‎Ohanaeze Declares Every Last Saturday of January as Igbo Adoration and Thanksgiving Day

‎The Ohanaeze Ndigbo says last Saturday of every January will now be observed as Igbo Adoration and Thanksgiving Day.
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‎The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said the date will serve as an annual moment of collective gratitude and spiritual reflection for the Igbo nation.
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‎Ohanaeze arrived at the decision after the organisation’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on January 20, following an appeal by the Igbo College of Bishops, which was represented at the meeting by Archbishop David Onuoha of the Owerri Anglican Province and Archbishop Sosthenes Eze of the Enugu Anglican Province, among other clerics.
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‎The bishops called for a revision of an earlier resolution adopted by the Imeobi Ohanaeze meeting held on 23 December in Enugu, which had proposed the last Sunday of January for the observance. They argued that, for spiritual and symbolic reasons, Saturday was more appropriate.
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‎Also, the NEC resolved that the celebration be held on the last Saturday of every January, with the Imeobi to be formally notified at its next meeting.
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‎During the meeting, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, called on Igbo at home and in Diaspora to embrace the significance of the new spiritual observance.
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‎Ohanaeze said all churches in Igbo land are requested to observe the maiden edition of the event on Saturday, 31 January 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, with prayers, adoration and thanksgiving dedicated to God.
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‎In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Ezechi Chukwu, Ohanaeze said the new date reflects the spiritual appeal of church leaders and the organisation’s desire to make the celebration more inclusive and symbolically meaningful.
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‎The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation also expressed confidence that the annual Igbo Adoration and Thanksgiving Day would strengthen the spiritual consciousness of the people and foster unity among Igbo across Nigeria and the Diaspora.