Nigeria is set to host no fewer than 35 countries alongside a range of distinguished speakers at the 61st Africa Day celebration. The event, organised by the African Union in collaboration with several organisations across Nigeria and the continent, will hold in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Scheduled to take place from May 24 to 27, the Africa Day celebration will feature a series of activities, including high-level discussions on continental unity, a borderless Africa, intra-African trade, cultural exchange, and the AU’s Vision 2030 initiative geared towards achieving a single African passport.

Mr Young Piero, Coordinator and Director of Parliament, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Joint Sessions, Africa Union Simulation, said the event would offer the continent a platform to celebrate its culture and originality, while reinforcing the “Africa First” philosophy.

He said, “Africa is where the treasure lies, and we are building an Africa that will become a global powerhouse of the future.”

Also expected during the celebration is a symbolic liberation walk to underscore the importance of freedom and unity across the continent.

President of the Afro-Caribbean Chamber, Quadri-Adu Kehinde, noted, “The time of slavery is gone, and this is a time that we need to move together and work together.”

The planning committee revealed that the celebration would feature inclusive sessions focusing on Africa’s development agenda, with special attention to youth, women, and other critical groups.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Phil Roberts, commended the Nigerian government for its support in hosting the event, while urging Africans to embrace patriotism as a vital tool in the continent’s quest for progress.

The 61st Africa Day celebration, according to organisers, aims to build a collective continental voice that drives sustainable development and fosters a united and forward-looking Africa.