The executive Governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano , Prince Engr Arthur Eze , P-Square-Peter and Paul Okoye , Flavour -Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli and Dr Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah among 300 others have given their words to be at Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center tomorrow Tuesday, April 18th , 2017 to witness the presentation of a new publication listing men and women of Anambra extraction, who set the pace for Nigeria and Africa’s emancipation including over 1,500 billionaires.
Gov. Willie Obiano is expected to present the compendium entitled ‘Anambra ICONS’ with over 1,500 Billionaires by Uchechukwu Elugu to the Anambra people in Awka.
As well John Mikel Obi ,Dr Emmanuel Egbogah, Dr Ernest Nnaemeka Azudialu-Obiejesi, Sir Emeka Offor, Sir Alexander Chika Okafor Mrs Catherine Obianuju Ifejika and Mrs Nkechi Obi , Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, Dr Mrs Virgy Anohu , Dr Raymond Obieri, OON among others have also given their words to honour the event.
The editorial advisers of the publication, include Igwe Gibson Nwosu, Prof. Pita Ejiofor, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prof. C.C. Anene, Chief S.N. Okeke, C. Don Adinuba and Mrs Ifeyinwa Anazonwu. Anambra, which prides itself as “The Light of the Nation” currently has no fewer than 1,500 billionaires. It has the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria with a Gross Domestic Product of $11.83 billion.
The state’s per capita income currently stands at $1,615, according to official records. The publication, known as “Icons of Anambra State,” lists among others, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, cited as the most famous pan-Africanist of the 20th century and Dr Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s second republic vice-president.
The iconic compendium, authored by an entrepreneur and researcher, Mr Uchechukwu Elugu, traces the engaging life and times of some great Nigerians of Anambra extraction, who showed the light so that Africa could find its way.
Among other pacesetters listed in the publication are Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the billionaire father of Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Emeka, an Oxford-educated historian, led the Biafra war in the late 60s.
The younger Ojukwu, who is also celebrated in the publication, has enjoyed a cult of following even in death.
Other outstanding achievers celebrated in the compendium are Sen. Nwafor Orizu, who was Senate President and Acting President of Nigeria when the first military occurred in 1966 and Prof. Chike Obi, a leading mathematician. Obi, who was famous for his work on non-differential equations also developed a special solution for Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Also celebrated in the publication are Prof. Chinua Achebe, Africa’s most famous novelist and Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a leading historian and first African Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university at Ibadan. Other “Anambra State Icons” are the blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi, Dr Pius Okigbo, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Chief Jerome Udoji, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the first black Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Also in reckoning are Lt.-Gen. Isaac Obiakor, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prof. Lawrence Dim, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Mr Oscar Onyema, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr Olisa Agbakoba and Mrs Oby Ezekwesili. The icons also include Prof. Alex Animalu, Prof. P.N. Okeke, Prof. Elo Amaucheazi, Dr A.B.C. Orjiako, Dr Emeka Okwuosa, Prof. Charles Soludo, Chief Chris Ezeh and Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi. The others are Mr Otis Anyaeji, Chief Simon Okeke, Chief Fabian Nwora, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Mr Peter Obi and Mr Allen Onyema of Air Peace Airlines. The book, the publication of which was sponsored by three leading Nigerian banks, is aimed at stimulating hard work, enterprise and resilience among upcoming generations, according to the publishers.
