By Ovat Abeng
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has received the “Chinua Achebe Award of Excellence” from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter in recognition of his immortalization of the father of Africa Literature, Professor Chinua Achebe.
Governor Soludo received the award at the 2024 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture organized by the society held at the Professor Kenneth Dike Central E-Library, Awka, on Saturday.
Receiving the award at the event with the theme, “Remembering Achebe in a time like this”, Governor Soludo represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi acknowledged the contributions made by the African literary icon to the state which he said was why he immortalized him and asked the students to aim to follow the footsteps of Professor Achebe as a role model, underscoring that they now have better opportunities to excel more than Achebe.
Earlier while presenting the award to Governor Soludo, the State Coordinator of the society and convener of the event, comrade Izunna Okafor, thanked the Governor for listening to their cries by immortalizing Professor Achebe after over seven years of his demise.