Afia Media has announced the launch of an annual lecture and awards initiative aimed at promoting policy dialogue, innovation and sustainable development across Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Founder of Afia Media, Mr. James Mba, said the initiative is designed to create a platform where policymakers, business leaders, academics, innovators, development partners and other stakeholders will engage in meaningful discussions on the future of the region.
The maiden edition, scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, is themed “Uwa Bu Afia: Trading Ideas for Development.”
According to Mba, the initiative seeks to complement the South-East’s entrepreneurial strength by encouraging the exchange of ideas capable of driving economic growth, innovation and regional transformation.
He explained that while the region has earned global recognition for commerce and enterprise, there is also a need to promote intellectual exchange and practical solutions that can address developmental challenges.
Mba said the annual event would go beyond discussions by generating practical and implementable ideas that could contribute to the long-term development of the South-East.
He described the platform as a gathering that will celebrate excellence while fostering collaboration among leaders from government, business, academia, culture and civil society.
Explaining the choice of the theme, Mba noted that “Uwa Bu Afia,” an Igbo expression meaning “the world is a marketplace,” reflects the resilience, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the South-East.
He added that the region, renowned for producing distinguished entrepreneurs, writers, engineers, scientists and medical professionals, also has the capacity to become a global hub for innovative ideas.
Also speaking, a Director at Afia Media, Mrs. Ijeoma Ezeasor, stressed the importance of the South-East taking ownership of its narrative in an era increasingly shaped by digital technology and artificial intelligence.
She urged stakeholders to deliberately document the region’s achievements, aspirations and contributions to national development, warning that failure to do so could allow others to define its identity and history.
Organisers disclosed that the inaugural event is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants physically, with millions of others projected to follow the proceedings through television, radio and online platforms.
