He gave the theme of the celebration as: “Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya” translated to mean “Do not abandon your own”.
“This is an ethnic group that has suffered various kinds of injustice, alienation and relative deprivations, and have remained afloat in the academia, corporate world, transportation, tourism, commerce and industry. Instead of mourning, we have chosen to celebrate the God’s love and kindness towards the Igbo. We celebrate the innate capacity and perseverance in the Igbo to break physical boundaries and achieve results where most fail.”
The statement said the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor was optimistic that this year’s Igbo Day Celebration would be very unique in several ways.
Obiozor has set up a Central Planning Committee (CPC) led by the traditional ruler of Olo community and Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu as chairman and Chief Chiedozie Ogbonnia, national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as secretary.
Events to mark this year’s Igbo Day prayers would start in all churches in Igbo land on Sunday, September 26, while a public lecture is slated for International Conference Centre, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu on Tuesday, September 28 to be delivered by Prof. Osita Ogbu of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
There would also be creativity display by Igbo actors in Nollywood, while the activities would be rounded off at Michael Okpara Square, Independence Lay Out Enugu, on Wednesday September 29, under the distinguished Chairmanship of Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO of Air Peace.
The event which would offer a unique opportunity for individuals, captains of industry, groups, companies, universities and states to showcase and advertise their local produce and innovations would also witness a match past of cultural troupes from states and communities in Igbo land.
