Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organisation representing the Igbo people, has said the 2026 Igbo Day celebration in Umuahia, Abia State, will focus on strengthening unity, renewing collective identity and promoting strategic engagement among Ndigbo at home and in the diaspora.
The two-day event is scheduled for Monday, September 28, and Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with delegates expected from the seven core Igbo-speaking states represented within Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The programme will commence with a public lecture on September 28, while the grand finale will take place on September 29.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Abia State Government House in Umuahia, the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, said the celebration would provide an opportunity for the Igbo people to reflect on their shared heritage, current challenges and collective aspirations.
Chukwu, who spoke on behalf of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, and the Global Executive Council, said the annual celebration was designed to deepen the bonds that unite Ndigbo and encourage a stronger sense of collective responsibility.
“Igbo Day celebration is an opportunity for us to revitalise our sense of oneness as one people and to reflect on where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going, in a very amiable and fraternal sense of organic solidarity,” he said.
He said the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Njiko Ka,” meaning “Togetherness is Best,” was deliberately chosen to underscore the importance of unity in advancing the interests and aspirations of the Igbo people.
According to him, the first major activity will be a public lecture titled “Igbo Charter of Strategic Engagement for National Development.” The lecture is expected to hold at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia and will be delivered by renowned economist, banker and former presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu.
Chukwu explained that the Igbo Charter of Strategic Engagement for National Development was conceived as a strategic document setting out the aspirations, worldview and development priorities of Ndigbo.
He disclosed that the document was developed by an inclusive committee comprising more than 100 eminent Igbo professionals and stakeholders drawn from the academia, public service, traditional institutions, clergy, women and youth organisations.
The Charter, he said, was intended to provide a framework through which Ndigbo could engage constructively with the wider Nigerian society and the international community while advancing their collective interests.
The Policy Secretary added that Senator Azuta Mbata, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, would deliver a welcome address and formally declare the 2026 Igbo Day celebration open.
The main celebration will take place on Tuesday, September 29, at the Michael Okpara Square Events Centre, near the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia.
Chukwu said the day would begin with the laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph, followed by an inter-denominational church service. The activities would thereafter move to the Michael Okpara Auditorium for the main festivities.
A major highlight of the grand finale will be the President General’s State of the Union Address, which will be delivered under the theme “Njiko Ka.”
The programme will also feature a traditional march-past involving the seven core Igbo states, goodwill messages, cultural performances and presentations by youth groups.
According to Chukwu, Ohanaeze chapters and affiliate organisations from different parts of Nigeria, as well as chapters operating in the diaspora, will participate in the celebration. Igbo leaders from the clergy, academia, traditional institutions, women organisations and youth groups are also expected to attend.
He expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government and Governor Alex Otti for accepting to host the 2026 Igbo Day celebration.
Chukwu said the choice of Umuahia as host provided an opportunity to bring Igbo leaders and stakeholders together in a setting that would encourage dialogue, reflection and cultural expression.
Also speaking during the briefing, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emeka Sibeudu, said the celebration would serve as an opportunity to remind Ndigbo of their identity, aspirations and responsibilities to the wider Nigerian society.
“We await the D-Day to tell the whole world who we are as the Igbo nation,” Sibeudu said.
He expressed optimism that the gathering would further strengthen unity and reinforce the collective purpose of Ndigbo.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed that the September 28 programme would also include a tour of selected projects executed by the state government.
According to Kanu, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo would undertake the facility tour alongside journalists as part of activities marking the celebration.
The 2026 Igbo Day celebration is therefore expected to combine cultural activities with intellectual engagement, institutional reflection and discussions on the future of the Igbo people.
With “Njiko Ka” as its central message, Ohanaeze Ndigbo says the event will provide an avenue for Ndigbo from across Nigeria and the diaspora to reaffirm their common identity, strengthen relationships and consider practical approaches to contributing to national development while preserving their cultural heritage.
