President Bola Tinubu has approved the naming of the M18 road infrastructure in the Guzape District of Abuja after Chinua Achebe, News About Nigeria reports.
Achebe was a renowned Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic.
Achebe, who passed away in 2013, is celebrated for his seminal work, “Things Fall Apart” (1958), which remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel.
His “African Trilogy” includes “No Longer at Ease” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964).
The announcement was made during the President’s address at the inauguration of the road on Saturday.
Olusegun Dada, the Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, shared this information in a video on his X page.
The SSA highlighted the significance of the tribute to Achebe, who is celebrated for his contributions to literature and African cultural heritage.
He wrote, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions the M18 road infrastructure in Guzape District of Abuja. Names road after Nigerian Novelist and Poet, late Professor Chinua Achebe.”
https://twitter.com/DOlusegun/status/1799436808935330280
The act may be viewed as a recognition of Achebe’s lasting impact and legacy.
This development is coming days after President Tinubu named the Northern Parkway Road in Abuja after another Nigerian literary icon, Wole Soyinka.
Recall that the president accepted the recommendation from the FCT minister and described Wole Soyinka as Nigeria‘s foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner, who has made Nigeria the pride of the international community.
Tinubu said: “Let me say here that your momentum and recommendation to name this road as Wole Soyinka Way is well received. Thank you for thinking that way. We all accept your recommendation on behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“To the minister of FCT and his entire team, my presence here is to thank you very much for giving this government a very successful first-year landing.”
These gestures are part of the commissioning of various projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mark the president’s one year in office.
