The 2023 Igbo Day, which is planned to take place in September, would be sacred, according to the Igbo sociocultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The South-East Summit on Security and Economy and Igbo Day in 2023, both slated for the same dates in Enugu and Owerri, Imo State, were not at odds with one another, according to the organisation.
The claim was made by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in a statement released on Monday in Enugu by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia.
Iwuanyanwu claims that the two activities will take place simultaneously in Enugu and Owerri for the benefit of the local populace.
He stated, “Our attention has been called to certain disinformation that has the potential to cause misunderstanding over the joint hosting of the South-East Summit on Security and Economy and the Igbo Day in 2023.
So that there are no misunderstandings, it has become necessary to provide some clarification.
The president general continued by saying that on September 28 and 29, Ndigbo and the inhabitants of the South-East geopolitical zone would simultaneously host two very significant events in Owerri and Enugu, both of which were extremely important to the Igbo people.
“As a result, we have decided to hold both events simultaneously in order to guarantee a large turnout from our populace.
Accordingly, the schedules of our governors and our eminent sons and daughters who are flying from far and near to attend the events have been accommodated, the programmes for both events have been structured, he said.
He emphasised that on November 28, they would be in Owerri for the commencement of the Summit, which begins at 10 a.m., and that at 4 p.m. that day, the Old Governors Lodge in Enugu will host the first event of Igbo Day 2023, a public lecture.
Iwuanyanwu said that on Friday, September 29, the summit would continue in Owerri with separate sessions on security, the economy, and related topics attended by only invited professionals, technocrats, and experts.
Igbo Day’s great conclusion in 2023, the Igbo leader intimated, will continue in Enugu for all other Igbo sons and daughters on the same 29th.
“It should be emphasised that the date “29” of September is sacred to Ndigbo and has historical importance for the celebration of Igbo Day.
“The Governors of the South East, who are hosting both festivities, are collaborating closely with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide’s leadership to ensure the success of both occasions.
In order to guarantee a large turnout by our people, Iwuanyanwu stated, “We are in full agreement and concord to host both events concurrently and not on two different dates.”
He claims that they are hosting these two significant events simultaneously because of how near their states are to one another in the South-East.
Every state in the South-East, he revealed, was within two hours of one another by car. He emphasised that this was clear evidence of their shared history, destiny, and unity, which these two events were reinforcing.
In light of this, the Igbo leader added, “It is my pleasure to welcome all our invited sons and daughters, in-laws, friends, and partners to both the South-East Summit on Security and Economy and Igbo Day 2023 on September 28 and 29.”
