Abuja: The Pan-African Dialogue Institute (TPADI) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare May 25th, which is Africa Day, a national public holiday. The President of TPADI, Dr. Effiong Udo, made the call at a news conference in Abuja. Udo stated that recognising Africa Day would strengthen Nigeria’s connection to the rest of the continent and promote national pride in the country’s role as a leader in Pan-Africanism.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Udo explained that Africa Day commemorates the founding date of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which later became the African Union (AU). He emphasized that the day serves as a symbol of African liberation, unity, and collective responsibility for the continent’s development-a day ceremoniously marked by many African countries, except Nigeria.
“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare May 25 Africa Day as a national public holiday,” Udo stated. He recommended that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, alongside the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tourism, take necessary steps to integrate Africa Day into national consciousness through public awareness campaigns and school curricula.
Udo also called on civil society organisations, universities, the creative industries, and the private sector within Nigeria and the diaspora to join in the campaign. He noted that if Nigerians celebrate international days assigned to health issues like hepatitis, malaria, HIV, and AIDS, then Africa Day should also be celebrated.
He further highlighted that the day is not just a symbolic milestone but also a call to historical consciousness, representing African liberation, unity, and collective responsibility. Recognising the urgency for Nigeria to take a leadership role in Pan-African discourse, the institute launched its inaugural international dialogue conference on Pan-Africanism.
“This year, we are excited to mark Africa Day with a focus on Nigeria, the giant of Africa,” Udo said. “We feel Nigeria is incomplete unless it aligns with the vision of a united, self-determined, dignified, and respected Africa. This sentiment underpins TPADI’s mission to reignite the fire of Pan-Africanism in our great country.”