The Chairman of the 2025 Urhobo Day and 94th Annual Congress of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, on Saturday charged the Urhobo nation and its leadership that “UPU must reinvent itself like our founding fathers did” to confront new socio-political challenges and reclaim its strategic relevance in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Urhobo Cultural Centre in Uvwiamuge, Agbarho, Emerhor said the annual congress was “a forum for very serious Urhobo business” and urged delegates to combine celebration with deep reflection on the state of the Urhobo nation. He warned that despite being one of Delta State’s largest ethnic nationalities, Urhobo is increasingly missing from Nigeria’s strategic conversations.
“How come, when I Googled Nigeria ethnic tribes or groups, Urhobo does not even show up on the list, not even after 10 or 11 ethnic groups? Why? What? Is Urhobo doing enough in the competition for strategic space in the Nigeria project?” he queried.
Emerhor praised the stability restored in the Union, noting that “the UPU is today one strong and united edifice,” but stressed that unity alone is not enough without measurable progress. He urged the UPU to re-examine its mandate: “Other than the word ‘Urhobo’, the mandate is clearly UNITY and PROGRESS.”
He challenged the Union to boldly confront critical questions about Urhobo’s political strength, economic advancement, cultural preservation, youth development and long-term strategic planning.
“Where is Urhobo nation socially, economically and politically in Delta State, and in Nigeria? Does the UPU have landmarks for where the Urhobo nation should be in 2025, 2026, 2030 and beyond?” he asked.
Emerhor reminded the congress that the founding fathers of UPU acted decisively to rescue the Urhobo people during colonial oppression in the 1930s and 1940s. He noted that today’s realities demand similar boldness.
“The UPU faces new and comparable situations such that only decisive action will be sufficient. UPU must reinvent itself like our founding fathers did earlier for us,” he declared.
Welcoming all sons and daughters of Urhobo to the annual gathering, Emerhor urged a collective awakening: “As we celebrate, let’s self-assess and reflect. Let us reawake ourselves to the reality of Urhobo today in the scheme of things.”
The event, which also provides an opportunity to “retain or elect new leadership to steer the affairs of the UPU,” brought together Urhobo sons and daughters from various social, economic and political backgrounds, including those in the diaspora.
Emerhor also called for renewed commitment to the ideals of unity, progress and cultural preservation, adding, “That will be a great honour to the founding fathers of the UPU.”
