By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the 2025 Independence Day Celebration, with a mandate to plan, organise and execute all approved programmes marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary of nationhood.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr. Segun Imohiosen, the inauguration was performed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, who underscored the significance of unity and patriotism in celebrating Nigeria’s national journey.
Addressing members of the committee, Senator Akume said the anniversary should serve both as a reflection of past milestones and as a rallying call for future progress. “This anniversary is a reminder of where we are coming from and where we are going from here. As a nation, we have faced challenges in areas such as political, economic and social issues but have overcome them. An anniversary is not just a celebration of the past. It is a call for action for the future. We must therefore commit ourselves to build a nation where every citizen feels valued and empowered to contribute his quota to the goals and aspirations of the country,” he said.
The celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary is scheduled to begin with a World Press Conference on Thursday, 25th September 2025, followed by a series of activities across the country. These include a Juma’at Service and Women’s Activities on Friday, 26th September; Youth Activities and a Historical Arts Exhibition on Saturday, 27th September; a Church Service on Sunday, 28th September; and a Public Lecture on Monday, 29th September. The events will culminate in a Presidential Broadcast and the 65th Independence Day Parade on Wednesday, 1st October 2025.
As part of the celebrations, the SGF also unveiled the Nigeria @65 Compendium Project Workstation, an initiative of CherryAfrica Magazine in collaboration with the OSGF. The workstation is equipped with a state-of-the-art studio for a special interview television series featuring top government functionaries at various levels. The project aims to document milestones in national development while showcasing achievements aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The interview series was formally launched with an exclusive conversation with Senator Akume, in which he called on Nigerians to celebrate the nation’s resilience over the past 65 years and to repose confidence in the leadership driving national renewal.
According to the OSGF, the Nigeria @65 Compendium will serve as a comprehensive repository of the country’s developmental trajectory, covering the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial eras. It will highlight the roles of ministries, departments and agencies, the three tiers of government, and key sectors of the economy, while placing emphasis on national priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The inauguration of the committee and unveiling of the compendium project mark the beginning of a series of activities designed not only to celebrate Nigeria’s independence but also to deepen reflection on its challenges, triumphs and aspirations as it marks 65 years of sovereignty.
