The Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has named the State’s International Passenger and Cargo Airport after the late author Chinua Achebe in honour of his lasting contribution to human civilisation.
Achebe, who was born in Ogidi in the Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, passed away on March 21, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 82.
This was stated by Soludo on Sunday in Awka during the Independence Day parade to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd birthday. He cited Achebe as an example of an unsung African hero.
In his words:
“Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, gave the African literature an identity and a voice and he rightly reconstructed and refined the identify of the people.”
According to the governor, the Achebe was not only a hero for Anambra and Nigeria, but also for Africa and the entire world, despite being mostly unknown at home.
He stated that the state would be more diligent in seeking out and honouring its mainly unsung heroes in order to inspire children and youngsters in the future.
According to him:
“Unfortunately, some people wrongly think of legacies in terms of brick and mortar. Legacy is about impact on human life and human civilisation.
“Achebe was not a president or governor or military. He did not build bridges or roads or airports but he will outlive most presidents, governors and ministers in our minds.
“Achebe rejected Nigeria’s national honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour him.
“After wide consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra than Anambra’s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe.
“Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri.
“Yes, it has to be an international airport, and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
