The Urhobo Editors and Publishers Alliance (UEPA) has announced plans for its Official Inauguration and Annual Conference Lecture 2025, a landmark event aimed at revitalizing Urhobo culture through the lens of media, innovation, and heritage preservation.
The highly anticipated gathering, scheduled for November 21st, 2025, will take place at the Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, beginning at 12 noon. It is expected to draw editors, scholars, policymakers, and cultural advocates united in the mission to safeguard Urhobo identity amid the pressures of globalization and digital transformation.
Delivering the keynote lecture will be Dr. Obire Odiakpo, an eminent scholar and thought leader, who will speak on the theme:
“The Media as Custodian: Revitalizing Urhobo’s Traditional Institutions in the Digital Age.”
Dr. Odiakpo’s address will examine how journalism, storytelling, and digital innovation can serve as powerful instruments for sustaining cultural institutions, nurturing community pride, and reimagining Urhobo traditions for the 21st century.
Adding prestige to the event, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, will attend as Special Guest of Honour. His presence underscores the state government’s recognition of culture as a critical pillar for unity, development, and social harmony.
The event’s Chief Host, Chief (Hon.) Olorogun Jaro Egbo, Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council, will also play a central role. Known for his advocacy of youth empowerment and cultural renaissance, Egbo’s participation reinforces the connection between heritage preservation and modern governance.
In a statement by the organizing committee, UEPA described the conference as “a convergence of intellect and identity — a renaissance of Urhobo thought, journalism, and tradition.”
The group emphasized that beyond being a media event, the conference would serve as a platform for strengthening cultural consciousness, promoting indigenous leadership, and redefining how the Urhobo story is told in the era of digital communication.
With media professionals, traditional leaders, and academics expected from across Delta State and Nigeria, UEPA 2025 is being hailed as a defining moment for cultural renewal — a reminder that when tradition meets technology, a people’s identity not only survives but thrives.
