By  JAPHET ALAKAM- CULTURE

The rich cultural heritage of Isoko nation,the third largest ethnic group in Delta State will be on display as they celebrate the 2016 Isoko Day in Lagos. The high profile event which  will bring all the sons and daughters of Isoko nation together is scheduled to hold on November 5th 2016 at the National Stadium, Surulere.

It will feature Isoko songs, dress styles, cuisine, proverbs, anecdotes, riddles, cultural dance, raffle draw and other forms of entertainment is

The event which is put together by Isoko Development Union, IDU, Lagos will  be graced by His Excellence, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State, as the special guest of honour, while Mr Zebulon Ikokide will be the chairman of the day.

The Isoko Day celebration with the theme, The Niger-Delta Restiveness and the Way forward, with the lead paper to be delivered by Professor Sam Aghalino of the University of Ilorin, and other presentations by eminent citizens of Isoko. Other major events of the day will include a match pass by all the Isoko Clans in Lagos, raffle draw and entertainment.

•The Frank Alordiah led executives of IDU Lagos

In a well attended press briefing by the executives of IDU Lagos branch, the president, Comrade Frank Alordiah, announced that apart from the prestigious cultural fiesta, the forum will be used to address some of the challenges facing the 19 clans that made up Isoko.

They include key developmental challenges in that part of the country, to strengthen existing relationship among Isoko people in Nigeria and Diaspora,  to encourage hard-working sons and daughters to continue to promote peace, love, unity and integrity, for which the Isoko people are well known, and to make I.D.U. in Lagos an enviable socio-cultural organization in Lagos that other similar organizations will emulate.

Alordiah also stated that the event will be used as a forum to fix the people especially youths by teaching them skills in this period of recession so that they will not rely on government alone for jobs.

Other issue is the neglect of Isoko land as an oil producing nation. “Oil and gas is produced in Isoko, but like other oil producing regions of the south, the impact has been negative and the people must wake up to the reality that we have not seen any evidence to show that government at all levels has any plan to develop the area or empower them, particularly the youths, economically,” he added.

On his part, the Chairman organizing committee of the event who doubles as the 1st Vice President of IDU, Lagos branch, Chief Steve Ageh, said the purpose of this celebration to showcase the tradition and culture of Isoko people , bring Isoko people together and to create strong non political pressure group in the national leadership.

On her part, Mrs Isima who canvassed for the women said that women should be given a place in the development of the nation. Adding  that the forum will be used to empower women as they will be trained in various skills.