United Nations World Indigenous Peoples Day celebration

The United Nations World Indigenous Peoples Day celebration for 2026 is scheduled to take place on August 10 at the Convocation Ground of the University of Abuja’s Main Campus in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, which commences at 10 a.m., is a collaborative effort by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), the University of Abuja, and FCT Original Inhabitant Organisations, with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

The celebration carries the global theme "Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being," complemented by a local theme focused on "Celebrating Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Abuja Original Inhabitants Identity in a Changing World." It aims to acknowledge the critical role Indigenous midwives have played for generations in ensuring safe childbirth, while also preserving traditional knowledge, cultural values, and community identity amidst challenges like urbanization.

Attendees are expected to include traditional rulers, diplomats, government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, academics, and cultural custodians. The program will feature various activities designed to promote Indigenous rights and showcase the cultural heritage of the FCT’s nine Indigenous tribes. These include cultural performances, traditional music and dance, exhibitions of Indigenous languages and attire, oral history presentations, and testimonies highlighting the experiences and contributions of Indigenous midwives.