News
Ohanaeze Battles Extinction Of Igbo Language, Endorses Ahiajoku Festival
The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has announced the support of the socio-cultural group for the Ahiajoku Festival, saying that it would elevate Igbo cultural visibility.
He stated this during the visit by the planning committee of the Ahiajoku Festival at the Ohanaeze Secretariat in Enugu.
The 2025 Ahiajoku Festival, which includes a lecture, is a gathering of intellectuals, especially of Igbo descent, where they take stock of their efforts and chart new frontiers.
The Ahiajoku lecture, scheduled for Friday, September 26, in Owerri, will be delivered by Most Rev (Prof) Godfrey Onah, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, themed, “The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity: A Call for Paradigm Shift.”
Senator Mbata said that the festival remains an avenue for deep conversations among Ndigbo on issues of culture, language and survival but lamented over UNESCO’s report which said that the Igbo language is endangered and appealed for urgent measures to avert such cultural erosion.
He revealed that his administration had instituted professorial endowment chairs in tertiary institutions to drive research in Igbo history, tradition, and language.
The Ohanaeze president-general tasked the organizers to deliver an excellent festival that would elevate Igbo cultural visibility, adding that they would play their role gladly for Ndigbo to be heard.
“We are encouraging studies and research on Igbo language and culture. We have set up a committee for that. Any role we are expected to play, we shall gladly play it at the Ahiajoku lecture.
Our people must be heard,” he said.
Earlier, the director-general of Ahiajoku Centre and Secretary of the Planning Committee, Nze Ray Emeana, traced the origin and evolution of the Ahiajoku lecture festival. He recalled that the festival was inaugurated in 1979 by the late governor of Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe, as a platform for Igbo introspection and projection of the Igbo worldview.
Emeana highlighted the stature of intellectuals who had delivered the Ahiajoku lecture to include Professors MJC Echeruo, Chinua Achebe, Ben Nwabueze, Donatus Nwoga, Adiele Afigbo, Laz Ekwueme and the 2025 edition would mark the 45th anniversary of the festival and the 25th lecture in the series.
By Emmanuel Iheaka, OWERRI
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has assured Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that his group will be one of the biggest investors in the state.
Dangote gave the assurance at the opening session of the Imo Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri on Thursday.
The renowned Africa’s industrialist urged Uzodimma to indicate his preferred area of investment and forget the rest.
Dangote described the Imo governor as a personal friend of decades and commended him for providing enabling environment for investment.
“We will be one of your biggest investors in Imo. So, please tell me the area to invest and we will invest”, Dangote declared.
He called on entrepreneurs to always invest at home, adding that foreigners cannot drive the economy of any nation more than the nationals.
“What attracts foreign investors is a domestic investor. Africa has about 30 percent of the world’s minerals. We are blessed,” he submitted.
Dangote reiterated that his refinery was set to launch 1.4 million barrels per day capacity, the highest for any single refinery in the world.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to accept Prince Emmanuel Kanu’s appearance on behalf of his brother, Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that he is not a legal practitioner.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, swore in General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) as Minister of Defence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
General Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, December 1, 2025. His nomination was announced the following day and transmitted to the Senate, where it received expedited screening and confirmation.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and had a distinguished military career. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in October 2025.
As Chief of Defence Staff, he championed inter-service security collaboration.
With his swearing-in, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties as the Tinubu administration seeks to consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Also in attendance were the spouse of the new Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).
Dangote to Uzodimma: Just show me where to invest
Judge rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s brother court appearance
IMO ON GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT AS GOVERNOR UZODIMMA KICKS OFF 2025 IMO ECONOMIC SUMMIT.
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