Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has called on stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and work for the sustainable development and economic well-being of the South East Zone.
Ikpeazu made the call while delivering a speech at the 2019 Ahiajoku Festival and 40th Anniversary of the Ahiajoku Lecture Series held at the Ahiajoku Centre, Owerri,Imo State.
He urged all stakeholders to strive towards the unity of the South East zone noting that the survival of the region depends solely on the unity and oneness of the people.
The Governor who sued for an inward looking approach by the stakeholders in the zone,urged them to leverage on the efforts made by foremost Igbo leaders and strive towards uplifting the Igbo nation.
He commended the Imo state Governor, Emeka Ihedioha for reviving and institutionalizing the Ahiajoku lecture series, as well as the Guest lecturer,Prof Micheal Echeruo for the thought provoking lecture.
In his remarks,the Host Governor, Emeka Ihedioha described the event as significant as it marks the restoration of the intellectual lecture series and Igbo culture after eight years of abandonment by the previous administration.
According to Ihedioha, the Ahiajoku Lecture Series, a unifying factor among the Igbos,has metamorphosed to a pan intellectual harvests of sorts which seeks to highlight the contributions Igbos have made and are making in culture, civilization and humanity.
He further pointed out that the event creates a context for serious reflection of profound cultural values of the Igbo people intended to providing a veritable platform for defining the core tenents of Igbo culture and stressed the need for Igbos to forge a new sense of brotherhood,coperate growth as well as rekindle the spirit of enterprise for which the people were known for.
In their Goodwill messages,Chairman of the South East Governor’s Forum, Engr David Umahi represented by his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe and his Akwa Ibom state counterpart Emmanuel Udom, while congratulating the Imo state government for reviving the lecture series eight years after it’s inception,described the Ahiajoku festival as essential for the socioeconomic advancement of the old eastern region.
In a lecture entitled “OGU ERI MBA” (WE SHALL SURVIVE), the Guest Lecturer and foremost inuagural lecturer of the Ahiajioku Festival, Professor Micheal Echeruo who described Ndigbo all over the world as resilient and entrepreneurs,regretted that the full self-realization of the Igbo people and the validation of their collective dreams for Igboland as a model homeland has not been achieved.
Prof. Echeruo noted that the Igbo nation would have been more developed had the struggle for an independent Biafra state was realized.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Former Governor of Imo state and Chairman of the 2019 Ahiajioku Festival Planning Committee, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim said the lecture was put in place forty(40) years ago by the Imo state government under the administration of Late Sam Mbakwe as a means to address the pressing needs of Ndị Igbo, stressing that the idea is to promote unity and oneness amongst the states of the former Eastern Nigeria irrespective of language variations.
The 2019 Ahiajioku Festival and 40th Anniversary of the Ahiajioku Lecture Series was chaired by the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers,Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and featured presentation of a souvenir to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, his Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi state counterparts and was attended by dignitaries from all works of life including stakeholders of the South East Geopolitical zone.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has called on stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and work for the sustainable development and economic well-being of the South East Zone.
