Mudiame University Celebrates Student Week 2026 Cultural Day as Esan Group Emerges Overall Winner

IRRUA, EDO STATE – Mudiame University, Irrua, came alive with colours, music and cultural pride as students celebrated the 2026 Student Week Cultural Day, an event that showcased Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity and promoted unity among the university community.

Held under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Our Rich Cultural Heritage,” the Cultural Day attracted students, members of staff, invited guests and university management, who witnessed impressive performances representing Nigeria’s major ethnic groups.

The event began with the arrival and registration of guests, followed by an opening prayer, the National Anthem, the University Anthem, recognition of invited guests, opening remarks by the Vice-Chancellor, remarks by the Dean of Students’ Affairs and an address by the Special Guest of Honour.

The cultural presentations featured three major ethnic groups—Esan/Benin (Bini), Igbo and Yoruba—each showcasing the uniqueness of their traditions through historical narrations, traditional cuisine, drama, music and dance performances.

The Esan/Benin presentation captivated the audience with a brief history of the people, an exhibition of indigenous delicacies, dramatic performances and vibrant traditional dances. The Igbo cultural group equally impressed guests with cultural displays, food exhibitions and energetic dance performances, while the Yoruba group entertained the audience with traditional greetings, food displays, cultural dances and the rendition of Oríkì, the Yoruba traditional praise poetry.

Beyond the cultural presentations, the celebration featured a cultural fashion parade, spoken word performances centred on the theme Unity in Diversity, comedy performances, networking sessions and opportunities for students to interact and appreciate one another’s cultural heritage.

One of the highlights of the event was the competition segment, where participating cultural groups were assessed on creativity, cultural authenticity, presentation, organisation and compliance with the rules guiding the contest.

At the end of the competition, the Esan Cultural Group emerged as the overall winner after impressing the judges with an exceptional presentation. The group was commended for its excellent representation of Esan culture, discipline, coordination and strict adherence to the rules and regulations of the competition, particularly the allotted time for each presentation.

In recognition of their outstanding performance, the Vice-Chancellor of Mudiame University Irrua , Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor presented the Esan Cultural Group with a cash prize of ₦70,000, congratulating the students for their commitment to preserving and promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

The celebration concluded with a vote of thanks, closing prayer, group photographs and continued cultural interactions, bringing the 2026 Student Week Cultural Day to a successful close.

The annual Cultural Day remains one of the highlights of Mudiame University’s Student Week, providing students with a platform to celebrate Nigeria’s cultural diversity while fostering unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among members of the university community.