A new publication listing men and women of Anambra
extraction, who set the pace for Nigeria and Africa’s emancipation is ready for
public presentation. Gov. Willie Obiano is expected to present the compendium
to the Anambra people on April 18 in Awka.
The editorial advisers of the
publication, include Igwe Gibson Nwosu, Prof. Pita Ejiofor, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr
Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prof. C.C.
Anene, Chief S.N. Okeke, C. Don Adinuba and Mrs
Ifeyinwa Anazonwu. Anambra, which prides itself as “The Light of the Nation”
currently has no fewer than 1,500 billionaires.
It has the lowest poverty rate in
Nigeria with a Gross Domestic Product of $11.83 billion.
The state’s per capita income currently stands at $1,615, according to official records. The publication, known as “Icons of Anambra State,” lists among others, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, cited as the most famous pan-Africanist of the 20th century and Dr Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s second republic vice-president.
The
iconic compendium, authored by an entrepreneur and researcher, Mr Uchechukwu
Elugu, traces the engaging life and times of some great Nigerians of Anambra
extraction, who showed the light so that Africa could find its way.
Among other
pacesetters listed in the publication are Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the billionaire
father of Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Emeka, an Oxford-educated historian, led
the Biafra war in the late 60s.
The younger Ojukwu, who is also celebrated in
the publication, has enjoyed a cult of following even in death. Other
outstanding achievers celebrated in the compendium are Sen. Nwafor Orizu, who
was Senate President and Acting President of Nigeria when the first military
occurred in 1966 and Prof.
Chike Obi, a leading mathematician. Obi, who was
famous for his work on non-differential equations also developed a special
solution for Fermat’s Last Theorem. lso celebrated in the publication are Prof.
Chinua Achebe, Africa’s most famous novelist and Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a
leading historian and first African Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier
university at Ibadan.
Other “Anambra State Icons” are the blessed Cyprian Iwene
Tansi, Dr Pius Okigbo, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Chief Jerome Udoji, Prof. Dora
Akunyili and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the first black Secretary General of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Also in reckoning are Lt.-Gen. Isaac Obiakor, Cardinal
Francis Arinze, Prof. Lawrence Dim, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Mr Oscar Onyema,
Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr Olisa Agbakoba and Mrs Oby Ezekwesili. The icons also
include Prof. Alex Animalu, Prof. P.N. Okeke, Prof. Elo Amaucheazi, Dr A.B.C.
Orjiako, Dr Emeka Okwuosa, Mrs Uju Ifejika, Prof. Charles Soludo, Chief Chris
Ezeh and Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi. The others are Mr Otis Anyaeji, Chief Simon
Okeke, Chief Fabian Nwora, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Dr
Cosmas Maduka, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Mr Peter Obi and Mr Allen Onyema of Air Peace
Airlines.
The book, the publication of which was sponsored by three leading
Nigerian banks, is aimed at stimulating hard work, enterprise and resilience
among upcoming generations, according to the publishers.
This was first published on Vanguard
