RSG Renames Port Harcourt Poly after Elechi Amadi …As Literary Icon Is Buried

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has renamed the Port Harcourt Polytechnic as Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in honour of the late literary icon and international author.

In a funeral oration at the burial of late Captain Elechi Amadi on Saturday at Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, Wike said that Captain Elechi Amadi’s outstanding achievements in service of humanity makes it necessary for the literary giant to be immortalised.

He said: “We have decided to rename the Port Harcourt Polytechnic as Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, so that it will remain in our memory that a man who contributed to the development of our nation, once lived.”

The governor added: “Captain Elechi Amadi was not an ordinary person. The fact that you are Elechi Amadi’s child means that you will be respected for what he stood for. As children of Elechi Amadi , you have to keep up with his good works.”

The governor urged that legends and achievers be celebrated while they are still alive to encourage the younger generation to embrace worthy ideals.

He said: “Praising achievers when they are still alive will encourage others to contribute to the development of the society.”

He disclosed that the state government will complete the Faculty of Humanities building in honourof Captain Elechi Amadi at the University of Port Harcourt started and abandoned by the immediate past administration.

The governor said Captain Elechi Amadi never focused on material wealth, but focused all his attention on human development.

He called on members of the family to always live in peace, so that they can make the late author proud wherever he would be.

The burial attracted leading authors and academics in Nigeria.

The leadership of the Association of Nigerian Authors was represented by its President, Denja Abdullahi, former Presidents, Dr Wale Okediran and Odia Ofeimun.