28 Years After Kaiama Declaration, IYC Plans Summit, Proposes Ijaw Security Council
- Over 5,000 Youths Expected at Five-Day Gathering to Discuss Unity, Resource Control, Security and Self-Determination
YENAGOA — The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is set to revisit the demands for resource control, self-determination and economic survival of the Ijaw nation as it plans a five-day leadership and cultural summit to mark 28 years since the historic Kaiama Declaration.
The summit, scheduled for December 6 to 11, 2026, is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants, including Ijaw youths, traditional rulers, community leaders, women, professionals, former IYC presidents and other stakeholders from across the Ijaw nation and beyond.
With the theme, “Reinvigorating the Objectives of the Kaiama Declaration — 28 Years After: Securing Unity, Culture and Economic Survival of the Ijaw Nation in a Changing Nigeria,” the gathering is intended to assess the progress made since the declaration of December 11, 1998, and examine the challenges confronting the Ijaw people.
According to an executive summary and concept note dated October 2026, the summit will provide a platform for discussions on the relevance of the declaration, the future of the Ijaw struggle and strategies for strengthening unity, cultural preservation and economic development.
The IYC said the initiative was part of efforts to reposition the organisation and advance the collective aspirations of the Ijaw nation amid changing political, economic and security realities.
IYC Proposes Ijaw Nation Security Council
A major proposal outlined in the summit plan is the establishment of an Ijaw Nation Security Council, conceived as a platform for addressing security concerns affecting Ijaw communities.
The proposed council is expected to form part of broader discussions on the protection of communities, the security of the Ijaw nation and strategies for responding to emerging threats across Ijaw-speaking areas.
The summit will also bring together generations of Ijaw leaders and stakeholders to review the legacy of the Kaiama Declaration and consider how its objectives can be pursued through dialogue, collective action and strategic engagement.
Adopted on December 11, 1998, the Kaiama Declaration remains a defining document in the history of the Ijaw struggle, articulating demands for resource ownership, environmental justice, political autonomy and greater control over the resources of the Niger Delta.
The forthcoming summit is expected to renew discussions on these demands while providing an opportunity for Ijaw youths and leaders to deliberate on the nation’s future within Nigeria.
Further details on the summit’s programme and the proposed security council are expected as preparations advance.
