Zik’s Award: Obasanjo, Zulum top list of awardees

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo topped the list of eminent Nigerians to be honoured during the Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Merit Award and Lectures slated for November 16th, 2022

Others include the governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umaru Zulum, Sen. Uche Ekwunife and Mr Osita Iheme.

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Mallam Aminu, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, Mrs Margaret Ekpo and Mrs Fumilayo Ransome Kuti would be honoured Posthumously.

This year’s edition, being the 3rd in the series, will be attended by President Julius Maada Wonie Bio of Sierra Leone and His Eminence Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad, the Sultan of Sokoto, amongst others whose presence are expected to bring to the fore, the place of culture in the Nigerians as was seriously espoused by the great Owelle of Onitsha during his lifetime.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee and a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, in a statement, described Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as a Pan-Africanist whose efforts in making sure that many African nations got their independence from colonialist should be emulated, adding that immortalizing his legacies should be done beyond the shores of this country.

“It is equally a deserving recognition of the unmatched effort of the Great Zik at placing the hitherto little-known town of Nsukka at the centre of global discourse with the siting of Nigeria’s first indigenous University, The University of Nigeria, in the town, as the first of its kind in the country.

“The great Owelle of Onitsha whose eyes for excellence were second to none must be exhibiting a high sense of fulfilment from the great beyond as we identify great Nigerians across tribal and religious lines for special recognition and awards of excellence which he would have readily done himself were he to be still here’ he said.

Also, the Chief Host, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was quoted as saying that Zik’s ideals remained the basis for present united Nigeria and further expressed hope that the sustenance of the beliefs of the nation’s first president would develop a road map for a greater Nigeria.

He further advised youths to always emulate the patriotic zeal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe, especially in the areas of national development and integration.

Meanwhile, the organiser of the event, Nsukka United Front has announced that the theme of this year’s edition is “Nigeria of Our Dreams: Possibilities, Challenges and Realities”.

The director general of the organisation, Hon. Chineme Onyeke, who made this known on Friday, stated that the theme of the event was arrived at following the current realities being faced by the nation and the need to remind Nigerians that it’s a phase that would soon pass.

He stressed that the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was a firm believer in a united Nigeria, never shied away in contributing meaningfully to the development of the country during his lifetime.

“Zik of Africa as he was fondly called was a strong believer in United Nigeria. His legacies were exceptional.

“We owe him this duty of making sure that the next generation gets to know about him, especially what his ideals were in terms of this great nation, Nigeria. He was a strong advocate of national integration,” he said.