair-product use was associated with higher urinary biomarkers of several phthalates, phenols and parabens, suggesting that hair products can contribute to exposure to hormonally active chemicals (2024). The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has similarly highlighted research showing that some hair-care products contain chemicals linked to hormone disruption and certain cancers, while cautioning that such research does not establish that particular hair products directly cause cancer. This distinction is vital. We should not frighten women with claims that have not been demonstrated scientifically; rather, we should demand better information about what products contain and how much exposure consumers actually receive.

What, then, about cancer of the brain or head? At present, the evidence cited above does not support saying that synthetic hair extensions cause brain cancer. Nor does the 2026 ACS study report that women wearing extensions developed brain cancer or mental illness. The researchers were investigating chemical composition, not conducting a clinical study of cancer patients or psychiatric disorders. It would therefore be scientifically irresponsible to transform a chemical-screening study into a claim that women wearing synthetic braids will develop brain tumours. The same caution applies to claims about “mental illness.” Some toxic chemicals can affect the nervous system at sufficiently high exposures, but that general toxicological possibility is not evidence that wearing commercially available braiding hair causes psychiatric disease. The danger worth discussing is chemical exposure and potential toxicity—not an unproven diagnosis. This distinction protects the public from both unnecessary panic and the equally dangerous complacency that allows potentially hazardous consumer products to remain insufficiently examined.

The emerging evidence concerning hair products nevertheless gives consumers a legitimate reason to become more chemically conscious. Scientists including James-Todd and colleagues have repeatedly investigated endocrine-active chemicals in hair products, while Rudel and colleagues at the Silent Spring Institute have contributed substantially to research on chemical exposure from consumer and personal-care products. The 2018 Helm et al. study found that many targeted chemicals were not disclosed on product labels, raising an important question about transparency. A 2025 systematic review of chemical hair-straightening products similarly identified formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, volatile organic compounds, metals, fragrances, phthalates, phenols and parabens as chemicals of concern across the literature, although that evidence concerns straighteners and related products rather than proving that the same risks apply to every hair extension. The lesson is therefore broader than synthetic hair alone: consumers need the right to know what chemicals they are placing on or around their bodies.

Yet synthetic hair should not be demonised indiscriminately. Hair extensions have genuine benefits. They allow people to change hairstyles without repeatedly applying heat or chemicals directly to their natural hair; they can provide convenience for people with hair loss or thinning; they support cultural and artistic expression; and protective styles can reduce some forms of daily manipulation of natural hair. Synthetic fibres can also be less expensive than human hair and offer consistency of texture, colour and style. The problem, therefore, is not that every synthetic fibre is inherently dangerous. The problem is poorly characterised chemical composition, inadequate disclosure and insufficient independent safety testing. The 2026 researchers themselves called for follow-up research, greater disclosure and policies that reduce hazardous chemicals in these products. Their work should therefore be interpreted as a warning to improve the industry—not as a declaration that every woman wearing braids is placing herself in immediate danger.

The responsibility now belongs not only to consumers but also to manufacturers, importers, beauty-product retailers and regulators. Manufacturers should disclose the principal chemical substances used to manufacture, dye, soften, stabilise, waterproof, preserve or flame-treat synthetic fibres. Products advertised as “non-toxic,” “chemical-free,” “antibacterial,” “flame-resistant” or “heat-resistant” should be independently tested rather than trusted merely because such words appear on packaging. Regulators should establish appropriate standards for chemicals of recognised concern and require meaningful ingredient disclosure. Beauty professionals should also be educated about safer handling practices, particularly when synthetic hair is heated or burned. Consumers, for their part, can reduce unnecessary exposure by choosing products from manufacturers willing to provide ingredient and safety information, avoiding products with unexplained strong chemical odours, limiting unnecessary heating or burning, and paying attention to scalp irritation, breathing discomfort or other unusual reactions. These measures do not guarantee safety, but they represent sensible precautions while scientific research continues.

Ultimately, the real message from the 2026 ACS study is not “throw away all your synthetic hair.” It is much more profound: beauty should not require ignorance about chemistry. The woman who spends hours in a salon having synthetic hair braided into her natural hair deserves to know what she is putting next to her scalp. The mother buying braiding hair for her daughter deserves meaningful safety information. The hairstylist who handles these materials every day deserves protection from unnecessary occupational exposure. And regulators deserve enough scientific evidence to establish reasonable standards. Franklin, Favela, Spies, Ranger and Rudel have opened an important scientific door by demonstrating that hair extensions can contain a surprisingly complex mixture of chemicals, including substances that warrant concern. Their findings should lead not to panic, but to better research, stronger regulation, transparent labelling and safer innovation. Until those improvements become routine, consumers should remember a simple principle: when something is worn on the body for weeks, beauty is not the only question—what it is made of matters too.

By Dorcas Achi

It was a shower of encomiums and glowing tributes as former Attorney-General of Imo State, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Francis Dike, marked his 86th birthday.

The celebrated legal luminary and Professor of Law marked the milestone on September 17, 2026, at his residence in Owerri, in a modest but distinguished ceremony that attracted retired and serving judges, Senior Advocates, leaders of the Bar, academics and captains of industry.

In his goodwill message, retired Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice B. A. Njemanze, expressed delight at Prof. Dike's attainment of 86 in good health. He lauded his monumental contributions to the development of law, the legal profession and academia, and prayed for God's continued grace and longevity upon him.

Describing his personality, former Chairman of NBA Owerri Branch, Barr. Amah Akalaonu, said Prof. Dike is an erudite scholar and a dependable mentor with distinct accomplishments, yet remarkably humble.

"Despite his attainments as a cerebral and erudite legal luminary, he still cares about the younger ones; he still cares about tomorrow. The first day I met him, he was introduced to me by a judge as a very intelligent lawyer. That first impression has remained, as he continues to maintain his mettle," Akalaonu said.

In his remarks, A. C. Nwaneri, Esq., described Prof. Dike as a colossus of knowledge and a master of oratory.

"Prof. Dike remains one of the best persons you can listen to deliver an official address. He is blessed with words. We are still tapping from his fountain of knowledge," he noted.

Similarly, university don, veteran author and renowned public affairs analyst, Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma, described the celebrant as a walking encyclopedia, a priceless unifier and a father figure whose illustrious career has been defined by dedicated service to the community.

Prof. Uzorma noted that as Chairman of the Orlu Council of Elders, Prof. Dike has been a rallying point for unity in Orlu Zone and remains the driving force behind the cohesion of various Orluzurumee groups, mentoring countless accomplished men in the mould of Aristotle and Alexander the Great.

Responding, Prof. Dike said he has lived a fulfilled life with no regrets.

"At 86, I have nothing to regret. I don't think I have missed anything in life," he said.

The octogenarian, however, lamented what he described as sustained falsehoods against the Igbo people and the difficulty of reconciling the Igbo experience within the Nigerian project.

"Many lies have been spoken about the Igbos. As an Igbo person in Nigeria, certain things are difficult to reconcile. I wonder what the future holds for the Igbos," he declared.

Reflecting on his life philosophy, Prof. Dike identified integrity as his guiding principle.

"Life has taught me integrity. There is no pleasure in falsehood. What you gain through falsehood is fleeting - mere material things, nothing tangible. Why would anyone choose evil when there are good things to do and to choose from?" he stated.

By Dorcas Achi

Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma, university don, veteran writer and renowned public affairs analyst, has eulogized legal luminary, Prof. Francis Dike, SAN, describing him as a distinguished scholar who has carved a niche for himself through an illustrious career and profound dedication to community service.

Prof. Francis Dike, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor of Law, former Attorney-General of Imo State and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), celebrated his 86th birthday with judges, legal luminaries and other dignitaries on September 17, 2026, at his palatial home in Owerri.

Speaking with newsmen at the birthday celebration of the octogenarian, Prof. Uzorma described Prof. Dike as a father figure and a colossus of intellect.

“He is like a father to me. As Chairman of the Orlu Council of Elders, he has unified Orlu people. He is an intellectual of copious magnitude, a walking encyclopedia, and a man who profoundly understands the distinction between knowledge and ignorance,” he said.

Prof. Uzorma noted that the celebrant has been a pivotal force in fostering unity across Orlu Zone and remains the driving force behind the cohesion of the various Orluzurumee groups.

“In him, I have seen a man who is priceless. Just as Aristotle mentored Alexander the Great and inspired him to great exploits, Prof. Dike has tutored many accomplished men. He is a source of inspiration,” he stated.

He concluded with a heartfelt prayer for longevity: “I beseech God to grant him more years with us, for we deeply love and cherish him.”

By: Harriet Ijeomah 

Non-profit organisations operating in Nigeria’s South-East have joined an ongoing national assessment aimed at determining how charities, civil society and development organisations could be vulnerable to terrorist financing and how such risks can be prevented without disrupting legitimate humanitarian work.

The consultation, held in Owerri on September 3, 2026, was organised by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in collaboration with Spaces for Change. It brought together Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), government representatives and other stakeholders to gather evidence for Nigeria’s ongoing Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment of the NPO sector.

The assessment is part of Nigeria’s second national review of terrorism-financing risks within the sector, which commenced in March 2026. The exercise follows an earlier assessment conducted in 2021 and published in 2022, which examined the level of exposure of different categories of non-profit organisations to possible terrorist-financing abuse.

At the centre of the new exercise is the need to identify where genuine vulnerabilities exist. The assessment is expected to examine funding patterns, organisational structures, field operations, due-diligence procedures and existing safeguards. It will also document gaps that could allow criminals or terrorist actors to exploit an organisation, its resources or its operations.

The process is connected to Recommendation 8 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the intergovernmental body that sets global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crimes. The recommendation requires countries to identify the specific parts of their NPO sectors that are vulnerable to terrorist-financing abuse and apply targeted, proportionate measures to address those risks.

Speaking at the consultation, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, said the exercise was not designed to create fear among non-profit organisations or portray them as sources of terrorism financing.

Rather, she said, the assessment would help organisations understand the risks around them and take appropriate steps to protect themselves.

“The essence of this programme is not to scare NPOs,” Mrs Ibezim-Ohaeri said. “It is to help us understand the terrorism-financing risk assessment process, the National Risk Assessment and the risks that may exist within the NPO sector.”

She said consultations were being conducted across the country because risks and operational realities differ from one region to another. Evidence gathered from organisations working in different locations, she explained, would help the country develop a more accurate picture of the sector.

Mrs Ibezim-Ohaeri warned that terrorist actors understand and can exploit institutional vulnerabilities. Such actors, she said, may create entities that appear legitimate or take advantage of weaknesses in genuine organisations to move funds, access resources or support terrorist activities.

The assessment team involves relevant government agencies and stakeholders, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other institutions involved in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.

Leading the assessment team, Korede Abdul-Aziz urged the participants to approach the exercise openly and share information about the realities of their organisations.

Shee said the process was designed to expose possible gaps before they could be exploited, stressing that ignorance of legal and regulatory obligations would not excuse an organisation from responsibility.

Participants discussed documented funding patterns, vulnerabilities and institutional safeguards. The session also examined current due-diligence practices, gaps in internal systems, risks associated with field operations and possible mitigation measures.

Fidelis Akpoagu, an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, urged NPOs to ensure that their organisations are properly registered and operate within the requirements of relevant regulatory authorities.

He also called for stronger coordination among NPOs, including the development of functional networks that could improve information sharing and help address cases of organisations or individuals misrepresenting themselves as legitimate development or humanitarian institutions.

Mr Akpoagu said the ministry was considering improved data systems for the sector, including an online database that could provide more reliable information about registered organisations, their areas of operation and thematic focus.

Such a system, he said, could support planning and coordination while helping funders and government institutions better understand the development landscape and identify areas where interventions are concentrated.

For Peace Dike, Executive Director of Virgin Heart Foundation, the consultation provided a clearer understanding of risks that organisations may overlook while carrying out legitimate development work.

She described the programme as an eye-opener and said the discussions had helped participants understand how weaknesses in organisational processes, funding procedures and due diligence could expose an NPO to risks associated with terrorist financing.

Another participant, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD Nigeria), said the engagement was particularly important for grassroots organisations that may not have the technical capacity to fully understand emerging financial and operational risks.

“Many organisations are focused on delivering their programmes and solving problems in their communities,” Mr Nwafor said. “But this engagement reminds us that good intentions alone are not enough. An organisation must also understand its funding sources, maintain proper records and strengthen its internal processes.”

He added that an organisation could be engaged in legitimate development work but still become vulnerable where there are weaknesses in documentation, due diligence or monitoring of how funds and resources move.

Other members of the assessment and stakeholder team at the meeting included Hiddayatu Damji of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Abuja; Abidemi Olukowaji of the International Fertilizer Development Center, Abuja; Nnenna Enyinnaya-Eneremadu, Executive Director of CARA Development Foundation; Uzoamaka Promise, Zonal Coordinator of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering; Muhammed Ibrahim; and Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre.

The South-East consultation is expected to feed into the wider national assessment and help authorities and the non-profit sector understand the specific risks facing organisations across the country.

For Nigeria's development and humanitarian sector, the challenge is not only to prevent the diversion of resources for criminal purposes but also to ensure that measures introduced to tackle terrorism financing do not unnecessarily restrict legitimate organisations working with vulnerable communities.

By Dorcas Achi

The Oteji Foundation for Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness is set to be officially unveiled in Imo State on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at the Rock View Hotel, Owerri, as part of efforts to combat the rising cases of drug and substance abuse among young people. 

The event is expected to bring together critical stakeholders, government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, teachers, students and youth organizations to deliberate on the rising scourge of substance abuse and chart sustainable pathways to eradicate it from communities across the state and beyond.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri ahead of the unveiling, the Chairman of the Foundation, Barrister Oteji Ezera Agwu, a renowned legal practitioner specializing in Criminal and Civil Litigation, expressed worry over the alarming rate of drug abuse among Nigerian youths.

According to her, the establishment of the foundation was necessitated by first-hand experiences in the courtroom and in communities where substance abuse has fueled crime, violence, cultism, and the collapse of family values.

Her words, “The decision to start the Oteji Foundation for Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness was born out of a deep concern about the growing problem of substance abuse in our society, particularly among young people,” 

“As a legal practitioner, I have had the opportunity to see, either directly or indirectly, how substance abuse contributes to the destruction of lives, families, and communities. I have encountered situations where young people who should ordinarily be building their future became involved in crime, violence, cultism, and other destructive activities, with substance abuse often playing a significant role in the background.”

She noted that prevention, awareness, public enlightenment, rehabilitation, counselling, support and advocacy will form the core pillars of the foundation’s work. 

Barr. Oteji emphasized that the fight against substance abuse cannot be won by government alone, stressing the need for a multi-sectoral approach that involves parents, schools, faith-based organizations, traditional institutions, and youth groups.

She extended an open invitation to stakeholders across Imo State and Nigeria to partner with the foundation.

“We are calling on government officials, religious bodies, traditional rulers, educators, and youth organizations to come into synergy with the Oteji Foundation. It will take all hands on deck to wage a decisive war against substance abuse and restore hope to our young people,” she said.

The perennial erosion menace in Isiokwu-Ihioma Autonomous Community, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, once again dominated discussions at this year's New Yam celebration, as the Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Sir John Nwosu, the Idinoba Ojiudo of Isiokwu-Ihioma, renewed his appeal to government for urgent intervention.

Speaking on September 1, 2026, during a Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Isiokwu-Ihioma, and the subsequent Iri Ji ceremony at his Idinoba Palace, the first-class monarch lamented that the devastating erosion and flooding have continued to destroy homes, farmlands and livelihoods.

Eze Nwosu disclosed that the situation has deteriorated since the community first raised the alarm in 2025. According to him, the land has become "increasingly unreliable and hostile to yam planting."

"Our land, home for the planted yams, is vanishing before our eyes in a voracious, savage attack by flood and daily erosion," he said.

The royal father recalled that in December 2025, he convened a national press conference to draw attention to the crisis. The outcry attracted wide media coverage, yet no visible impact. He expressed disappointment that despite the publicity, no concrete intervention has come, not even from the Local Government Council.

"None of these publications have brought smiles to my people, not even the Local Government whose Chairman has been here, regardless of the much-talked-about enhanced revenue," the revered monarch stated.

Eze Nwosu further noted that due to loss of arable land to erosion, the community could not celebrate with yams harvested from their own soil, but had to purchase yams from neighbouring communities.

He added that some parts of the community are now completely cut off, with residents forced to access their homes through bushes and now co-habit with dangerous reptiles in the 21st Century.

Despite the community's plight, Eze Nwosu commended the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for the massive infrastructural transformation in Orlu zone.

The monarch, who served as Chairman/Administrator of Orlu LGA in the 1980s, said he was in a vintage position to appreciate the progress.

He also appealed to the Chairman of Orlu LGA, Hon. Mbarie, to extend democratic dividends to the people of Isiokwu-Ihioma.

Eze Nwosu explained that given the prevailing hardship, the community observed a modest celebration and thanksgiving rather than an elaborate festival.

In his homily at the Thanksgiving Mass, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Isiokwu-Ihioma, Rev. Fr. Dr. Henry Okorie, commended Eze Nwosu and his family for their benevolence and steadfast support for the Church, particularly for single-handedly doubling the monthly stipend of the Parish Catechist. He described the gesture as true Christian leadership.

The climax of the event was the ceremonial cutting of the new yam by Eze Nwosu, supported by fellow traditional rulers, the clergy and other dignitaries, signaling the official commencement of the new yam consumption season. Eze Nwosu thanked God for protection, unity and progress despite the challenges, describing Iri Ji as a sacred tradition symbolizing thanksgiving, hard work, communal bonding and Igbo identity.

The event attracted prominent personalities and featured special renditions by church choirs, intercessory prayers, colourful masquerade displays and traditional dances by women and youth groups, before ending with merriment and prayers for greater progress.