A wrestling match at the just concluded Leboku festival in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
By Anietie Akpan
As Cross River celebrates 20-years old Leboku festival, the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has raised the alarm that food crisis will become imminent in the state in next 20 years if generational gap in farming is not addressed.
Otu raised the alarm at weekend during the 2025 Leboku International New Yam Festival, celebrated in Ugep by communities across the Yakurr Local Government Area to mark the beginning of the new yam harvest.
He 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.
“While we strive to maximize these potentials, there is apprehension over a generational gap in farming as an occupation. The youths seem to have abandoned farming to their aged parents in favour of white-collar jobs in urban centres”.
Otu warned, “if this trend remains unchecked, we may face 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.”
The theme for the 2025 Leboku International New Yam Festival, “Fostering Community Co-operation for Sustainable Food Security,” 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.”
Gov. Bassey Otu (4th left), his wife, Rev. Eyoanwan Otu (5th left) and others at the Leboku Festival.
Otu promised, “we will not relent in providing tractors, planters, mini irrigation machines, soft loans, grants, improved seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, and other farming incentives to boost crop yield.”
He advocated for the preservation of culture and heritage, insisting that they remain the core of human existence, which must be preserved at all costs.
Acknowledging the role of Culture and tradition in the development of human existence, he commended the people of Ugep for their dedication to preserving their cultural heritage, which has significantly contributed to the state’s rich tourism potential.
Leboku is an age-old tradition of Ugep and surrounding communities in Yakurr, Otu said, adding that, “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.”
Continuing, the governor stated: “the state is satisfied that over the years, the overall purpose of this festival has been achieved”, and 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”.
