Ahmadu Bello University Felicitates with Obi of Onitsha on Ofala Festival

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has congratulated its Chancellor, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, CFR, Obi of Onitsha, on the occasion of the 2025 Ofala Festival.

The university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, led a delegation to the festival, which took place on October 17-18, 2025, at the Palace Arena in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The Vice-Chancellor's congratulatory message emphasized the significance of the Ofala Festival, describing it as "a thing of pride." Prof. Ahmed prayed for the Obi's increased wisdom and good health. The delegation included key university officials, such as Prof. Bello Sabo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration; Rabiu Samaila, Registrar; and Prof. M.I. Umar-Buratai, Director of the Directorate of Advancement and International Education.

The Ofala Festival is an annual cultural event that showcases the rich heritage of the Igbo people. This year's theme, "Unity and Perseverance," aimed to promote community resilience and unity among the monarch's subjects. The festival featured traditional performances, cultural displays, and a royal banquet, attracting visitors and media attention from Nigeria and abroad.

The Obi of Onitsha expressed confidence that the festival would achieve distinctive recognition as a world heritage cultural festival by UNESCO in the near future. The festival has been celebrated annually since 2002, except for a two-year period during the COVID-19 pandemic.