The stage is set for former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, an avid lover of Igbo culture, to take the stage at the 2019 Ahiajoku Lecture series holding today, Friday, November 29, at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre in Owerri, Imo State.

Ahiajoku Festival and Colloquium is a forum for Igbo intellectual harvest and cultural renaissance founded in 1979 by the then governor of Imo State, late Sam Mbakwe. This year’s edition marks the 40th anniversary of the pan-Igbo cultural festival.

According to Dr Amanze Obi, who is the Director General of Ahiajoku Institute, Owerri, the Lecture Series was initiated as an intellectual festival which celebrates Igbo civilisation and culture.

“The Imo State Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has taken it upon himself to revive the almost moribund lecture series as part of his intervention in culture and tourism in the state.” Obi said.

“This year’s festival will draw attention to the great attainments of the Ahiajoku lecture series since its inception 40 years ago,” he added.

Chidoka, who is a special guest of the governor, will deliver a lecture on the topic “Leadership in Igboland: Urgent Need For A Paradigm shift”.

Eminent Igbo scholars who have delivered lecture in the Ahiajoku colloquium include but not limited to Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Pius Okigbo, Professor Chinedu Nebo, Professor Emmanuel Obiechina, V.C. Uchendu, M.A. Onwuejiogu, among others.