A renowned novelist, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike, on Wednesday urged the federal and state governments to establish creative writers workshops in secondary schools to encourage the growth of arts.
Paying tribute to the late Prof. Chinua Achebe at the Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State on Wednesday, Ike said there was the need to rekindle the literary enthusiasm, which Achebe ignited with his Things Fall Apart in 1958.
He said this could be done by setting up such workshops where they could be accessed by school children.
“I have written to the Anambra State Government and I also urge the Federal Government to do the same so that our schools will be places where we can train more Chinua Achebes,” he said.
In his tribute, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, said the late ‘Eagle on the Iroko’ was a world figure who brought fame and prestige.
Mark, who was represented by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said Achebe’s death was a great loss to his family, the country, Africa and humanity at large.
“He was a world figure who brought fame and prestige to Africa. He is worthy of emulation and his death is a great loss to humanity,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Chris Ngige described the late Achebe as a welfarist, politician and fearless person who stood on the side of the down-trodden.
Ngige commended Achebe for rejecting the last two honours awarded him by the government on the grounds that his state was in crisis.
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State thanked the guests for their love and concern as he had always enjoyed support anytime there was need to identify with the state.
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili, urged Obi to immortalise the literary icon by naming a higher institution in the state after him.
Nwaebili noted that Achebe had made the state proud and placed the Igbo on the map of the literary world.
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, described Achebe as a man of values and not of things acquired.
Ezekwesili said the world mourned Achebe because of what he stood for.
“He did not live for something but values and character that would turn evil away,” she said.
Ngige (Anambra Central) described the late novelist as “an honest man, one who fights and stands for the truth at his own expense.”
The Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Boniface Egboka, said Achebe was a pathfinder and mentor in the academia and the university had resolved to immortalise him with the Achebe annual lecture.
Egboka also called on the state and federal governments to immortalise him by naming a university after him.
The Chairman of the Anambra State chapter of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Elder Chris Elumunoh, described the death of the great novelist as a huge loss.
Elumunoh noted that his strong will on truth, fairness and patriotism to the cause of the Igbo would remain evergreen.
Achebe died on March 21 in Boston, United States of America at 82.
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