Nigeria will welcome representatives from 35 countries for the 61st Africa Day celebration, scheduled for May 24-27 in Abuja, organisers announced Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference in the capital, Coordinator and Director of Parliament, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Joint Sessions at Africa Union Simulation (AUS), Mr. Young Piero, outlined an ambitious programme focused on continental unity and development.
“This year’s celebration is going to be different in the sense that we are collaborating with all organisations in Nigeria and Africa that are doing fabulously well in their own field, in terms of building the Africa that we want,” Piero said.
The annual event commemorates the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), predecessor to the African Union, established in 1963. It serves as both a celebration of African progress and a forum to address common challenges.
According to Piero, this year’s discussions will centre on key themes including continental unity, borderless Africa, intra-African trade, and cultural exchange. Special attention will be given to the African Union’s Vision 2030 initiative for a single African passport, alongside youth and women’s inclusion, patriotism, and African cultural values.
“The 61st Africa Day celebration aims to create a unified continental voice that drives meaningful development and promotes a more united and progressive Africa,” he explained, emphasising the concept of “Africa first” and the continent’s potential as “a global powerhouse of the future.”
Supporting the event, the President of the Afro-Caribbean Chamber, Quadri-Adu Kehinde, announced that a liberation walk would precede the 2025 Africa Day celebrations.
“The time of slavery is gone and this is a time that we need to move together and work together. That is the essence of the liberation walk,” Kehinde said, adding that the programme would include discussions on Africa’s development and dedicated sessions for youth and women’s groups.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Phil Roberts, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for hosting the event and highlighted the importance of patriotism in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
The four-day celebration is expected to bring together diverse African voices to reflect on the continent’s progress and chart pathways toward greater unity and prosperity.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7m7dvJuyA7h5XMc22i
