PRESENTED BY IZUNNA I. OKAFOR, THE COORDINATOR OF THE SOCIETY OF YOUNG NIGERIAN WRITERS, ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER IN HOSTING A ONE DAY LITERARY PROGRAMME IN THE MEMORY OF CHINUA ACHEBE.

By Izunna Okafor

Good day distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the honourable commissioner, members of the high table, fellow students and fellow writers, lecturers and teachers alike, school heads, participants and the other members of the public here present this day to witness this great occasion. I welcome you all in Jesus Name, Amen.

It is my humble pleasure to officially introduce us to the reason for our gathering here this day, the 16th day of November 2016, in this auditorium hall of the Prof. Kenneth Dike E-Library Awka.

We are gathered here this day to mark a great literary event in the great immortal memory of a great literary icon and an ebullient indigen of this state – Late Prof. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, an Ogidi born quintessential literary pioneer.

This venerable event tagged: ‘RememberingCHINUA ACHEBE: A LITERARY ICON’, which is the first of its kind is organized in the super-heroic memory of the valiant literary champion in whose name it is tagged, in the remembrance, commemoration and celebration of his luminous life, perpetual legacies and laudable achievements in the literary field of life.

It is worthy to re-echo, at this juncture,that Anambra State has given the world arrays of great writers, the likes of Prof. Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike, Dr. Christopher Okigbo, Mrs. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Cyprain Ekwensi, Nkem Nwankwo, Mr. Okeke Chika Jerry, Ifeoma Okoye, to mention but a few.

Of course every living soulon earthcould observe that this short list is incomplete, no matter how terse it looks; the number one name is missing. And thatis the man for whom we have gathered this day – Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Albert Chinualumogu Achebe (popularly known as Chinua Achebe) was born on a great day like this, the 16th day of November 1930, and died on the 21stday of March 2013 at the age of 82 years, 125 days, spending about 30, 076 days in his whole life with laudable achievements and legacies of which the world is reaping today in our own generation.

Achebe was a renowned author of all time, a great intellectual of all ages, the father of the modern African Literature, a cornucopiaof knowledge, a great teacher of repute, a pride of his nation, a genius with pen, a voracious reader, a professor of Massachusetts, a recipient of over hundred national and international awards, America’s best lecturer in English, a recipient of over fortyHonorary Degrees from Universities all over the world, a recipient of the Nigeria’s highest award for intellectual achievement, an author of magnum opus, a graduate of University College Ibadan, African most widely read author, a great educator, a recipient of the Man Booker International Prize, a recipient of the Honorary Fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, plus the host of other numerous landmark achievements, awards and legacies.

All these indeed worth recognition, commemoration andcelebration; and that is our purpose of gathering herethis day.

There are lots and lots of literary activities and packages slated for this occasion which will soon begin to unfold in their best footings.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to this memorial and monumental occasion, and pray that the good Lord who made it possible for us to gather here this day will bless and enrich us mightily with the good things he has prepared for us, as well as enable us to live a life worthy of emulation and to leave a legacy worthy of celebration, even after our life here on this earth.

Once again, I welcome you all and declare this occasion open in the name of God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

Izunna I. Okafor, the coordinator of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter