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An Igbo Apex socio-cultiral group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide says it will celebrate the 2023 Igbo Day on September 29. The group also said that the National Executive Council,NEC, has approved three Igboland awards and will on that day honour Igbo heroes that worked for the race and are dead.
He said that the aim of celebrating Igbo day is to thank God for His blessings on the Igbo people.”It is a day of reflection . Every Igbo man will look back and see the goodness of God,” he said.
President -General of the Apex body, Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, disclosed this , Saturday, during a press briefing on the activities lined up for the celebration, held at the headquarters of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Enugu.
He said that the Apex body will on Igbo day, decide a fixed day for the celebration of new yam festival, so that it will be done uniformly.
Iwuanyanwu said that the group approved three highest Igboland Awards. They are Grand Heros of Igboland Award, Distinguished Heroes of Igboland and Heroes of Igboland, awards.
He said, “The Awards Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, presided over by the President General ,Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu met on Saturday, September 2,2023 at the Oriental road Plaza, Orji Owerri, Imo state and classified the 2023 posthumous Ohanaeze Awards to the eminent Igbo and their allies into three broad categories namely, the Grand Heroes of Igboland(GHI); followed by the Distinguished Heroes of Igboland (DHI) and the Heroes of Igboland (HI).
“The Awards will be presented to their families at the Igbo Day celebration which will hold at Michael Okpara Square,Enugu at 10am on Friday, September 29,2023”, he said..
Those to be honoured with the highest award of GHI include: The Rt. Hon.Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe,GCFR, Maj.Gen.Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi,GCFR, Chief Chukwuemeka Odinegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Chief Dennis Osadebay, Dt. M. I. Okpara and Blessed Cyprain Michael Iwene Tansi.
Iwuanyanwu ( middle)
Those in the DHI category include: Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, Dr. Abyssinian Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu,,Gen. Phillip Efgionh, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe, Dr. Anuche Jaja Nwachuku, Prof. Eyo Eta, Justice Chukwudifu Opita, GCON, Dr. Simon Onwu, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Dr. Mrs. Mariam Babangida, Justice Charles Dadi Onyeama, Chief Z C. Obi, Chief Emmanuel hinweonu Aguma, King Jubo Jubogha( King Jaja of Opobo), Chief C.C. Onoh, Chief M T. Mbu, Justice Augustine Nnamani, Justice Philip Nnaemeka Agu, and Dr. Alvan Ikoku.
While those in the HI category include; Send. Francis Ellah, Chief Loius Ojukwu, Prof Kenneth Dike, Chief Jerome Udorji, Prof. Njoku Obi, Prof. Eni Njoku, Prof. Choke Obi, Sen. Dr. Offai Nwali, Chief N. U. Akpan, Chief Mrs Margaret Ekpo, HM Eze S.N. Woluchen. Chief Richard Ihetu(Dick Tiger) and Chief Michael Okpala( Power Mike).
Rolling out the programs of event, the President General said that it will start on September 24, with a Church service at the Cathedral of Good Shepherd, Enugu.
On September 28, there will be inauguration of various committees . They include, Council for Culture and Tradition, to be chaired by HRH Igwe Alfred Achebe,CFR, and Chief Mike Nnamwuzie as Secretary,
Education Trust Fund Committee, to be chaired by Prof. Chinedu Nebo,and Dr. Ezechi Chukwu as Secretary. and
Committee for Employment and Skills Acquisition, to be chaired by His Excellency ,Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige and Dr. Peter Mbam secretary.
He noted that Igbo people are traders and have two international airports( one in Owerri and the other in Enugu) without cargo.
He also said that Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu, has only one international airline(Ethiopian airline) which is an African airline.
The President General therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to approve a major European airline for the Akanu Ibiam International airport. He also appealed that railways be approved for the south east zone ,saying that it will help the people of the zone.
The President General disclosed that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Executive Council, NEC, approved the establishnent of the Council of Igbo Business Leaders and that the membership of the council will be the only Igbo people who established businesses in Igboland and have certain number of staff will be qualified to be members.
He disclosed that they would harness the natural resources available in the zone , create jobs and reduce poverty in the zone
Ogbonna(publicity secretary)
On security, he called on the federal Government to tackle insecurity in the south east zone and the country at large.
The President General, disclosed that the Apex body has approved that a committee will travel to various countries to meet aggrieved Igbo people and discuss ways of addressing the problem and move the South East zone forward.
On the palliatives of the Government to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, he said ,sharing palliatives to people will not make an impact to the Igbo man, rather , what will help is an increased funds to the Governors to create jobs for the youths.
” Many of our youths don’t have jobs after graduation. What we want is an increased funding to the Governors to create jobs”, Iwuanyanwu said.
The President General highlighted some of his programs and achievements , so far . He thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for dredgng Oguta lake .and appealed to the government to tackle the insecurity and incessant Killings in the zone and the country at large..
Iwuanyanwu thanked the South East, Rivers and Delta state Governors for their support. He promised to work for the good of the Igbo people across the globe.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama