World Igbo Congress Demands National Holiday for Biafra Day

The World Igbo Congress (WIC) has called on the Nigerian government to officially declare May 30th a national holiday in honour of Biafra Day, commemorating the lives lost during the Nigeria-Biafra war.

Speaking at the WIC World Heroes and Heroines Memorial Day event held on Friday, Festus Okere, Chairman of the Congress, emphasized the significance of the date and the duty of Ndigbo to preserve their historical legacy.

According to Okere, the annual remembrance must retain its true identity as Biafra Memorial Day, warning that any alternative designation would be a dereliction of cultural and historical responsibility.

“We, as a people, are duty-bound to assemble on every 30th of May to remember and honour our heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their lives during the Biafra-Nigeria war of May 1967 to January 1970,” he said.

Okere described the fallen Biafran soldiers as brave defenders of liberty and justice, who stood against tyranny in a fight for survival. He said their sacrifice must remain etched in the hearts of all living Biafrans and future generations.

“World Igbo Congress passionately calls for a national holiday, as is done in many countries, to honour and remember citizens who fell during war,” he stated. “Their memories must never be forgotten.”

The WIC Chairman also criticized the Nigerian government’s restriction and suppression of history education, urging the Igbo nation to take responsibility for preserving and telling their own story. He stressed that remembering the past is essential to protecting freedom, justice, and human dignity.

“To this effect, the Memorial Park and Cenotaph — the Biafra Memorial Wall of Fame and Honor — which WIC is developing, is progressing steadily. A committee assigned to the project will give a status report shortly,” he added.

Okere further outlined the values the fallen heroes fought for, including the right to fair trial, freedom of speech and association, protection of life and property, and justice without delay or discrimination.

“The traumatic events of the war must not be forgotten,” he concluded. “The World Igbo Congress will continue to unite Ndigbo, coordinate collective projects, and advocate for the survival and progress of Igbo people.”

The WIC’s call adds to growing voices across the Southeast demanding national recognition of Biafra Day, 54 years after the end of the civil war.