Anambra State government has declared Tuesday, November 16,
2021, as a public holiday.
The declaration, according to a release by the state
commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba is in
honour of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was born on
November 16, 1904.
Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano had in previous
years called on the federal government to recognize the date as a nation-wide
public holiday, in honour of Azikiwe’s contribution to Nigeria.
This year would be the third year Anambra State government,
under Obiano would be observing the birthday anniversary.
Azikiwe was reputed to have led Nigeria to independence on
October 1, 1960, and is popularly known as The Great Zik of Africa because of
his extraordinary Pan-African vision and commitment.
Adinuba in his release said: “It was the Great Zik of Africa
who inspired such outstanding Pan-African leaders as Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana
who led his country to freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957”, Governor
Willie Obiano of Anambra State declared in a statement signed on his behalf by
the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don
Adinuba.
“Zik, who was born in Zungeru in Niger State and grew up in
Calabar and Lagos, studied various disciplines in the United States and remains
the most urbane, cosmopolitan and intellectually engaging of all Nigerian
leaders.
“He remains an unrivalled trailblazer, having established
Nigeria’s first indigenous bank, African Continental Bank and Nigeria’s first
indigenous university, University of Nigeria at Nsukka, among other monumental
and farsighted achievements.”
Governor Obiano in the press ststement reiterated his call
on the Federal Government to declare November 16 a national holiday in memory
of The Great Zik of Africa.
Obiano argued that: “After all, the Ghanaians observe the
birthday of Dr Nkrumah as a national holiday, just the way Tanzanians observe
President Julius Nyerere’s birthday as a national holiday.
“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to
declare November 16 a national holiday.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com