The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has announced the renaming of the Anambra International Airport after the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, News About Nigeria reports.
He made the announcement during the Independence Day celebration at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, pronouncing that the airport will now be called, “Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri.”
According to him, the state and Nigeria at large must learn to celebrate people who played vital roles in the civilization and growth of the country even if they are not politicians.
In his words: “Henceforth, we shall be deliberate in fishing out and celebrating our largely unsung heroes, as motivation to our children and youths in terms of what matters, including distinguished teachers, medical and other professionals, persons of honesty and integrity, philanthropists with known sources of wealth, entrepreneurs/job creators, community leaders/developers, clergy with great devotion, etc.
“An example of Africa’s unsung hero is the late Prof. Chinua Achebe. Achebe was not a president, a governor or a minister. He did not build bridges or roads or airports, but he will outlive most Presidents, governors or ministers.”
The Governor who said that Achebe gave the African literature an identity and a voice, noted that he was not just an Anambra hero, nor a Nigerian hero but he was an African and global hero, and yet largely unsung at home.
According to him, because of Achebe’s impact both at home and abroad, the state will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri.
Chinua Achebe, who is a native of Ogidi in Idemili North LGA of the state, died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82, in Boston, Massachusetts.
In his lifetime, Achebe wrote many books of international repute, including; “Things fall apart”, “There was a country”, “Arrow of God”, “A man of the people” and many more.
