Immediate past minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has called on the Federal Government to name a national monument after the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, in line with the resolutions of the seventh Senate and House of Representatives at valedictory sessions for him during his burial in 2013.
Ngige also urged the government to rebuild St. Philip’s Central School, Akpakaogwe Ogidi, where Achebe received his primary education, in fulfillment of the promise by former president, Goodluck Jonathan, and upgrade it to secondary and tertiary institution.
He spoke while reacting to the renaming of the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport after Achebe, which Governor Charles Soludo announced in his speech during the Independence Day parade in Awka on Sunday.
In a statement, yesterday, the former governor of Anambra State welcomed the development, and applauded the state government for the noble idea to honour one of the illustrious sons of the state.
Ngige said he was among stakeholders consulted by Governor Soludo on the issue and he gave his nod without hesitation.
He described the posthumous recognition of Achebe by the Anambra State Government as an honour well-deserved.
Part of the statement read: “We thank Governor Soludo for carrying this through. It is a recognition well deserved. Ichie Ugonabo, Prof. Achebe, even though he was not a prized Nobel Laureate in his lifetime, bestrode the world of literature like a colossus.
“Interestingly, the Igbo of Southern Nigeria, under the auspices of pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, had at the last Igbo Day Celebration on Friday, September 29, at Okpara Square, Enugu, given him an award in “Super Heroes” category for putting the Igbo nation on the world map through intellectualism.
“So, starting from his home state, Anambra, and his Igbo brothers, we have announced to Nigeria and the world that this prolific author of “Things Fall Apart”, “There Was A Country”, “The Man of the People” and many other bestselling visionary works of satire, even though bodily dead, is still alive.
“The Federal Government should also follow suit and name a national monument after Achebe in line with the resolutions of the Seventh Senate and House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the valedictory sessions for him. The federal government should also work towards rebuilding St. Philip’s Central School, Akpakaogwe Ogidi, where Achebe did his primary education, in fulfillment of the promise of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and upgrading it to secondary and tertiary institution.”