Ahiajoku’s 40th anniversary logo unveiled

The Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, on Wednesday unveiled the 40th Ahiajoku logo, as a prelude to the marking of the 40th anniversary of the lecture series.
The ceremony took place at the Expanded Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Owerri.
At the ceremony witnessed by members of the Imo State Executive Council, the brand new logo symbolizing the enduring significance of the Ahiajoku festival and its pride of place in Igbo culture and civilization was underlined. The unveiling was an opportunity to retell the story of the festival which started at the same council chambers, then known as Multi Purpose Hall 40 years ago. From being a mere lecture series, Ahiajoku has, over the years, transformed to a festival, and lately to an institute.
The chairman of the 2019 Ahiajoku lecture planning committee and former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakirn who presented the logo to the governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha for unveiling explained that Ahiajoku has become a pan-Eastern region festival that can be used to bring all the peoples of the old Eastern Region together. For Governor Ihedioha, the return of Ahiajoku festival after seven years of abandonment by the immediate past administration in the state is in line with the Rebuild Imo philosophy of his administration. Through the festival, the people’s values which were eroded by the rapacious disposition of the old order will be restored.
The governor charged the new drivers of Ahiajoku to use the programme to make Imo great again.
A statement from the Director General of the institute, Dr. Amanze Obi, said that Prof. MJC Echeruo who presented the first lecture 40 years ago is going to present this year’s lecture in order to have a proper review and synthesis of the journey so far. As the man who set the tone for the lecture series, it is apposite to have Echeruo do a recap 40 years after. Besides, the 40th anniversary celebration of the festival will celebrate the milestones recorded so far some of which include the rebranding of the lecture to a festival with ancillary activities that last for three to four days, to the establishment of an institute that will solely take charge of Ahiajoku affairs.
Dr. Obi further explains that the institute is poised to engage in a myriad of cultural and intellectual activities in line with its mandate. The cultural and intellectual world will have so much take away from the institute. This year’s Ahiajoku festival begins on Friday 29th November with a colloquium and cultural night. The high point of the festival is the Ahiajoku Lecture holding on Saturday, 30th November at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre, Owerri.