Igbo Day in North Carolina not Trending
Nigeria achieved a major feat recently when the Executive Governor of North Carolina in the United States, Josh Stein, proclaimed June 14, 2025, as ‘Igbo Day’. Ordinarily, the recognition should be celebrated in Nigeria, but it is not trending.
Followers of events in the country would agree that it would have gone viral if it were to paint the Igbo in a bad light. Igbo haters like the slippery, double-faced Reno Omokiri, would have gone to town with it.
AbeyaNews reports that those in Omokiri’s hate club have all gone silent probably waiting for another fresh opportunity to continue their obsession with Igbofobia. Thank God the contributions of Ndigbo are increasingly being recognised globally.
Governor of North Carolina in the United States, Josh Stein said the Igbo Day proclamation is in recognition of the immense contributions of Nigeria’s Igbo community towards the growth of the state.
In a proclamation published on the state’s official website, Josh Stein shed more light on several reasons behind the decision, emphasising that the Igbo people have made significant contributions to the state’s economy, public service, and civic life over the last 50 years.
The governor revealed that he was excited to see the Igbo community inspire future generations to embrace their identity and to foster a strong sense of belonging and purpose within North Carolina, stressing that their vision is to be a thriving community that not only honors and promotes the rich heritage of the Igbo people of Nigeria in North Carolina, but also serves as a beacon of unity, support, and cultural pride.
He posited that it was therefore no small achievement that the Igbo community in the state had excelled in the education, law, medicine, entrepreneurship, and information technology sectors — including at state and federal government positions.
“They have volunteered in local schools, adopted a highway in North Carolina to aid cleaning efforts, supported women’s shelters and hospitals, organised food pantry drives, and participated in cultural performances at local festivals.
“Igbo in North Carolina are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Igbo culture by creating cultural awareness for future generations.
“Igbo in North Carolina are involved in many charitable causes and have contributed to the economy, they have participated in elections and excel in various careers.,
“Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 14, as ‘Igbo Day’ in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens”, he said.
Governor Stein noted that the Igbo community’s “dedication to civic engagement, unity and cultural preservation makes them an invaluable part of the state.”
The proclamation also highlighted the efforts of the Igbo Day Festival Organisation, which held its first celebration on July 10, 2022 to promote Igbo culture through arts, music, language, and community events, and to preserve its traditions for future generations.
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the proclamation of June 14 as “Igbo Day” by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein as a reflection of the patriotic and deep cultural impact of Ndigbo in the United States.
In a statement issued by NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the NiDCOM boss described the recognition as “a welcome development.”
Dabiri-Erewa said such recognition “deserves accolade” for the governor, for acknowledging the contributions of the Igbo community both within and beyond the state.
She also commended the Igbo community for being good ambassadors of Nigeria in North Carolina.
The NiDCOM boss urged other Nigerians living abroad, as individuals or groups, to always contribute their quota to their immediate communities and to reflect the true patriotic spirit of Nigerians, regardless of their geopolitical origins.
With this proclamation, North Carolina joins other states in honouring its growing African diaspora and the diverse heritage that strengthens its society.
The declaration celebrates the rich heritage of the Igbo, an ethnic group from South-Eastern Nigeria, many of whom have lived in North Carolina for over 50 years.
