Hundreds of Igbos in Lagos State on Saturday celebrated Igbo Day to promote and preserve their culture and traditions.
The event held at the Ejigbo Mini Stadium in Oshodi-Isolo council area.
It featured Igbo cultural displays and launching of 2022 Calendar as well as presentation of meritorious award and special recognition.
In his remarks, Dr Jude Idimogu, Member representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, said that Igbos residing in Ejigbo council area had set aside the day as Igbo Day to celebrate themselves and their culture.
Idimogu said that Igbos remained a big family that deserved to be recognised and celebrated.
On 2023 elections, the lawmaker, who flaunted banners and T-Shirts projecting the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bola Tinubu, said that he desired that Tinubu would be the next Nigerian president.
He said that Tinubu deserved the office, having worked much for the nation, adding that he was intelligent and full of progressive ideas.
Idimogu urged Igbos to support Tinubu, saying that the former Lagos State Governor remained a detribalised Nigerian.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Celestine Chukwunenye, said that Igbo tribe was rich in culture and traditions which should not be allowed to die.
“This is a very wonderful occasion, very delightful, beautiful and rich in Igbo culture and traditions.
“It is something I think should be encouraged,” he said.
He urged that Nigerian peoples should create time to promote their cultures and traditions to preserve them.
“We need this so that we don’t end up losing our cultures to the over-bearing influence of foreign languages and traditions.
“Every effort must be made to promote the culture, language, customs and traditions of the Igbos,” Chukwunenye, who is also the Chief Medical Director, Optimal Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, said.
The Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr Bello Monsuru, who congratulated Igbos for the celebration, said that it showed that Nigeria remained a better place for all.
According to him, celebrating cultural heritages has a lot of merits and can promote diversification of the economy through tourism.
Speaking at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, the Eze Ndigbo of the state, Dr Christian Nwachukwu, thanked the Igbos for support, and urged them to embrace unity more for the development of Lagos State, Igbo land and the entire Nigeria.
Nwachukwu said that the celebration provided an opportunity to promote the culture and heritage of the people of the South East Nigeria.
Nwachukwu called on Igbo youths to embrace peace.
NAN reports that the event also featured masquerade display, breaking of kolanuts and parades. (NAN)