ICDA’s Igala Stakeholders Summit: A new revival for Igala development

By Eneojo Herbert Idakwo

On Saturday, August 17, 2025, Idah, the ancient headquarters of Igala civilization, became the stage of a new awakening. The conference hall of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, hosted the maiden Stakeholders Summit of the Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), a gathering that has been widely hailed as historic, impactful, and a turning point for the Igala nation.

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With the theme “Consensus Building: The Right Path to Achieving Unity for a Greater Igala Kingdom”, the summit brought together eminent Igala sons and daughters, affiliate associations, traditional leaders, academics, professionals, and members of the diaspora. The agenda was clear: to chart a common vision for development anchored not on individual ambitions but on the collective will of the Igala people.

A Summit of Purpose

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Participants unanimously agreed that the Igala agenda must transcend personalities and political aspirations. Instead, it must directly address the realities of worsening poverty, insecurity, declining education standards, infrastructural decay, youth unemployment, cultural erosion, and political marginalization.

The summit was designed as more than a talk shop, it was an intellectual and cultural convergence to rediscover Igala’s lost glory and to redirect the kingdom’s trajectory toward unity, resilience, and growth.

The Keynote Address: A Call to Collective Responsibility

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Armstrong Idachaba, former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, set the tone for the summit with a stirring call for collective responsibility. He reminded the gathering that the true wealth of a people is not in their natural resources alone but in the unity of purpose and the commitment of their elites to nation-building.

Professor Idachaba emphasized that Igala professionals and leaders across sectors must go beyond lamentations and begin to deploy their brains, resources, and influence for the survival and progress of the kingdom. He warned against the dangers of fragmentation, urging all Igala organizations and individuals to rally behind ICDA as the central umbrella body for cultural identity and development.

“The world does not wait for divided nations,” he cautioned, “and if the Igala people must regain their pride of place, then consensus building, unity of action, and cultural revival must become our guiding lights.”

Intellectual Anchor: Dr. Akowe’s Lecture

A highlight of the summit was the thought-provoking lecture delivered by Dr. Akowe of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah. Speaking from both an academic and developmental perspective, he dissected the socio-economic challenges confronting the Igala kingdom. He pointed to the alarming rise in insecurity, youth unemployment, poor educational outcomes, and infrastructural deficits as the most urgent threats to the survival of Igala land.

A cross section of participants at the summit

Dr. Akowe argued that reversing these challenges would require deliberate policies, stronger community structures, and massive investment in education and youth empowerment. He stressed that the Igala elite must lead this charge by bringing their knowledge, innovations, and investments home.

“Education is the bridge between our history and our future,” Dr. Akowe declared, “and without rebuilding that bridge, the Igala kingdom risks being left behind in the race of nations.”

The Economic Imperative: Chief Ilonah’s Challenge

Outdoor media mogul and Chairman of Lona Group, Chief Kingsley Idoko Ilonah, added an economic dimension to the summit’s discourse. He called for a united front built on a clear blueprint for economic development, noting that prosperity will not come from government alone but from private initiative and collective investment.

Chief Ilonah emphasized that well-to-do Igala personalities, both at home and abroad, can pool resources to establish industries and enterprises in Igalaland. Such industrialization, he argued, would create jobs, reduce poverty, and stem the tide of youth restiveness.

“It is time we match our words with action by creating an economic master plan that translates into real industries on Igala soil,” Ilonah urged. “We have the human and financial capital among us to make this happen.”

Voices of Unity

Other speakers lent their voices to the call for unity and action. Jonathan Jibrin, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, described the summit as a watershed moment, a chance to reclaim Igala pride and reawaken collective consciousness.

Major General J.A. Ataguba (Rtd.), President of Okomu Igala, pledged to work closely with ICDA, lamenting the years of working at cross purposes that had denied the kingdom the benefits of collective aspiration. He called on all Igala organizations to unite strategically under the umbrella of ICDA, stressing that “to do together is more profitable than to do alone.”

Former Kogi State Attorney General and ex-EFCC Director, Barr. Ben Ikani, described the gathering as unprecedented in its unity. However, he sounded a grave warning about the growing involvement of Igala youths in cybercrime, drugs, and fraudulent practices. He urged immediate interventions to prevent the collapse of Igala values and integrity.

A New Revival for Igala Development

The message of the summit was unmistakable: the Igala nation cannot afford disunity, inertia, or fragmentation any longer. Consensus building, agenda-driven leadership, economic cooperation, and collective sacrifice must define the next phase of Igala development.

In its unity of voices and clarity of vision, the ICDA Stakeholders Summit of August 2025 may well be remembered as the moment the Igala nation rose from the shadows of disillusionment into the dawn of revival.

The challenge is now on every Igala son and daughter, whether at home or abroad, to answer the call: to give back, to invest, to unite, and to serve. For the summit has charted a new path, and the future of the Igala kingdom depends on what we do with it.

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