Afenifere, Arewa, others set for 2018 Igbo day celebration in Owerri

ALL is now set for Igbo day celebration scheduled to hold in Owerri, Imo State between December 17 and 18, this year.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu yesterday on the activities lined up for the event, Comrade Chuks Ibegbu, the Deputy National Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who spoke alongside Chief Emeka Attamah, Special Assistant to the Ohanaeze President-General on Media said the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Afenifere, the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum, PANDEF, the Middle Belt Forum, among others would attend the event.

They said the “Igbo Day celebration is a day set aside to celebrate our Igboness, review our trajectory from the past and chart a course for the future.

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“It is celebrated on the 29th September of every year, but the 2018 edition was rescheduled due to unavoidable exigencies.”

The programme, it was gathered, shall commence on Monday, December 17 with a one-minute silence in memory of Ndigbo that made the supreme sacrifice in various crises in Nigeria, followed by Imeobi, a meeting of Elders’ Conclave. It shall be followed with the conferment of honours and awards on deserving Igbo leaders at Ikemba Ojukwu Pavilion.

“On December 17, there shall be a royal visit by delegates to Eze-Imo, followed by Igbo Day symposium at Imo International Convention Centre, as well as the grand finale of the event, which shall feature colourful Igbo cultural fiesta at Heroes Square, Owerri.

On the impact of the event, they said it had to raise Igbo consciousness as well as project the culture of the people.

“It has been able to give stronger impetus on our need to be together,” they further stated.

Speaking on guests expected at the event, they noted that the President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, would continue to make consultations aimed at building bridges across the country.