Achebe, Kanu Receive Igbo Youth Award

The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in Enugu last Sunday conferred an award titled “The Great Igbo Icon’’ on Prof. Chinua Achebe, a renowned novelist. The award was presented at the organisation’s 2012 End of Year Colloquium.

The IYM also gave a leadership award to retired Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, while it recognised Senator Uche Chukwumerije, as the ‘People’s Hero’.

Its President, Mr Elliot Uko, said in his opening remarks that the award on Achebe was to recognise his truthfulness in his writing.

Uko described Achebe as a great writer who had put the tradition of the Igbo in the contemporary map of the world with his writing.

He said the literary icon was worth celebrating because he portrayed things succinctly as they occurred, adding that he deserved more than the award.

On Kanu, the youth leader said he was given the award because he championed the cause of the Igbo selflessly and fearlessly.

He also said that Chukwumerije was honoured because he spoke for the people wherever the opportunity arose, describing him as a real hero.

In a paper entitled: “Ndigbo and 2015: An exhortation’’, Chukwumerije said the Igbos were in trouble politically and needed urgent and decisive remedies to tackle the situation.

“Every other national group, big and small, are currently unifying their ranks, realigning their forces, establishing linkages, creating alliances and girding their loins for the great political confrontation ahead.“What do we witness in Igboland other than disunity, inaction, inertia, silence? We must take control of our political destiny, we cannot outsource it to any other person or group,’’ the senator said.

dency in 2015.