Ogoni leaders, environmental activists, and community advocates have renewed their call on the United Nations to officially declare October 10 as Ken Saro-Wiwa Day in honour of the late writer, environmentalist, and human rights defender.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent voice against environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, was executed on November 10, 1995, by the regime of the late General Sani Abacha for his activism.
The renewed call was contained in a statement obtained in Uyo on Sunday, following his 84th posthumous birthday celebration, held on Friday in his hometown, Bane, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The event, organised by the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation, attracted participants from across the Niger Delta, including civil society organisations, youth groups, and community representatives who gathered to honour the Ogoni icon and reaffirm their commitment to his ideals of justice, equity, and environmental protection.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation, Barry Wugale, underscored the need for international recognition of Saro-Wiwa’s enduring legacy and his contributions to human rights and environmental justice.
Wugale recalled that in 2005, during the 10th anniversary of Saro-Wiwa’s execution, the environmental community had made a similar appeal to the United Nations. He stressed that the time had come for that demand to be renewed and officially recognised at the global level.
