… Remembers the struggles of an African hero
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe first President of Nigeria may be dead, but the Anambra people would tomorrow Tuesday November 16, 2021 remember him.
To this end, a public holiday has been declared by the Government to honour the great patriot and nationalist who led Nigeria’s independence struggle.
Government in that part of the country is thus, declaring a public holiday to mark the remembrance of the Great Zik of Africa.
According to the Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, “Tuesday, November 16, 2021, has been declared a work-free day in Anambra in honour of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president who was born on November 16, 1904.
“This is the third consecutive year Anambra State is observing the birthday anniversary of the man who 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.
“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
“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 far-sighted achievements.”
“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to declare November 16 a national holiday.”
Many Nigerians indeed shudder at the thought of the neglect of the nation’s heroes who championed the liberation of the country from the clutches of colonialism.
It is not clear what the plan of the Federal Government is, but Nigerians think the nation ought to do more to acknowledge their contributions and keep their memories alive.