ADUN Vice-Chancellor Celebrates New Yam Festival, Urges Anioma People to Preserve Cultural Heritage

The Vice-Chancellor of Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN), Professor Christopher Ogbogbo, has called on the Anioma people to use the New Yam Festival as an opportunity to appreciate God for a successful harvest and preserve their cultural heritage.

He made the call during the university's celebration of the festival at its campus in Ibusa, Delta State.

Professor Ogbogbo described the New Yam Festival as an important cultural occasion through which the Anioma people celebrate the harvest season and express gratitude to God for a bountiful yield.

He explained that the celebration also provided an opportunity for ADUN to appreciate God for its academic and institutional achievements in 2026.

According to him, the university was grateful for its harvest of intellectual accomplishments, including academic publications, research grants secured by professors and the graduation of qualified students.

"For ADUN, it is an opportunity to tell God thank you for the harvest of intellectual products, including academic publications, research grants won by professors, and the graduation of quality and qualified students," he said.

He added that the institution was equally thankful for the individual and collective progress recorded throughout the year.

The Vice-Chancellor described the New Yam Festival as a significant aspect of Anioma culture, noting that yam represents the various agricultural products harvested during the year.

He also disclosed that Admiralty University of Nigeria was the first and only university in the world with a dedicated Centre for Anioma Studies.

He reaffirmed the institution's commitment to promoting research and academic excellence in the study of Anioma cultural heritage.

Professor Ogbogbo appreciated everyone who participated in the celebration and promised that the university would organise a bigger celebration in 2027.

Speaking during the event, the Director of the Centre for Anioma Studies, Dr Evelyn Onwaniban, explained that the Anioma people celebrate the festival regardless of whether the harvest is bountiful.

In an interview with members of the university's Information, Communication and Protocol Unit, she said the festival promotes institutional bonding, communal participation and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Anioma people.

She further disclosed that the centre would use the occasion to document the various cultural displays for the benefit of future generations.

"As a centre, we will use this opportunity to document the rich cultural displays for future generations," she said.

Another participant, Professor Christy Isitua, described the gift of life as the greatest blessing and a reason for continued gratitude to God.

Other dignitaries present at the celebration included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isa Rambo Saidu; the Registrar, Navy Captain Amed Tijani Abdulahi; and the University Librarian, Navy Commander Emmanuel Ameobi.

Several other senior management staff of the university also attended the celebration.