The Anambra State Government has finally given its approval for the celebration of Imo-Awka Festival cautioning celebrants and residents to conduct themselves respectfully and ensure that they do not block major roads.
Imo-Awka Festival, an annual cultural event of the people of Awka to celebrate the god of fertility and purification is scheduled to hold on May 23.
The government had earlier called for a shift in the date of the festival, insisting that it fell on a day of the primary elections of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the ruling party in the state.
They earlier posited that with two big events holding on the same day, would mean security will be split which will not be proper, hence the need to shift the festival.
But in a letter released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which was signed by the Commissioner, Udorji Amedu and addressed to the President General, Awka Development Union and copied to His Royal Highness, Gibson Nwosu, Eze Uzu Il (the Traditional Ruler of Awka and the Leadership of Ozo Awka Society), the state government said the celebration can go on.
In the letter dated May 21, and made available to journalists on Friday, the ministry, however, gave conditions, saying that celebrants must conduct themselves respectfully and ensure that they do not block major roads. It also warned masquerades and other celebrants against wielding dangerous weapons.
It said the approval of the cultural event followed strong written assurances from the leadership of Awka Development Union to provide additional security to ensure law and order as well as protection of life and property.
The letter read, “Having received strong written assurances from the leadership of the Awka Development Union Nigeria, and Ozo Awka Society that they will provide additional security and ensure that the Imo-Awka Festival scheduled for May 23, will be celebrated in an orderly manner, and in line with the state government’s commitment to the promotion of the cultural heritage of our people, the Anambra State Government hereby approves the celebration of Imo Awka Festival on the May 23, 2026.
“Considering the status of Awka as the capital city of Anambra State, which besides the major political activities scheduled for the said date, hosts a deluge of visitors daily, and based on the need to maintain law and order in Awka on the said date, the state government hereby issues the following directives to those participating in the festival.
“To allow free movement of citizens, there shall be no blocking or closure of any public road and there shall be no obstruction of human or vehicular movements on any public road on the date. There shall be no brandishing or wielding of any dangerous weapon by any masquerade or any person or group of persons on any public road in Awka on the said date.
“No road user shall be harassed, intimidated, flogged or assaulted in any manner whatsoever by any masquerade or person or group of persons and no violence of any sort shall be meted out by any masquerade or person or group of persons in Awka on the said date. All those participating in the festival are enjoined to be law abiding and decent in their actions and to celebrate the festival as a reflection of the cultural values of the Awka people.”
The state government congratulated the Traditional Ruler of Awka, His Royal Highness, Igwe Gibson Nwosu (Eze Uzu Il) and the people of the town on the occasion of the Imo-Awka festival and urged them to ensure that the festival is celebrated in an orderly manner.
