Chukwumerije Wants Poly Upgraded, Named After Ekwueme

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, has called on the Federal Government to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, to a university and rename it after Dr Alex Ekwueme.

Chukwumerije made the call in Oko while delivering a paper at the 3rd Alex Ekwueme Annual Lecture Series, to mark his 80th birthday.

The event was organised by the polytechnic in honour of Ekwueme.

The Tide recalls that Ekwueme, an octogenarian, was Vice President of Nigeria during the Shehu Shagari administration (1979 -1983).

Chukwumerije said that Ekwueme had made huge contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and should be honoured.

Chukwumerije whose lecture was entitled: “The Igbo and the Nigerian Political Space: The path to self-rehabilitation,” said for Ndigbo, their birthday present to Ekwueme would be “to heal their post-civil war infirmity of unanchored individualism.”

Ndigbo, he added, should declare “never, never again to self-inflicted injury when a golden opportunity (like the PDP Jos Presidential Primary) knocks in the near future in their presidential bid.”

He also called on them to unite in order to take their rightful position in the political process of the country.

He called on them to organise and “function as a strong, united force and be strategically focused in regaining and occupying their rightful place in Nigeria”.

Chukwumerije expressed optimism that with unity “no force from the outside, no matter how formidable or entrenched, can hold them down for long.”

In a remark, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commended the lecture, describing it as a call for Igbo to unite and forge a common front.

This, he said, became necessary for the Igbo to take their rightful place in the country and advocated  the building of a new level of Igbo consciousness while insisting on regionalism, and abrogation of the common local government system among others, to move Nigeria forward.

Governor Peter Obi in his speech said: “The only thing militating against us Ndigbo is us. All we need is to build back Igbo spirit of hard work, resilience etc.”

Responding, Ekwueme thanked the people for honouring him, saying that the lecture had given Ndigbo an assignment which he was optimistic, they would accomplish.

The ceremony was attended by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbeji, among other dignitaries.

Highlights of the occasion include awards to the Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, that of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Chief Emeka Offor, a businessman and a philanthropist, Chief Julius Ezeokafor.