One hundred years old, Odionwere of The United Kingdom & Ireland, Pa. Eng Bernard Woghiren, led the Odionwere Council to the 2025 end of year celebration of Edos in the UK & Ireland. This he has done since the Odionwere Council’s installation in 2008.
The 2025 Igue Festival, UK, held in Geffrye Community Hall, Hackney on the 27th of December 2025 was attended by Pa Bernard Woghiren (Odionwere of UK & Ireland) & Dr Taiwo Idemudia of the Odionwere council. Age and health challenges restricted other members from attending, but, what the Odionwere did on that night of the 27th of December will ensure the Edo Community in the UK diaspora does not lack the leadership it needs to uphold its status as a united and effective community.
The Odionwere welcomed new blood into the Edo community to maintain good leadership and to continue to help with the improvement of the Edo Community in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Four Benin elders (Ediǫn ǹ enȩ) were added to the Odionwere Council of UK & Ireland to compensate for the loss of Pa Stephen Igbe, Pa Igbinigbowan Aiyasueniwonwan & most recently Pa Lugard Enabulele who have all gone to join their Ancestors. The new Ediǫn ǹ enȩ are Councillor David Obaze, Deacon Sunday Agbons Osunde, Pa Philip Idahosa and Dr Taiwo Idemudia
The Odionwere also installed “Edo Elders”. Edo men and women who are over 60 years old and who are interested in improving the Edo Community in Diaspora. Edo elders are not an Edo association or Union, they are simply Edos over 60 years old (men & women, rich or poor), living in the United Kingdom & Ireland, with interest of uniting and improving the Edo Community in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Edo elders will work under the Odionwere Council of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Amongst other things, keeping the Odionwere Council of the United Kingdom & Ireland strong and finding a way to get Edo men and women involved in the building of our Edo diaspora community is a good improvement. These changes, Pa Eng Bernard Woghiren stated, are important to achieving the Odionwere Council’s goals of Edo unity and progress as well as promoting its great Benin culture to our Edo generations in the diaspora.
Ǫba ghá tǫ Okpéré
Isȩȩ
Lace Iyamu
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