Imo Hosts Igbo Festival

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has announced Friday, 26th September as the date for the 2025 Ahiajoku lecture, the pan-Igbo discussion forum in Owerri.

The deputy governor of Imo State, Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru, made the announcement during the formal inauguration of the planning committee in Owerri on Thursday.

Ekomaru stated that Governor Hope Uzodimma is committed to the promotion of Igbo culture and institutions, adding that the Ahiajoku festival is a significant event in Igbo land. He also announced the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rev. Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, as the speaker for the 2025 Ahiajoku lecture.

The deputy chairman of the planning committee, Sir Stanley Amuchie, announced that the theme of the lecture is “The Future of the Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity in the Southeast: A Call for Paradigm Shift,” which he said will address one of the most pressing issues currently facing Igboland.

Amuchie expressed hope that the topic will spark critical discussions and inspire policy action towards building a resilient and prosperous Igbo economy while addressing the fundamental challenges of insecurity.

He also disclosed that a former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Garry Igariwey, is the chairman of the planning committee.

Amuchie emphasised that the relevance of the Ahiajoku lecture to the Ndigbo cannot be overstated, as it is more than a mere cultural event and represents the soul of Igbo philosophy finding expression through scholarship.

According to him, the Ahiajoku festival serves as an annual communion of Igbo minds, reflecting on the existential issues facing our people, from language endangerment to socio-economic development, political inclusion, and intergenerational continuity. He added that the lecture also functions as an archive of Igbo thought, an intellectual compass that points to both the heritage and aspirations of the Ndigbo as a people.

He remarked, “As you may be aware, the Ahiajoku lecture festival stands as one of the most intellectually grounded and culturally significant annual gatherings in the history of Igbo civilisation. It was initiated in 1979 under the visionary leadership of then Imo State Governor, Dee Sam Mbakwe, as a platform to celebrate, preserve, and advance the intellectual heritage, cultural values, and philosophical worldview of the Igbo people.”

The committee commended the governor for the revival of the festival, stating that his belief in the power of culture and ideas to shape development and foster unity is commendable and has re-established Imo State as the cultural beacon of the southeast.

Since its inception, the Ahiajoku lecture has grown into a festival of ideas, a rallying point for scholars, policymakers, traditional rulers, and thought leaders to interrogate the Igbo condition and propose pathways for collective advancement.

Abia State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Dr. Mattew Ekwuribe, mentioned that they are participating because Governor Alex Otti values culture, adding that they support the preservation of Igbo heritage and culture.

Past speakers include distinguished Igbo scholars such as Professor Michael Echeruo, Professor Adiele Afigbo, Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Donatus Nwoga, Professor Bede Okigbo, and Professor Barth Nnaji, who have each left an indelible mark on the consciousness of the Ndigbo and beyond.