All roads will lead to the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, November 16, as sons and daughters of the Urhobo Nation of Delta State celebrate the maiden Urhobo Day.
 
Already, the National body governing all Urhobo across the world, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), has extended an invitation to all well-meaning sons and daughters of Urhobo, as well as some notable leaders, including governors of Delta and Lagos states, Senators, House of Representatives members and top class traditional rulers for the occasion.
 
According to organisers of Urhobo Day, the November 16 event at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium is a bridge between the old and new era of development of the union in Lagos.
 
The vision to celebrate Urhobo Day in Lagos came from the Okobaro R’ Urhobo in Ikorodu, Lagos, Sir Philip Edemete.
 
Speaking in Ikorodu, Lagos, the Okobaro said: “After the formation of the UPU in Lagos in 1934, it spread into two main sub-branches, UPU Island and UPU Mainland. The Island sub-branch was later changed to the UPU Ajegunle sub-branch while that of Mainland was changed to the UPU Mile 12 sub-branch”.

Speaking further, Okobaro, a former accountant with the Ibru Organisation and one of the 21st-century leaders of the union in Lagos said: “In 2001, I led a five-man delegation to the national headquarters of the UPU to formally request the upgrading of the two sub-branches to full branch status. This request was granted by the late Benjamin Okumagba-led National Executive Council.

Consequently, the UPU Ajegunle sub-branch became the UPU Apapa branch, while UPU Mile 12 metamorphosed into the UPU Ikeja branch.”
 
It was learnt that organisers have lined up a series of events to thrill all guests, including the rich Urhobo cultural display as part of activities marking the 2024 Urhobo Day celebration on November 16 at the National Stadium in Lagos.

An unspecified number of Urhobo sons and daughters are expected from UPU branches in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.