Chime Gives Kudos To Centenary Committee

Members of the Enugu Centenary Committee have been commended for the good work they are doing to make the forthcoming 100 years celebration of Enugu City a huge success.

Making the commendation recently on the occasion of the first international centenary conference in Enugu, the state governor, Barrister Sullivan I. Chime, noted that the committee had done a good job to justify their appointment, and urged them not to relent in their tireless efforts to serve the state.

Governor Chime, however, used the forum to promise that, “We will continue to imbibe the spirit of Enugu”, regretting that eight years may not be enough for him to make Enugu what it should be.

Continuing, Governor Chime further promised: “We will do our best to make Enugu attain greatness. With all the great sons and daughters of Enugu , very soon Enugu will take its rightful place in the scheme of things in Nigeria.”

Launching the handbook of the centenary celebration at the occasion, Governor Chime reasoned that the handbook will make one have rich knowledge of what the Enugu City is all about.

Expressing happiness over the impressive turn out of people at the ceremony, Governor Chime instructed members of the centenary committee to share the handbook which was meant for sale free of charge to all those present at the occasion as a way of encouraging them for staying all day to listen to the lectures delivered at the occasion.

The governor’s directive, however, was not carried out by members of the committee for reasons best known to them, as no one was given even a copy of the handbook until all the participants left the Ofu Obi Africa Centre venue of the conference.

Speaking earlier, the chairman, Enugu Centenary Committee, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, revealed that since the launching of the centenary Logo recently, the committee had realized through free will donation over N40 million.

According to him, the launching of the Logo was sponsored by an Enugu based construction company, Master Holding to the tune of N5 million, adding that EMENITE presently was discussing with the committee as it has agreed in principle to re-roof the old Eastern House of Assembly to the tune of N2 million.

Also in a lecture, entitled, “Colonialism, Nigeria, Enugu – A Historical Philosophical Critique”, the Director, Whelan Research Academy, Owerri, Imo State, Professor Msgr. Theophilus I. Okere, noted that Enugu has come to mean different things to different people.

Enugu, he said, had played many roles as the administrative headquarters of the former Eastern region, adding that Enugu later became the heart and soul of many people.

His words: “As we celebrate the first 100 years of Enugu we can envision the next 100 and we . can even begin to lay the foundation for the future. We do so by learning from the past, avoiding its pitfalls and lay a more solid foundation for the future.”