At its 95th anniversary at its headquarters in Obalende, Lagos, the Okpe Union reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the recognition and development of the Okpe people.
Themed, “Okpe Identity: Towards The Socio-Political Renaissance of The Okpe Nation,” the event was also an opportunity to present the newly elected officers of the union, who will handle affairs of the union in the next four years.
In a passionate state of the union address delivered by Professor O. Igho Natufe, President General of the Union (Worldwide), the organisation vowed to persist in its struggle for the official recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality within Nigeria, despite resistance from internal and external forces.
Prof. Natufe emphasised the importance of Okpe identity and unity, referencing recent opposition to the listing of the event’s keynote speaker as indicative of the panic and hollowness among detractors. He called for solidarity among Okpe citizens across Nigeria and the diaspora, urging them to support the Union’s vision of a stronger and more self-reliant Okpe nation.
Education was identified as a major challenge facing the Okpe people, who, despite being among the largest mono-ethnic groups in Delta State, are significantly underrepresented in educational attainment.
To reverse this trend, the Union pledged to promote the teaching of the Okpe language in all schools within Okpe land, both public and private, in line with the Federal Government’s mother tongue policy. The Union also encouraged the use of the language in religious institutions to preserve cultural identity.
In terms of socio-economic development, Prof. Natufe announced that the Union would continue efforts to attract investment and ensure equitable access to government projects and scholarships through recognised bodies such as DESOPADEC and NDDC. Empowerment programmes targeting youth and women were also highlighted as a key priority.
Beyond Okpe matters, the Union addressed the broader Nigerian political landscape. It called for a restructured federal system that devolves legislative and executive powers to the federating units. The proposal includes the creation of 15 homogeneous ethnic-based states, including one for the Okpe people, and another 15 heterogeneous states with constitutional autonomy for minority ethnic nationalities.
He also criticised the politicisation of past national census exercises and advocated for the use of modern technology to ensure credibility in future counts. He urged elected officials to prioritise governance over politicking and warned against delaying electoral reforms until the eve of general elections. The Union called on the National Assembly and INEC to work collaboratively to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.