…calls for unity, unveils 15-year plan (2026 to 2041)
From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Okura Development Foundation (ODF), has commemorated the 185th anniversary of the historic diplomatic encounter between the British Crown and His Royal Majesty, the Attah of Igala, at Idah on September 6, 1841, with a renewed call to transform history into development.
In a special anniversary message signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Robert Audu OON, and the Secretary/Director General, Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo, the Foundation said the 1841 treaty remains a reminder that the Igala Kingdom possessed organised traditional authority and the capacity for diplomacy long before modern Nigeria.
“Diplomacy, peaceful engagement, mutual respect and international partnerships can become instruments of progress.
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“History becomes meaningful when succeeding generations learn from it and use its lessons to build a better future”, the statement said.
From 1841 to 2041: ODF announced that, Kogi East Development Agenda 2041, is a 15-year roadmap designed to turn the significance of the 1841 encounter into concrete projects. The agenda covers agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, entrepreneurship, industry, technology, tourism, culture and environmental sustainability.
To drive the plan, the Foundation said, it will officially launch the ₦100 Billion Kogi East Development Agenda Fund on November 7, 2026 in Abuja. ODF described the Fund as a catalytic mechanism to complement government efforts and mobilise resources from individuals, communities, corporate organisations, development partners, financial institutions and the Nigerian diaspora.
“It is not intended to replace government. Rather, it is designed to attract investment and create partnerships capable of unlocking the enormous potential of Kogi East,” the statement noted.
Calling for the Unity of Kogi East, ODF appealed to all sons and daughters of Igala and Bassa heritage, traditional rulers, federal and state governments, local authorities, businesses, faith-based groups, academic institutions, youth and women’s organisations, and friends of Nigeria worldwide to support this initiative.
“Let us place our collective interest above individual differences. Let us replace suspicion with trust, competition with cooperation, and fragmentation with unity of purpose,” it said.
The Foundation stressed further that support could come not only as financial contributions but also through expertise, technology, mentorship, advocacy and partnerships.
“On November 7, 2026, let us gather in Abuja not simply to launch a Fund, but to launch a new development movement. When the bicentenary is celebrated in 2041, we shall be able to say: ‘We did not merely celebrate our history; we built upon it”, the Foundation added.
ODF concluded with this message “From diplomacy to development. From history to opportunity. From aspiration to action. From fragmentation to unity. From potential to prosperity”.
