NLC, Imoudu’s family celebrate Labour Icon after 20 years
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in collaboration with the family of the late Chief (Dr.) Michael Aithokhaimen Omiunu Imoudu, has announced plans to celebrate the late labour icon, Pa Michael Imoudu, in a posthumous anniversary marking his 20th year of demise.
In a statement by Benson Upah, on behalf of the NLC and the Pa Imoudu family, the remembrance event, honouring the legendary “Labour Leader No. 1,” is scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20 December 2025, at 157 Gardens, 157 Ikorodu Road, Onipanu, Lagos, with proceedings commencing at 11:00 a.m., according to a statement jointly issued by the NLC and the Imoudu family.
Pa Imoudu is widely regarded as one of the most towering figures in Nigeria’s socio-political history, celebrated for his pivotal role in the independence struggle and his enduring influence on the country’s labour movement. His activism laid the foundation for organised labour in Nigeria and helped shape the fight for workers’ rights, democracy and social justice.
“Twenty years after his passing, Pa Michael Imoudu’s ideals remain profoundly relevant to the struggles of Nigerian workers and the quest for a just society,” the NLC said, describing him as “the central architect of the modern Nigerian labour movement whose courage and sacrifice continue to inspire generations.”
The anniversary ceremony is themed “Twenty Years After: The Times and Legacy of Michael Imoudu – Honouring the Father of Nigerian Labour,” and is expected to draw labour leaders, civil society actors, policymakers, historians and members of the public from across the country.
One of the key highlights of the programme is the Michael Imoudu Awards, a special recognition platform designed to honour outstanding individuals, labour activists, organisations and institutions that exemplify the values and principles championed by Imoudu during his lifetime.
The event will also feature a high-level colloquium examining Imoudu’s legacy in the context of contemporary socio-economic and political realities, with discussions expected to link past struggles with present-day challenges facing Nigerian workers.
In addition, tributes and reflections will be delivered by veteran unionists, family members, protégés and thought leaders, who will share personal recollections and historical perspectives on Imoudu’s monumental contributions to Nigeria’s labour history and independence journey.
According to the organisers, the anniversary is not only a moment of remembrance but also a call to action. “This commemoration is about preserving history and recommitting ourselves to the values of equity, dignity of labour and social justice that Pa Imoudu lived and fought for,” the statement noted.
The NLC and the Imoudu family have extended an open invitation to the media, Nigerian workers, labour activists and the general public to participate in the event and help keep alive the legacy of a man whose life, they said, “embodied sacrifice, courage and unwavering dedication to the dignity of workers.”
