Elechi Amadi (1934-2016)

Without any doubt, the immediate
past Chairman of the Rivers State
Scholarship Board, Late Captain Elechi Amadi was an unforgettable intellectual icon, a trail blazer, and indeed, one of the greatest literary scholars, this part of the world has ever known. In life, and even in death, the man towers like is colossus among the first generation of African novelists, poets, and playwrights, an elite class of top literary giants.
Born on May 12, 1934 in Mbodo, Aluu in present day Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Elechi Amadi attended Government College, Umuahia (1948-52), Survey School, Oyo (1953-54) and later proceeded to study Physics and Mathematics at the then University College, Ibadan (1955-59). He worked as a land surveyor and later as a teacher in several schools, including the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (1963-66) where he trained the likes of David Mark, Amadi Ikwechegh, Tunde Ogbeha, John Madaki and Anthony Ukpo, all of whom later became notable names in Nigeria’s military hierarchy.
During the Nigerian Civil War, Elechi Amadi fought on the Nigerian side as a member of the 3rd Marine Commando. He became Commander of the 14th Brigade at Ahoada and was later appointed Military Administrator of Port Harcourt towards the end of hostilities in 1969.
He retired from the Army and later joined the Rivers State Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary (1973-83) during which period he served variously in the Ministries of Establishment, Finance, Information, Education and also in the Cabinet Office, Government House, Port Harcourt. He later served as Commissioner for Education (1987-88) and Lands & Housing (1989-90). He was also a lecturer and writer-in-residence at the Rivers State College of Education (now a university) where he served, at different times, as Head of Literature Department, Dean of Arts and Director of General Studies.
In recognition of his community and national service, Elechi Amadi earned several awards and honours among them: the Rivers State Silver Jubilee Merit Award (1992), Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education (2003), Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (2003), Honorary D.Sc Education, RSUST (2003) and Honorary D.Litt, UNIPORT (2011).
He served as the President-General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide (2001-2004) and Chairman, Rivers State Scholarship Board (2008-2014).
On January 5, 2009, while still serving as the Scholarship Board Chairman, the retired Army Captain was abducted at his country home in Aluu by some armed men suspected to be kidnappers. He was, however, released after a few days.
As a writer, Elechi Amadi had over 12 novels, plays and poems to his credit. Notable among these are The Concubine (1966), The Great Ponds (1969), Sunset in Biafra (1973), Isiburu (1973), The Slave (1978), Speaking and Singing (2003) and When God Came (2011).
One major characteristic of the late writer is that he was hardly influenced by cultural imperialism as virtually all his books have indigenous colouration.
At a time when companies offered mouth-watering salaries and perquisites to attract the few available university graduates in early post-Independence Nigeria, it was unthinkable that any graduate of the time would ignore all those and rather opt for an instructorship at a military academy. But Elechi Amadi did.
Again, at the end of the Civil War when the lucre and glamour of military service saw many Nigerians queuing to enlist in the Armed Forces, it would appear strange that any officer, especially one from a minority tribe, would ignore the already apparent career prospects and quit. But Captain Elechi Amadi did.
Amadi’s brilliance laced with versatility in different spheres of life remains a myth which his contemporaries still respect even in death. He will always be remembered for his life of service to society.
That is why Captain Elechi Amadi’s death on June 29, 2016 at the age of 82 requires celebration of his exemplary accomplishments. Little wonder, the Rivers State Government deservedly rolled out a week-long programme of activities, including staging of a selection of the late sage’s plays, to bid this illustrious ambassador of the state and, indeed, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, a befitting farewell.
Adieu, Captain Elechi Amadi (rtd).