Tomorrow, Wednesday, September ten, 2025, the University Auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, will host a gathering of leaders, scholars, cultural custodians and citizens for a special intellectual event, the Annual Public Lecture in honour of Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha.
This year’s event which will be chaired by Distinguished Senator, Jonny Mbata, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo world-wide, has as theme, “Restructuring for True Federalism: A Challenge to Igbo Leadership,”
The theme goes beyond academic debate but touches the soul of Nigeria’s political development and the yearning of millions of citizens for justice, equity, and effective governance.
For Ndi Igbo, the subject resonates deeply. At a time when national unity is tested by structural imbalance, this lecture offers a platform to examine how Igbo leadership can drive conversations and actions towards a Nigeria where every region has a fair voice, fair share and fair opportunity.
The event promises to be a convergence of intellectual depth and political weight. The Chief Guest of Honour is Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State. Other eminent personalities expected include Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State; Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State; Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Federal Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Senator Victor Umeh; Chief Chekwas Okorie; and a host of other national leaders and statesmen.
At the heart of the day’s proceedings will be the Guest Lecturer, Professor Obasi Igwe, whose scholarship and experience in governance studies will shed fresh light on the meaning of true federalism and the peculiar challenge of leadership in Igboland.
It will also have the traditional ruler of Omor, Igwe Chris Chidume, as Royal Father of the Day, while Bishop Justice Ikpeama will be the Spiritual father of the day.
Beyond the lecture itself, the event is significant for the weight of tradition and culture it embodies. By dedicating an annual lecture to Igwe Achebe, one of Nigeria’s most respected traditional rulers, the University and its partners affirm the enduring place of culture, wisdom and heritage in shaping society.
The occasion will also attract a broad spectrum of society. From academia will come professors, researchers and students. From the cultural space will come icons such as Chief Pete Edochie, who personifies Igbo creativity, and from the civic front will be women leaders like Iyom Josephine Anenih, a champion of rights and good governance. Traditional rulers from across Igboland will grace the occasion, alongside civil society groups, clerics and security stakeholders.
The importance of the lecture lies not only in the roll call of dignitaries but in its potential impact. It is a clarion call to revisit Nigeria’s federal structure, to evaluate the role of Igbo leadership in national rebirth, and to inspire a new generation of thinkers and doers. It is also an avenue to enrich academic discourse, influence public policy and deepen civic consciousness.
As the eve of this important occasion calls on us, Nigerians are reminded that true federalism is not a slogan but a necessity. Restructuring remains a pathway to equity, stability and national progress.
Tomorrow, the eyes of the nation will be on Awka, where tradition meets intellect, leadership meets responsibility and the future of Nigeria’s federalism will once again take centre stage.
PROFESSOR GODWIN ONU
