13TH ZIK LECTURE SERIES: ANAMBRA IS A HOME OF GREAT MEN...SOLUDO
By Chioma Nwamah-Ahamefula
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka is the 13th annual Zik lecture series with the theme; "Zik's legacies and the rising social movements in Africa: Rethinking regional integration in Africa " an annual lecture in honor of the first indigenous president of Nigeria , an icon of independence and a gaint in African politics, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the man whose name the institution bears.
The host, the Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo (CFR), in his speech, highlighted that late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was a man whom one day is not enough for his celebration.
The State Governor who spoke through his Deputy, Dr. OnyekaChukwu Ibezim hinted that the late Zik was a man who was greater in death than while alive. He stated that everyone is a beneficiary of the late Zik.
In describing the lecture as insightful, The Deputy Governor charactherised Anambra as a home of great men, a state with unlimited potentials in soaring high as he thanked Senator Ndi -Obi the benefactor for keeping the dream alive while expressing privilege of having Prof. Uche Azikiwe, the wife of the late zik of Africa at the ceremony.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the ceremony and Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Dr. Peter Mba expressed amazement on the late Zik's ideology. He pointed out that the 120th posthumous birthday of the great African icon being celebrated today has birthed a new Zikist movement that cuts across Nigeria and Africa.
In his Keynote speech, His Excellency Mohamed IBM Chambas an African Union representative and former special representative of the United Nations Secretary General and President of ECOWAS, stated that the late Zik was a leading light in Africa describing him as a visionary with a relentless believe of greater Africa and according to him, " Zik was not called Zik of Africa for nothing, for he preached and practiced pan Africanism". Stressing that Ziks' commitment to Pan Africanism, which embodies integrated growth, cohesion, and freedom of Africa, was reflected on the late Azikiwe's speeches and carriages.
The wife of the late African leader, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, in her speech of gratitude, onbehalf of the late Zik's family, thanked the new VC of the school, the benefactor Sen. Ben Ndi-Obi, faculty of social sciences whose faculty the Zik lecture series is domiciled and requested that a book be compiled with all the contents of these lecture series so as to be used in the course of study by the students.
Other speakers, including the Zik lecture series benefactor, Sen. Ndi-Obi, Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Prof. Ben Odoh, traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe amongst others expressed gratitude to the 13th Zik lecture series as the new VC of the institution poses greater heights for the Zik lecture series stateed that the lecture series be done during the convocation of the school.
Traditional Rulers from Enugu and Anambra states, scholars from different institutions of higher learning, party supporters were amongst those present at the 13th annual Zik lecture series which had cultural group displays, cutting of the 120th posthumous birthday cake of the celebrant and the lectures proper as the high points of the event.
~CHIOMA NWAMAH-AHAMEFULA is from the Office of the Deputy Governor Anambra State
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