The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Monday, celebrated the 2026 New Yam Festival at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun state. The Ooni described agriculture as the bedrock of national development, adding that no nation can attain sustainable economic prosperity without guaranteeing food sufficiency for its citizens.

At the event, Mr Ogunwusi called on government at all levels to prioritise food security by deliberately investing in agriculture and supporting farmers across the country.

“Food security should remain a national priority. Every government must deliberately support our farmers because they remain the backbone of our economy and the custodians of our collective survival,” Mr Ogunwusi stated. “Nigeria is richly blessed with fertile land and hardworking people. What we need is the right commitment to agricultural development. We must continue to encourage our farmers, improve agricultural value chains and ensure that farming becomes profitable for both small and commercial-scale producers.”

A statement by Sodiq Lawal, the monarch’s spokesman, said freshly harvested yams were traditionally presented to the Ooni for prayers and blessings before roasted yams were shared among dignitaries in line with age-long customs. Hundreds of yams and other agricultural produce were distributed to participants at the festival as symbols of abundance and shared prosperity.

Mr Ogunwusi said the festival remained one of the oldest cultural festivals in Yorubaland, symbolising gratitude to God for a successful harvest, while honouring the invaluable contributions of farmers to humanity’s survival.

“Our cultural heritage must continue to complement economic development. The New Yam Festival is not merely a celebration of harvest; it is a reminder that agriculture remains central to our prosperity, food security and national stability,” the monarch said.

The event featured colourful cultural displays, traditional rites, thanksgiving for a successful farming season and prayers for abundant harvests in the coming year.

The traditional ruler noted that preserving indigenous festivals would help sustain the cultural identity of the Yoruba people, while also promoting tourism, economic activities and communal unity.