The Ancient Iduu Eri Kingdom has inaugurated a high-powered planning committee to coordinate preparations for the 2026 World Eri Festival (Olili Eri) and the Golden Jubilee celebration of His Majesty, Ezedigbo, Ezeora the 34th (XXXIV), marking 50 years on the throne.
The announcement was made at the Obu-Gad Palace in Enugwu Aguleri, where royal authorities described the twin celebration as a historic moment for the Igbo nation and the wider global community.
According to a statement, the event will honour the ancestral arrival of Eri, widely revered as the progenitor of the Igbo people, while also celebrating five decades of leadership by the monarch.
The three-day celebration is scheduled to hold from November 7 to November 9, 2026, and is expected to attract sons and daughters of Igbo land, traditional rulers, scholars, diplomats, cultural stakeholders, and guests from around the world.
Committee Leadership
The planning committee will be chaired by High Chief Kingsley Umeh Chibuike, Nnam Odum Na Iduu Eri, Odum Aguata. Also appointed is High Chief Prof. Raphael A. Chikwenze (Aka-Eze Eri), the Palace Secretary, who will serve as Deputy Chairman, while High Chief Rabbi Ikechukwu Ogugua (Onyishi Nchu Aja Eri) will serve as General Secretary.
Royal Charge
Speaking during the inauguration, His Majesty Ezedigbo, Ezeora the 34th (XXXIV urged committee members to embark on a global mobilisation of Ndi Igbo and key stakeholders across the world.
He said the celebration would go beyond a jubilee, describing it as the beginning of a new phase of cultural rebirth and advancement for the Igbo race, whose ancestral roots are linked to the Kingdom.
Programme Highlights
Organisers said activities lined up for the festival include:
November 7, 2026: Grand Symposium featuring discussions on Igbo history, identity development, and a book launch.
November 8, 2026: Mass Remembrance Pilgrimage in honour of the forebears of the Igbo nation.
November 9, 2026: Cultural displays and conferment of chieftaincy titles on deserving individuals and institutions.
International Presence Expected
Among dignitaries expected at the celebration is Ambassador Michał Cygan, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Nigeria, who recently paid a courtesy visit to the Obu-Gad Palace to deepen bilateral cultural ties and show solidarity with the Kingdom.
Chairman Speaks
In his acceptance speech, Committee Chairman, High Chief Kingsley Umeh Chibuike, pledged to lead the team with humility, transparency, and excellence.
He said the committee’s mandate is to deliver a world-class celebration that reflects the dignity of the throne and the global relevance of Igbo heritage.
He added that the Golden Jubilee would showcase the majesty of the past, the vibrancy of the present, and the promise of the future.
The committee has since commenced work immediately ahead of the 2026 celebrations.
Media Enquiries
All media and sponsorship enquiries are to be directed to the Palace Secretary, Obu-Gad Palace, Enugwu Aguleri, Ancient Iduu Eri Kingdom.
