By Austin Ogwuda
Soludo honours Chinua Achebe posthumously, names Airport after him
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has described late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe as an unsung African hero, especially at home.
The governor has therefore announced the re-naming of the State’s International Airport after his (Achebe) name.
Announcing this during yesterday’s Independence Day celebration at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, Soludo said that the Airport would now be called, “Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri”.
He noted that Achebe was not just an Anambra nor Nigerian hero, but an African and global hero and yet largely unsung at home.
Said he, “We must say that you don’t have to hold a political position to contribute to the advancement of our civilisation.
“Henceforth, we shall be deliberate in fishing out and celebrating our largely unsung heroes, as a motivation to our children and youths in terms of what matters, including distinguished teachers, medical and other professionals, persons of honesty and integrity, philanthropists with known sources of wealth, entrepreneurs/job creators, community leaders/developers, clergy with great devotion, etc.
“An example of Africa’s unsung hero is the late Prof. Chinua Achebe. Achebe was not a president or a governor or minister. He did not build bridges or roads or airports. But he will outlive most presidents, governors or ministers.
“Achebe gave the African literature an identity and a voice. In a way, he rightly reconstructed and redefined who we are and we will never forget. Indeed, he was not an Anambra hero, nor a Nigerian hero. He was an African and global hero, and yet largely unsung at home.
“Achebe”, he went on, “rejected Nigeria’s national honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour him.
“After wife consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra than Anambra ‘s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe.
“Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri. Yes, it has to be an International Airport and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status”, he added.
Chinua Achebe born in Nigeria in 1930 published novels, short stories and essays.
Achebe’s masterpiece, Things Fall Apart has been published in 50 different languages and sold more than 10 million copies internationally since its first publication in 1958.
Before his demise in 2013 at the age 82, Achebe, a native of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State published yet another masterpiece ‘There Was A Country’ ( A personal history of Biafra), a classical demonstration of unequalled intellectual prowess of the legendary author of the famous ‘Things Fall Apart’.
