RALEIGH, USA — The state of North Carolina has officially declared June 14 as Igbo Day, in recognition of the significant contributions of the Igbo community from Nigeria’s South-East region to the state’s cultural and economic life.
Governor Josh Stein issued the proclamation on Thursday, June 12, 2025, through a statement published on North Carolina’s official government website.
In the proclamation, Governor Stein acknowledged that the Igbo people have lived in North Carolina for over five decades, becoming deeply integrated in various facets of society, including education, law, medicine, public service, entrepreneurship, and information technology.
Many members of the Igbo community also hold positions at both state and federal levels in the United States.
“Through their collective efforts, the Igbo community aims to inspire future generations to embrace their identity and to foster a strong sense of belonging and purpose within North Carolina,” the proclamation reads.
“Their vision is to be a thriving community that not only honours and promotes the rich heritage of the Igbo people of Nigeria in North Carolina, but also serves as a beacon of unity, support, and cultural pride,” it adds.
The governor also highlighted the Igbo community’s volunteerism and civic engagement across the state.
These include adopting local highways to support environmental cleanliness, volunteering in schools, aiding women’s shelters and hospitals, organising food drives, and showcasing traditional performances at cultural festivals.
“Igbos in North Carolina are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Igbo culture by creating cultural awareness for future generations,” Governor Stein noted.
He added that the community’s involvement in charitable causes, political participation, and professional excellence across a variety of fields reflect their growing impact on North Carolina society.
The proclamation also recognised the formation of the Igbo Day Festival Organisation in 2022, a non-profit established to promote Igbo culture through events focused on music, art, tradition, and intergenerational education.
The first Igbo Day festival was held in July 2022.
“Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2025, as ‘Igbo Day’ in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens,” the statement concluded.
North Carolina joins a growing list of U.S. states honouring Nigerian communities through official proclamations.
Minnesota declared August 10, 2022, as Igbo Day, while New York and Texas have similarly recognised the Yoruba community — with Yoruba Day declared in New York on June 11, 2016, and YorubaFest Day observed in Dallas, Texas, on October 23.
