The organisers of Ezi-Aha Festival says it can raise over 2,000 young culture ambassadors and entrepreneurs in the South-East by 2026 using culture as a tool for economic empowerment, creativity and social change.
The convener of the festival, Sir Chukwuma Okeiyi, stated this on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on 2025 Igbo Youth Culture And Tourism Entrepreneurship Conference (IYC-TEC) scheduled to hold in Enugu on Nov. 29.
The conference with the theme: “Heritage To Enterprise: Turning Culture And Tourism Into Jobs” was designed to equip young people across Igboland with the skill.
Okeiyi said that the festival was also expected to change the mindset and gives opportunities to turn their cultural identity into creative and profitable ventures.
The convener, who is also the chief host, added that the cultural festival would spotlight talented young Igbos in art, entrepreneurship, craft, media, and fashion.
He described the Enugu 2025 conference as a “movement, vision and mission” born out of burning desire to rebuild the pride, creativity and enterprise of the Igbo youths through culture, innovation and tourism.
According to him, the conference marks the beginning of transformational journey that will tour entire Igboland -Abia, Imo and Anambra States as building up for 2026 cultural festival in Ebonyi State.
The convener highlighted the benefits of participating in Enugu IYC-TEC to include: capacity building, networking, exposure and market access, skill development and inspiration for self-reliance.
“It is a strategic pathway to reducing youth unemployment and curbing insecurity through productive engagement and skill-based cultural entrepreneurship.
“When young people are meaningfully engaged in creative, profitable and socially responsible activities, the energy that once drive restiveness becomes a force for progress, peace and development.
“This initiative will help channel youth energy into positive, community-driven innovation, reinstate the core values, unity and creativity of Igbo identity and ensures sustainable partnerships,” he said.
On participation, Okeiyi explained that only 500 youths that registered both online and offline would benefit from the programme, stressing that the registration is free.
He said that the cultural festival had been going on since 2017 in Abuja for different tribes, but they decided to hold the 2025 edition in Enugu and 2026 in Ebonyi to harness the Igbo youth talents in culture.
He, therefore, called on individuals, government agencies, NGOs, Igbos in Diaspora and others to partner with them to actualise the vision.
“IYC-TEC Enugu 2025 is a call to action, revival of purpose and a celebration of who we truly are. The Igbo story must be told again, but this time, by Igbo youth themselves,”he concluded.