Ogidi community embarks on project to immortalise Achebe

In a move to immortalise the late literary icon and social crusader, Prof. Chinua Achebe, the people of Ogidi Community, in Anambra State, are set to establish a university to be named after him.

The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alex Onyido (Ezechuamagha 1), who disclosed this while addressing the people during a town hall lecture organised in honour of Achebe at Ogidi Town Hall, yesterday, as part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of his death, pointed out that relevant stakeholders of the community, after much deliberations, decided to establish the university to immortalise the late teacher, writer and poet.

Onyido explained that the university, which would be named ‘Chinua Achebe University,’ would be one of the best ways to appreciate the late literary icon, who made indelible giant strides in the academia, adding that Ogidi Community has the capacity to deliver the project.

He said:  “We alI agree that a university is the ideal project to immortalise Achebe, considering that he made Ogidi extremely proud in the academic world. That is our choice and there is no going back. We will face it with our strength and, by the special grace of God, we are going to succeed.”

The pharmacist turned monarch said the community would map out a parcel of land where the university will be sited, noting that this would be the first step, after which necessary funds to execute the project would be mobilised.