Abia State of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the former governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on his nomination by the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB) for the 2023 NSBMB Legacy Award.
A statement by the state Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, said the state chairman of the party, Alwell Asiforo Okere, on behalf of the PDP candidate in the 2023 Abia governorship election, Okechukwu Ahiwe; his running mate, Jasper Uche; members of the State Working Committee (SWC), the enlarged State Executive Committee (SEC) and the entire members of the Abia PDP family rejoiced with the former governor over the development.
According to Amah, the notice of nomination for the award ceremony which would take place at the auditorium of National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja on December 5, 2023, was contained in a letter signed by the President of the society, Matthew Owonda Wegwu, on October 16, 2023.
Extolling the academic and leadership qualities of Ikpeazu, the society said in the letter: “The received wisdom is that academics are usually lost in the manipulative corridors of power once they get into appointive or elective office. It is certainly not part of conventional logic for a thoroughbred Nigerian academic, who holds political office, let alone one holding the high office of governor to show proclivity for the academia. Yet, you remained marginally or fully engaged in academic activities, while in office as executive governor of Abia State.”
Wegwu said the award was coming a few weeks after Ikpeazu was inducted into the governing board of the society; a development that was premised on his invaluable contributions to the teaching, study and research in the field of biochemistry, with more than 45 journals, and a textbook on the field of biochemistry, which he co-authored as a serving governor.
“Abia PDP is proud to associate with the former governor, who is an academic and administrator par excellence, a man who devoted his time to the service, and uplifting of his state and secured peace, better standard of living and prosperity for his people as testified by many local and national awards that bear testimonies to such feats long after the end of his tenure of office.
“As you receive this award, the Abia PDP reminds you that the award is a call to more duty, service and dedication, to the cause of the NSBMB and humanity in general and urges you to continue to provide exemplary leadership in any position you find yourself. Once more, the Abia PDP congratulates you, Ikpeazu, and wish you more wins in your future endeavours,” the society said.