NNEWI, Anambra State — October 29, 2026 — Distinguished political leaders, academics, traditional leaders and cultural stakeholders are expected to converge on Nnewi, Anambra State, today for the inaugural Igwe Orizu III International Lecture on African Traditional Leadership, Culture and Development.
The lecture is scheduled today by 10 a.m. at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Permanent Site.
It is being organised in honour of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Kenneth Onyemaeke Orizu III, the traditional ruler of Nnewi.
The initiative is designed to provide an annual intellectual platform for examining the role of traditional institutions in contemporary African society.
It has particular emphasis on cultural preservation, peacebuilding, indigenous leadership and sustainable development.
Nwodo to Deliver Keynote Address
Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jr., former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is scheduled to deliver the inaugural Igwe Orizu III lecture’s keynote address.
His participation is expected to bring perspectives on traditional leadership, Igbo identity and the place of indigenous institutions in Nigeria’s evolving political and social landscape.
Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is listed as the Special Guest of Honour.
Other prominent personalities expected at the event include:
- Chief Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps;
- Chief Dr George Moghalu, former head of the National Inland Waterways Authority;
- Professor Florence Orabueze of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and,
- Ambassador Anderson Madubike, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia.
Professor Casmir Ani is scheduled to moderate the event, while Chief Ben Etiaba, FCA, FELUN, FIMS, will chair the lecture panel.
Former Anambra State Governor, Her Excellency Dame Virgy Etiaba, CON, is also among the distinguished personalities listed for the gathering.
Traditional Leadership in a Changing Africa
The Igwe Orizu III lecture comes amid continuing discussions about how traditional institutions can contribute to governance, community cohesion, cultural identity and development in modern African societies.
Organisers say the platform will bring traditional leaders, scholars, policymakers, professionals and cultural thinkers together.
These will explore how indigenous knowledge and leadership structures can remain relevant while responding to contemporary challenges.
The discussions are expected to examine the relationship between cultural heritage and development.
They will also discuss the contribution traditional institutions can make to peacebuilding and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
The inaugural edition is intended to establish a continuing forum for scholarship and dialogue rather than a one-off commemorative gathering.
Lecture Forms Part of 101st Birthday Celebration for Igwe Orizu III
The event is part of a two-day programme celebrating Igwe Orizu III, whose reign began in 1963 and has spanned more than six decades.
The programme is scheduled to continue on Friday, October 30, at the Igwe Nnewi Palace.
The monarch’s 101st birthday will be celebrated alongside the official premiere of a documentary titled Igwe Orizu III: The Centenary Monarch at the venue.
The documentary is intended to chronicle the monarch’s life, reign, leadership and cultural legacy.
The lecture is being organised by Micstreams Production Ltd in conjunction with the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnewi, and the College of Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus.
Igwe Orizu III Lecture: A Platform for Ideas and Cultural Preservation
With the participation of public figures and scholars from different fields, the Igwe Orizu III inaugural lecture is expected to create space for discussion on how African traditional leadership can support cultural continuity, peace and community development.
For Nnewi, the event also represents an effort to connect the legacy of its long-serving monarch with a broader conversation about the future of traditional institutions across Africa.
The organisers have invited members of the public and stakeholders interested in African culture, leadership and development to attend the gathering.
