The Bishop of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, is set to deliver the keynote lecture at the 2025 edition of the Ahiajoku lecture series, slated to hold on September 26 in the Ahiajoku centre, Owerri, Imo state.
The development was disclosed by the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, represented by the deputy governor of the state, Dr Chinyere Ekomaru, during the announcement of the Guest lecturer and the inauguration of the festival planning committee on Friday. She disclosed that the choice of Bishop Onah a Professor of Philosophy/Metaphysics cum cleric was a product of thorough research by a team of well-placed and able think tanks in Igbo land.
The theme of the 2025 edition of the lecture series is titled ” The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity in the Southeast: A Call for Paradigm Shift.’ The Ahiajoku intellectual harvest is receiving a facelift this year after many years of suspension.
The executive members of the planning committee include the Chairman of the Committee, Chief Garry Igariwey; and the Deputy Chairman, Stanley Amuchie; while other members of the committee include the Managing Director of The Sun newspapers, Onuoha Ukeh; the immediate past President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; an academic, Prof. Jerome Okonkwo; Paddy Obinna, and representatives of the governments of the seven Igbo-speaking states, among others.
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The Ahiajoku lecture series was established by the late Chief Sam Mbakwe, the former Governor of the state, in 1979 with the goal of stimulating and driving an intellectual discourse towards the development of Eastern Nigeria. The lecture series is organized by about seven Igbo-speaking states in the country (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Delta and Rivers).
Ahiajoku has hosted leading Igbo voices in the past, including Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Michael Echeruo, Prof Adiele Afigbo, Prof Barth Nnaji, Prof Donatus Nwaoga, Prof Bede Okigbo and Prof Barth Nnaji, amongst others.
The Director General of the Ahiajoku Convention Centre, Nze Ray Emeana and the members of the executive planning committee promised the general audience a thrilling encounter.
