He said the renowned author, would be remembered for
his remarkable unequivocal endorsement of the universal principle of hard work
and tenacity for the actualisation of great goals and ambitions.
Speaking during Nzekwu's burial at the weekend in his
Onitsha home, the commercial city of Anambra State, Obiano said Onuora through
his books, projected the African identity to an alien civilization.
"He was a writer with an insight that affirms the
eternal truth of his convictions; he was one of the unassuming but great
talents that molded many lives on the studious path to self-actualization.
“An illustrious son of Onitsha, Onuora was a generation of
writers that projected the African identity about studiousness and its relation
to an alien civilization." he added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of News Agency of
Nigerian (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, described Nzekwu as a “national hero, who
bestrodeed NAN firmament like the colossus that he was.”
Onanuga, who was represented by Mrs. Kate Popoola, NAN Head
of Lagos Operations, said Nzekwu charted the course of NAN’s future glory to
build Africa’s biggest news agency.
“The NAN, he nurtured, is still standing till date and the
Federation of Nigeria had rightly honoured him with the Order of the Niger
(OON) prestigious merit award.
“While he was the MD, Lagos which was the headquarters then,
won’t get their salaries until everybody in the outstation had been paid their
salaries and entitlements.”
Nzekwu who co-authored ‘Eze goes to school’
with Michael Crowder, died at the age of 89.
By Emma Elekwa
