Launched in 2017, the yearly Erute North Festival will not take place this year, leaving residents of Aromo, Ayami, Agweng, Ogur, and Agweng Town Council in Erute North Constituency deeply disappointed.
Renowned for its diverse activities, including football, netball, volleyball, bicycle riding, walk races, and teenage career-building workshops, the festival has served as a pillar of talent promotion and community bonding for eight consecutive years.
In a press release, Mr. Chris Onang, widely known as Ocoromac and a committed ENF stakeholder, revealed that the festival’s board, after consultations with various partners, made the “careful and heedful decision” to postpone the 2024 edition to early 2025. According to Onang, the postponement aims to realign the festival’s activities and accommodate potential changes to its structure.
The exact dates and event categories for the 2025 edition will be announced through official ENF platforms. Onang expressed deep appreciation for the festival’s sponsors, especially Dr. Tonny Opeto, Erute North Parliamentary Aspirant for the 12th Parliament, and other supporters who have been instrumental in the event’s success since its inception. He reassured the public that future editions would return to their traditional December schedule.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Mr. Ocwic Moses, an ENF coordinator, acknowledged the widespread disappointment but appealed for patience. “The festival has been of immense value, offering trophies, bicycles, cash tokens, and other prizes to outstanding participants,” he noted.
For locals like Morish Ojok from Odoca Village, Aromo Sub-County, the festival’s absence is particularly disheartening. “ENF has played a huge role in my life, promoting my football talent, exposing me to wider communities, and providing emotional relief,” Ojok said, underscoring the festival’s significant impact on his personal growth and well-being.
While the postponement has left a void in the community’s cultural and sporting calendar, residents remain hopeful that the 2025 edition will uphold the festival’s legacy of fostering talent, unity, and empowerment in Erute North.
