By Esther Onyegbula

LAGOS—It was, indeed, a day of tributes yesterday for the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, as dignitaries from all walks of life gathered to pay him tributes for promoting and showcasing excellence in his life time.

The event witnessed epic renditions from students of the University of Lagos,  coordinated by Professor Merini and Dr. Nnabuihe.

Some of the rendition include “Paradise, the holy city”, written by Steve Adams, amongst others.

Speaking on the occasion, Arthur Mbanefo referred to late icon as a man everyone must look up to because depicted honour integrity, and self confidence.

“What he depicts is not a myth; he tried to practice what he wrote about, something that very few people have done in Nigeria.

“Achebe played honest politics; he stood his ground at all times. He stood straight till the end, he refused the highest national honours because he felt that the hands that would give him that honour are not clean enough,” he said.

Chinua Achebe

In his tribute, Prof. Anya O. Anya extolled Aka Ikenga for organising the event, and noted that Prof. Chinua Achebe was his next door neighbour.

He said:  “God has kept Igbo nation for the future. Achebe was never a minister or government official but was so celebrated all over the world.

“ He was defined by whom he was; a humble, simple and intelligent, though he was not perfect as no one is. His life challenges the Igbo people to carry on the legacy he has left behind.”

Prof. George Obiozor described Achebe as a world figure, an African and Igbo man to the core, adding that in his last works, ‘There Was A Country,” he spoke his mind with candor and intelligence without fear or favour.

Agunze Ikokwu, who spoke on behalf of Achebe’s family, said  “as we celebrate the iconic writer, Nigerians must try and learn lessons of his past.”
He enjoined all to pray for those Achebe left behind to maintain the peace and harmony that had reigned in the family.

Prof. Pat Utomi chose to perform a poetic rendition in which he eulogised Achebe as the Eagle on the Iroko tree whose achievements imparted the lives of people worldwide.

Pro Ndubuisi Kanu said people who did not even read Achebe’s ‘There Was A Country” also had the opportunity to make comments on the great book because it came from a man of Achebe’s calibre.

Some of the dignitaries that graced the event which was hosted by Aka Ikenga are: Professor Uzodinmma Nwala, Chido Obidegwu, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, amongst others.