Says Africans must remember heroes, heroines
The Convener of the Correct Connect Africa Foundation (CCAF), Rev. Father Anthony Aleakwe Odior, has called on Nigeria and the African Union (AU) to declare the Africa Memorial Day (AMD) a public holiday across the continent as a commitment to remembrance, unity, and pride.

Odior, while speaking, yesterday, during the Africa Memorial Day (AMD) celebration organised by CCAF, stated that AMD is an important day for all Africans to reflect on the past and renew their commitment to forgive history but never forget to honour the memory of heroes and heroines of the past.

“It is an event that reminds us of our duty towards a more just and equitable future,” he said.

According to him, Africa has continued to be a potential with stagnated development because it has failed to connect its rich past with the present.

He added that the theme for this year’s Africa Memorial Day, ‘Historical Consciousness and Human Justice,’ calls on Africans to wake up and develop a historical mindset that questions, challenges, and transforms.

“It is not just to know history but to interpret it, understand the present, and boldly shape the future. There must be a historical consciousness for the existence of an awakened Africa.”

“Without it, we cannot truly honour the legacies of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Queen Amina of Zaria, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Chinua Achebe, Thomas Sankara, Kwame Nkrumah, Harriet Tubman, Queen Nzinga of Ndongo, and so many others that dared to imagine and fought for a free, just, and united Africa,” he said.

Odior, who further stated that schools should teach history and let our children prepare for it, said that the idea for Africa Memorial Day was born eight years ago when a group of students in the Diaspora felt a burning need, as well as a duty to honour ancestors, commemorate and celebrate heroes and heroines, kings and queens, martyrs, visionaries, and freedom fighters, people of all walks of life who stood, and often fell for Africa’s liberation.

Also speaking at the event, an activist, Femi Falana, stated that until the African continent knows where it is coming from, Africa cannot say it has arrived.