Imo hosts 2025 Ahiajoku festival Sept 26th

DDM NEWS

Governor Uzodinma

The Imo State Government has announced that the 2025 Ahiajoku Lecture Festival will take place on Friday, September 26, 2025.

This significant cultural event aims to promote Igbo heritage, culture, and economic development.

The festival is scheduled for September 26, 2025, in Owerri, Imo State.

This year’s theme is “The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity in the Southeast: A Call for Paradigm Shift.”

The festival’s keynote speaker will be Bishop Professor Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, a renowned scholar of philosophy and African epistemology.

The Ahiajoku Lecture Festival promises to be an exciting event, featuring Arts and Crafts Exhibition.

A curated exhibition showcasing Igbo art, crafts, and creativity.

A platform for intellectual discourse on Igbo culture, history, and development.

There will be captivating performances and displays of Igbo music, dance, and masquerades.

The Ahiajoku Lecture Festival is a celebration of Igbo culture and heritage, initiated in 1979 by former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe.

The festival has become a significant annual gathering for the Igbo community, promoting unity, cultural preservation, and intellectual discourse.

Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration has shown commitment to promoting Igbo culture and institutions.

The festival’s revival is a testament to the government’s efforts to re-establish Imo State as a cultural beacon in the Southeast.

The festival’s focus on economic development and paradigm shift highlights the need for innovative approaches to address the challenges facing the Igbo economy.

By bringing together stakeholders and experts, the festival aims to stimulate discussion and action towards boosting the region’s economy.

DDM News gathered that 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 emphasized 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 issues.

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.

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