The Directorate of Igbo Village and the Institute of African Studies, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Anambra State, recently hosted the much-anticipated Igu Aro UNIZIK 2025. The event, a vibrant display of cultural pride, attracted a wide array of attendees, including government officials, university management, students, traditional rulers, cultural groups, and representatives from the Chinese community at UNIZIK, as well as businessmen and industry leaders.
In his welcoming speech, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Bonachristus Umeogu, Director of the Igbo Village and Institute for African Heritage Studies (IVIAHS), highlighted the establishment of the institute in the 2016/2017 academic session. The transition from the Igbo Village and Centre for African Civilization (IVACAC) to IVIAHS marks a significant evolution in the institute’s mission to preserve and promote Igbo civilization, which he described as a vast body of indigenous knowledge and practices.
Fr. Umeogu outlined IVIAHS’s vision, which includes academic programs and research initiatives focused on Igbo knowledge systems. Notably, he announced the establishment of the Center for Traditional Medicine, designed to safeguard and institutionalize Igbo Indigenous healing practices. Plans to introduce degree programs in traditional medicine were also revealed, ensuring the preservation and recognition of these practices in an academic context.
The director emphasized the importance of collective support for IVIAHS, urging Igbo elites to contribute resources and funding to further its mission. He stressed that the success of IVIAHS hinges on four key pillars: securing funding from the Igbo elite, modernizing indigenous knowledge systems through scholarly research, promoting the Igbo heritage within communities, and encouraging the youth to engage with their culture to ensure continuity.
Fr. Umeogu concluded by stating that the focus of IVIAHS is not merely cultural preservation, but the establishment of a strong academic and intellectual foundation for future generations, grounded in the principles of Igbo civilization. He called for unity and investment in an Igbo university, where Igbo knowledge systems in fields like medicine, law, science, engineering, governance, and philosophy can be taught and explored.
In his address, Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph I. Ikechebelu commended Fr. Umeogu and his team for their outstanding contributions to the success of the Iri-Ji UNIZIK, Ohazurume Igbo Festival, and Igu Aro UNIZIK festival. He praised the directorate’s efforts in promoting the rich heritage of the Igbo people.
Prof. Ikechebelu also delved into the significance of the Igbo calendar, a timekeeping system that has existed for centuries. He explained the structure of the Igbo calendar, which consists of a four-day week (Izu Eke, Oye, Afor, Nkwo) and 28-day lunar months (Onwa). With 13 months in a year, the Igbo calendar stands as a testament to the cultural depth of the Igbo people.
The event featured a lively mix of cultural performances, music, and dance, with the Acting Vice-Chancellor also reading the academic calendar in the Igbo language.
The highlights of Igu Aro UNIZIK 2025 included the unveiling of the UNIZIK Igbo Calendar for the year 2025, the inauguration of the Igbo Village’s permanent site, and the presentation of awards to distinguished individuals for their contributions to the promotion of Igbo culture and heritage.
