World Igbo Day: Otti Charges Ndigbo to Build a More Prosperous Future

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged Ndigbo to place collective interest above individual differences, saying greater unity and cooperation are essential to building a more prosperous future for the Igbo nation.

Governor Otti made the call on Tuesday in Umuahia while speaking at the 2026 World Igbo Day celebration hosted by Abia State, with the theme, “Ohaneze: History and the Dreams of Tomorrow.”

The Governor said the courage, resilience, enterprise and communal values inherited from Igbo ancestors must be preserved and deployed towards advancing the fortunes of Ndigbo.

Otti stressed that unity does not mean having identical opinions, noting that Ndigbo can disagree on politics and other issues while remaining committed to their shared aspirations.

He called for a shift from discord and acrimony to peace, understanding, sincerity and cooperation, while identifying education, apprenticeship and the traditional Omugwo system as important channels for transferring knowledge, skills and values to younger generations.

Also speaking, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, said Ndigbo must deliberately define the future they want for themselves and Nigeria.

Azuta-Mbata described unity as the spirit behind the 2026 Igbo Day theme, “Njiko Ka,” and called for a cohesive front to enable Ndigbo take their rightful place in Nigeria and the global community.

He acknowledged that Ndigbo may disagree over politics, religion, strategy and even aspects of their history, but said such differences should not override their shared identity and responsibility to future generations.

The Chairman of the occasion, General Ike Nwachukwu, rtd, also called on Igbo sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to recognize their individual responsibilities in building the Igbo nation.

Nwachukwu stressed the need to invest deliberately in young people, inculcate strong moral values and encourage youths to see themselves as leaders of today, rather than merely leaders of tomorrow.

He further urged Igbo youths to embrace their culture and pursue excellence.

Earlier, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Umuahia Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzor Raphael Opoko, called on Igbo leaders to unite and work together for the development of the region, irrespective of political affiliation.

The Archbishop noted that Ndigbo are widely recognized for enterprise, ingenuity and hard work wherever they live.

The celebration climaxed with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph in honour of eminent Igbo personalities who have passed on.

The ceremony was performed by Governor Otti alongside the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senator John Azuta-Mbata; Prof. Mrs. Uche Azikiwe; General Ike Nwachukwu; Chief Mike Okiro; and Archbishop Sunday Onuoha.

The event attracted prominent Igbo leaders and stakeholders from across the region, including former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.

See pictures below: