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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Honours Awards and Special Duties Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will meet in Owerri, Imo State, tomorrow, to workout modalities to honour some Igbo heroes and special allies of Ndigbo.
The committee headed by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has Chief Okey Nwadinobi as secretary. Other eminent sons and daughters of Igboland in the 15-member committee include former Senate presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara, Ken Nnamani; Sen. Ben Obi, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Simon Okeke, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Dr. Kema Chikwe, and Profs. Maurice Iwu, Pat Utomi, Joy Ezeilo, Nnenna Otti and Epiphany Azinge.
A letter by the National Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Okey Emuchay, dated August 29, conveying membership of the committee to the Igbo personages, which was sighted by Daily Sun, stated that their inaugural meeting will hold in Owerri.
National Executive Committee of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation at its meeting of August 24, resolved to confer post-humous awards on some eminent Nigerians including Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; first Nigerian military general and head of state, Maj. Gen. JTUAguiyi Ironsi; head of state of defunct Republic of Biafra, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; second republic vice president, Dr. Alex. Ekwueme; Governor of Eastern region, Dr. Akanu Ibiam; former military governor of the Western Region, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi.
Others include former Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. M.I. Okpara, second in command to the defunct Biafran Head of State, Gen. Phillip Effiong; former Premier of the Mid West of Nigeria; Chief Dennis Osadebay, first republic minister of aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, the former Governor of the Old Imo State; Chief Sam Mbakwe, the former Emir of Kano; Alhaji Ado Bayero and Prof. Chinua Achebe as well as Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya.
The awards would form part of programme of activities at the 2023 Igbo Day celebration in Enugu later in the month, to be chaired by foremost philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze.
According to Iwuanyanwu, the post-humous awards were an expression of the Igbo attachment to excellence, steadfastness, gratitude and deep sense of history.
“At the same time, it serves as an encouragement, motivation and inspiration not only to the family of the deceased icons but to all the younger generations at large,” the Igbo leader stated.
