The Pan-African Dialogue Institute (TPADI), has called on the federal government to formally declare May 25, Africa Day, a national public holiday.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, TPADI president, Dr Effiong Joseph Udo, stressed that Nigeria must institutionalise the day as a symbol of national pride, unity, and commitment to the Pan-African vision.
Udo appealed to key ministries—including Information and National Orientation; Art, Culture and the Creative Economy; Education; and Tourism—to work together to integrate Africa Day into Nigeria’s national consciousness.
He recommended public awareness campaigns and inclusion in school curricula to deepen the country’s connection to its African identity.
He said, “Let us amplify this message in our various locations and spaces of influence,” Udo urged.If Nigerians can mark international days for Hepatitis, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS, why not Africa Day?”
Quoting an African proverb, he added, “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” He urged Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to unite to support the initiative.
“We believe commemorating Africa Day as a public holiday would reinforce Nigeria’s legacy as a champion of African unity, harking back to its support for anti-apartheid struggles and leadership in ECOWAS.
“Such a step would strengthen our continental ties, promote our leadership ambitions, and instil national pride,” Udo said.
He proposed that the occasion be used to educate younger generations on Africa’s history and struggles.
He warned that, “A man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body.”
Udo said Africa Day, celebrated across the continent, marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. Several African nations—including Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia—already recognise it as a public holiday with state-led festivities and cultural celebrations.
“For us Nigeria’s failure to formally observe the day is a symbolic void, given its pivotal role in the Pan-African struggle.
“Let us not be left behind. Africa Day is more than a calendar date—it is an affirmation of our shared identity, memory, and destiny,” he said.
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