ANAMBRA GOVERNOR REPRESENTS PRESIDENT TINUBU AT INAUGURAL IGWE ORIZU III INTERNATIONAL LECTURE IN NNEWI

Soludo joins Nwodo, Azuta-Mbata, Moghalu, Etiaba and other dignitaries to honour the Nnewi monarch ahead of his 101st birthday

NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE – OCTOBER 29, 2026

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, on Thursday represented the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the inaugural Igwe Orizu III International Lecture on African Traditional Leadership, Culture and Development, held in honour of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Kenneth Onyemaeke Orizu III, the Igwe of Nnewi.

The Governor’s presence followed an invitation extended to President Tinubu by the organisers of the two-day celebration marking the 101st birthday of the Nnewi monarch. Following the invitation, the Presidency communicated that the President would be represented at the occasion. Governor Soludo subsequently attended on his behalf, despite his demanding schedule.

The development added national significance to the occasion, reflecting the recognition accorded to the monarch’s remarkable life, more than six decades on the throne and enduring contributions to traditional leadership and community development.

The inaugural lecture, held at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Permanent Site, attracted an impressive gathering of political leaders, traditional rulers, academics, professionals, cultural stakeholders and community leaders.

Among the distinguished personalities in attendance were Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jr., former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Senator John Azuta-Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; Professor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, OON, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and Her Excellency, Dame Virgy Etiaba, CON, former Governor of Anambra State.

Other notable personalities included Chief Ben Etiaba, FCA, FELUN, FIMS; Chief Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps; Chief Dr George Moghalu, former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority; Professor Florence Orabueze of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ambassador Anderson Madubike, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia; and several other distinguished traditional rulers, government officials, academics and stakeholders.

The lecture provided a platform for critical conversations on the relevance of African traditional institutions in contemporary society, with particular attention to cultural preservation, peacebuilding, indigenous leadership and sustainable development.

The inaugural edition is envisioned as an enduring intellectual platform that will bring together traditional leaders, scholars, policymakers and other stakeholders to examine how traditional institutions can contribute meaningfully to governance, social cohesion and development across Africa.

The event also featured conversations around preserving the legacy of His Majesty beyond the celebrations. Among the initiatives being advanced in his honour are the proposed Igwe Orizu III Digital Archive, designed to preserve historical records, photographs, oral histories and audiovisual materials relating to the monarch and the cultural heritage of Nnewi, as well as the Igwe Orizu III Peace Prize, an annual recognition initiative intended to honour outstanding contributions to peacebuilding.

The lecture formed the first day of a two-day programme organised by Micstreams Production Ltd in conjunction with the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnewi, and the Nnewi Youth Forum, with institutional collaboration from the College of Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, filmmaker and Executive Producer of the documentary, Igwe Orizu III: The Centenary Monarch, Michael Chineme Ike, said the project goes beyond celebrating a monarch, describing it as a deliberate effort to document history, preserve cultural heritage and ensure that future generations have access to the story of a remarkable reign.

The two-day celebration continues on Friday, October 30, at the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Igwe of Nnewi, with the monarch’s 101st birthday celebration and the official premiere of the documentary, Igwe Orizu III: The Centenary Monarch.

The documentary chronicles the life, reign, leadership and cultural legacy of the Nnewi monarch, providing a historical record of a traditional institution that has remained significant through generations of social and political change.

For Nnewi and the wider Igbo nation, the celebration represents an opportunity not only to honour an extraordinary monarch but also to reflect on the importance of preserving history, strengthening traditional institutions and passing cultural heritage to future generations.

A LIFE. A REIGN. A LEGACY.