Igbo stakeholders have declared their support and endorsement for the success of the Igbo Heritage Celebration Day scheduled to be held during the last quarter of the year. Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of the Chairman of the Igbo Heritage Celebration Day 2025, the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State, High Chief Sunday Ossai said that this year’s Igbo Day celebration will be a landmark for the promotion of Igbo cultural values.
According to him, “It is the coming together to showcase the entrepreneurship inherent within the Igbos to the world.” In setting it up, he consulted with various stakeholders and they pledged their support. He therefore sees anyone who attempts to put a cog in its wheel of progress as an enemy to the Igbos.
The executives of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State appointed Apostle Patrick Nwanze (Agu Anioma) to be the Chairman of the 2025 Igbo Heritage Day Celebration. Through the event, all Igbo indigenes in Lagos are set once again to celebrate their rich cultural heritage and the resilience of great people. Igbo day is a momentous occasion that reminds Igbos of their shared history, values, culture and tradition. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Unity in Diversity, Celebrating Igbo Traditions and Heritage Excellence.” The swearing in ceremony was attended by distinguished stakeholders of Ohaneze to give legal backing to the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech during the occasion held in Lekki, Lagos, Apostle Nwanze said that the Igbo Heritage Day Celebration is an opportunity for all Igbo sons and daughters in Lagos, including those in the diaspora, to come together to celebrate their rich cultural heritage. “As we do this, we celebrate our achievements, and contributions to the society through unwavering spirit. I therefore call on members of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Lagos, Igbo speaking community and all associations, groups and unions to come together to reaffirm our total commitment to our cultural values and traditions. Through this, we promote unity and solidarity among us, eschew rancour and dichotomy while encouraging innovation, enterprise and community development,”
In preparation for this great event, he has co-opted distinguished Igbo professionals from all works of life to work as a team towards the success of the event. Various sub-committees have also been established to carry out various tasks. He informed the Ohaneze executives that he has gotten the endorsement of Eze Igbos in Lagos, Chairmen of Ohaneze of local governments, leaders of State and town unions, market leaders and various other stakeholders. He promised to take the event to greater heights despite distractions from certain individuals.
Administering the oath of office, a renowned criminal justice reformist and Founder of Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), Bar. Chinonye Edmund Obiagwu (SAN) called on all Igbos to support the Igbo Day celebration despite their political and professional affiliations. This will elicit more respect of Igbos within Lagos and beyond. According to him, if any person is aggrieved, there are platforms for settlement instead of planning to disrupt any Igbo activity.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria encouraged the Chairman to consider holding an economic and rapport summit (The economic and apport in this context emphasizes building strong economic relationships and cooperation. The summit’s goals will align with economic empowerment, cultural exchange, and collaboration and mutual benefit By focusing on economic ties, the summit will help create opportunities for growth, development, and unity among participating communities.
He promised, on pro bono basis to mediate all legal matters including all attempts by any person or group of persons to cause confusions. He appreciated the willingness of the President in discharging his deputies. He further assured that the consent judgment being paraded will be upturned for want of merit and the possible misleading of the court. He promised to reach out to his colleagues in the legal profession to join in the Igbo Day celebration.
Also speaking at the swearing in ceremony, the past Chairman of Igbo Day celebration, Prince Ubochi U. UBOCHI stated that Igbo culture and tradition needs to be sustained and that holding such event annually is one of the best ways to sustain it. He also confirmed that the choice of Apostle Patrick Nwanze as the Chairman of the organizing committee is appropriate and called for all stakeholders to render him all the support he needs.
The highlights of this year’s celebration scheduled to hold towards the last quarter of the year include, cultural display; showcasing of traditional cuisine, attire, artifacts, and values. There will be music and dance and display of host community traditional masquerade and cultural music, demonstrating friendship and harmonious co-existence. There will also be road shows to promote the event and awards of recognition for outstanding contributions and achievements of distinguished Igbos.
The swearing in ceremony was attended by the executives of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State led by the President, High Chief Sunday Ossai, and the Secretary General, Chief Robert Obasi. Bar. Chinonye Edmund Obiagwu (SAN), and the immediate past Chairman of Igbo Day, Prince Ubochi U. UBOCHI. Others were Chief Sir Amaechi Ebeledike, Vice President representing Anambra State, Mother of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Evang. Chioma Adeoye, President’s Chief of Staff, Chief David Itodo, and Chief Press Officer, Mrs. Njideka Alaka. Also present were the Youth Leader, Comrade Tony Muoneke, Chairmen of the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs represented by Sir Collins T. Ezeilo (Lagos Mainland LGA), Chief Charles Ikechukwu (Mosan Okunola LCDA), Chief Ike Agina (Ejigbo LCDA), Apt Nnamdi T. Chukwunede (Egbe/ Idimu LCDA), Chief Paul Ebere (Olorunda LCDA), Rtn Tony I. Udeocha (Ikorodu West LCDA), Sir Peter Chukwuemeka (Apapa Iganmu LCDA) as well as the Chairman of the Ohaneze Council of Chairmen, Chief Daniel A. Emeka who joined virtually from the UK.
