Organizers unfold activities for 3rd Igbo Nsukka Zik’s annual lecture

Igbo Nsukka United Front, the organizers of Igbo Nsukka Zik’s Annual Merit Award Lecture has unfolded event for this year’s Igbo Nsukka Zik’s Annual Merit Award Lecture  holding in Abuja by November 16.

In a press statement released in Abuja at the weekend signed by its Director- General, Chief Chineme Onyeke, it noted the Front will be holding the third edition of it’s annual ZIK’s merit award lecture with the theme: “Nigeria of our Dreams: Possibilities, Challenges and Reality” at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on the 16th of November,2022.

According to the statement, “This award to deserving personalities of Nigerian extraction was instituted by IGBO NSUKKA UNITED FRONT a few years ago to immortalize the memory of first Nigeria President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the great ZIK of Africa, unarguably the doyen of the liberation struggle in Africa”.

Continuing, Onyeke stated that it was equally a deserving recognition of the unmatched effort of the great ZIK at placing the hitherto little known town of Nsukka at the centre of global discourse with the siting of Nigeria’s first indigenous University, The University of Nigeria, in the town, as the first of its kind in the country

“This year’s edition being the 3rd in the series has been programmed to be a spectacle with the array of star personalities expected to attend. Already on the expected list of attendees are three sitting Presidents in Africa who are expected to join our own president who is expected to be the special guest of honour for the occasion.

“They are: Presidents Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana, Julius Maada Wonie Bio of Sierra Leone and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. These African leaders are expected to avail Nigerians of their various experiences in managing the diversities of their respective countries and how they have managed to steer the courses of their nations towards sustainable peace and progress.

”Also expected are His Eminence Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad, Sultan of Sokoto, His imperial majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Dr Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha amongst other traditional rulers whose royal presence is expected to bring to the fore, the place of culture in our national life as was seriously espoused by the great Owelle of Onitsha during his life time.

“Also expected to receive different categories of awards (some Posthumous) during the event are: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Mbazulike Amachi, (the only surviving Zikist alive today), Mallam Aminu Kano (Posthumous), Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim (Posthumous), Mrs. Margaret Ekpo (Posthumous) and Mrs Fumilayo Ransome Kuti (Posthumous)”.

Onyeke informed that Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi whose support and unflinching commitment to the preservation of the legacies of the legendary Zik of Africa will be the chief host.

“Others are, the presidential candidates of the Labour party, Mr. Peter Obi, People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and All progressives Congress, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These eminent Nigerians from among whom one will be the nation’s president come next year, are expected to use the platform to send a message of hope to Nigerians.

“They are also expectedly to use the platform to remind Nigerians particularly the youths that election is no war and should be seen as a contest of ideas.

Chief Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace and Mr Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are expected to be the lead speakers at this 3rd ZIK’s merit award ceremony