….says Igbos, backbone of Ondo Economy, as Sowore graces ceremony.
Members and leaders of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ondo State chapter, on Sunday rolled out the drums amidst funfair to celebrate their 2025 End-of-Year Celebration held in Akure.
The event attracted prominent Igbo leaders, business owners, and dignitaries from across the Southwest.
The colourful event also featured activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who joined community leaders to call for greater inclusion and justice for Nigerians of all backgrounds.
Delivering his keynote address, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ondo State, Onyeoma Chris Ezea, expressed gratitude to members for their unwavering commitment to unity and progress.
He noted that the Igbo community has played a vital role in the economic development of Ondo State through enterprise, innovation, and resilience.
“The economy of this state cannot stand without the contribution of the Igbos. From Akure to Okitipupa, Owo to Ondo town, our people are deeply involved in commerce, real estate, and industrial development. We are partners in progress,” Ezea stated.
He called for continued cooperation between the Igbo community and the state government, commending Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for appointing three Igbo sons into his cabinet — a move he described as “a demonstration of inclusivity and fair representation.”
Ezea also appealed to the Bank of Industry (BoI) to provide accessible loans for Igbo traders in the state, stressing that such support would expand small and medium-scale enterprises that drive the local economy.
He further urged members to contribute toward the completion of the ultra-modern Ohanaeze community hall, a project he described as “a symbol of unity and legacy.”
In his remarks, Eze (Sir) Amb. Gregory Ilohega, who also chairs the hall project, recounted that construction began nearly two decades ago and has seen contributions from successive administrations in the state.
“This project represents our collective pride and must be completed to serve as a home for future generations,” he said.
The event also featured a passionate address by Omoyele Sowore, publisher and activist, who commended the Igbo community for their commitment to peace and development but called for justice and fairness across Nigeria.
“We cannot have unity without justice. We cannot say we are one people when some are treated as superior and others as inferior,” Sowore said.
“If we want a united Nigeria, then every group must be treated with dignity and equity.”
Sowore reiterated his call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing his continued detention as an act of marginalization.
However, he cautioned against external interference, saying, “No one should invite America or any foreign country to fix Nigeria for us. We must fix Nigeria by ourselves and make it work for everyone.”
Both speakers emphasized the values of peace, hard work, and collective progress, urging Nigerians to rise above ethnic differences and build a fairer nation.
The end-of-year event, which also served as a fundraiser for the ongoing community hall project, featured cultural displays, awards presentations, and prayers for unity and prosperity.
In closing, Ezea reaffirmed Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s commitment to a united Nigeria rooted in fairness and mutual respect.
“We preach peace, we preach one nation, one Nigeria — but what is due to us should be given to us,” he declared.
