By Emmanuel Iheaka

OWERRI – Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Garry Igariwey, has said that the 2025 Ahiajoku Festival will target ways of boosting the economy of Igbooland.

Igariwe who is the Chairman of the 2025 Ahiajoku Planning Committee, stated this in Owerri, Thursday, while briefing journalists after the inaugural meeting of the committee.

The chairman, represented by his deputy, Sir Stanley Amuchie, noted that the Ahiajoku Lecture will hold on Friday, 26th September.

He said the committee was poised to make this year’s festival an outstanding one.

“The Ahiajoku Lecture Festival stands as one of the most intellectually grounded and culturally significant annual gatherings in the history of Igbo civilization.

“It was initiated in 1979 under the visionary leadership of then Imo State Governor, Dee Sam Mbakwe, as a platform to celebrate, preserve and advance the intellectual heritage, cultural values and philosophical worldview of the Igbo people.

“I am also pleased to inform you that the governor has approved that the 2025 Ahiajoku Lecture Festival be held on Friday, September 26, 2025. The programme will feature an impressive line-up of activities including a curated arts and crafts exhibition, a scholarly colloquium, captivating cultural displays, and of course, the Ahiajoku lecture proper, which remains the central intellectual highlight of the festival.

“The committee is chaired by none other than Chief Garry Igariwey, a former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, whose profound understanding of Igbo affairs and leadership experience will be of immense value. Supporting him as Deputy Chairman is Sir Stanley Amuchie, an accomplished banker, entrepreneur and cultural enthusiast.

“We are equally delighted to announce that the 2025 Ahiajoku Lecture will be delivered by His Lordship, Bishop Professor Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese and a globally renowned scholar of philosophy and African epistemology. Bishop Onah is a man of deep thought, clarity of vision and moral authority.

“The theme of this year’s lecture is: “The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity in the Southeast: A Call for Paradigm Shift.” This will interrogate one of the most pressing issues facing Igboland today.

“Furthermore, I wish to inform you that all the governments of the seven Igbo-speaking states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Delta and Rivers have been duly notified and are actively being carried along in the planning process”, he submitted.