Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has renamed Faulks Road, Aba, after Sam Mbakwe Road.
Mbakwe, the first democratic governor of old Imo State, was in power from 1 October 1979 until 31 December 1983.
Ikpeazu named the road after him following a request by a student of Danijoy International School, Umuahia, during the Governor’s Lecture at the School on “Building a New Nigeria Through Democratic Leadership”.
Governor Ikpeazu, who called for a change in public perception where heroes will be promoted and rewarded and villains condemned described perception building as key to building a new Nigeria.
The Governor had made references to Mbakwe as a model in effective leadership.
He said public perception has contributed to the failure of Nigeria and called for greater encouragement for virtues of honesty, tolerance, temperance and morality.
He maintained that democratic norms must be learnt and imbibed from the cradle so as to build a better society.
He described the lecture topic as apt, saying that a good citizen must be disciplined enough and be conscious of the environment and work towards protecting it.
He advocated for technical education, saying that it would make education in Nigeria more functional and capable of tackling unemployment.
Ikpeazu used the opportunity to disclose that his administration in collaboration with the federal government engaged in school feeding programme, announcing that the programme has increased the public school enrollment in Abia from 150, 000 to 660, 000.
Governor Ikpeazu commended the promoters of Danijoy International Schools for the vision in providing the school with the needed facilities and man power, expressing confidence that great world leaders would come out of the students.
The Governor assured that his administration shall continue to partner with the private sector in the development of all facets of our state’s economy including education and insisted that private schools must continue to operate within government guidelines.
Earlier, the Head of school, Ambassador Anthony Ororho, said the institution is proud of the efforts of Ikpeazu in bringing qualitative education to Abia students.
He assured that their students would win trophies at home and abroad and present to the governor as a way of showcasing their academic excellence.
Senior Prefect of the school, Jennifer Ogbunamiri said the lecture would provide the students with a road map to a better future and impactful citizens.
She thanked the governor for accepting to deliver the lecture and expressed their interest of becoming like him in future as a successful academic and good leader.
