The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party and a former Anambra state governor, Mr Peter Obi, has said that the Igbos are more disposed to write and tell the world of their own history, culture, heritage and events as measure of defining the future more than other any other.
Obi made the insight at the unveiling of a compendium of Igbo heritage, events and achievers, named,’IGBO BOOK OF RECORDS”, together by two veteran Journalists,Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
Obi, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Valentine Obinyan, described the compendium as a masterpiece that encompasses various tradition, culture and way of life of the ancient Igbo race by which they rose to stardom through dints of hard work than the present era of being in the fast lane.
He commended the two veteran Journalists for the good work and described the compendium as a renaissance of the Igbo nation.
“It is an entirely a reinsurance of Igbonation.The authors have done a great thing for the Igbo race Now the Igbos have a book of records”
The 2023 LP presidential candidate tasked Ndigbo to be good ambassadors of the Igbo race stating the Igbos are the best to tell the world about their history.
He said the vision of the authors in coming up with the compendium Igbo book of Records’ aligns with a book on India where some Indian authors wrote about their culture, their great founders.
He mentioned Jewish philosophers and writers have also written famous books and even the Holy Bible through which the world knows their history and civilization etc.
An associate Professor, Mrs Rebecca Nnamani In her lecture delivered at the event,advocated for the revival of Igbo culture as a gateway of redefining Igbo future.
She said the Igbo race earlier were known for hard work, resilience and the spirit of enterprise.
She stated,”Our ancestors valued reasoning, strategic thinking and planning. We must encourage intellectualism,we must promote our culture and language”.
Prof.Nnamani advised that Igbos must reject laziness and mediocrity,instead should imbibe hardwork, resilience and perseverance so as to reclaim our lost values.
“When we talk of perseverance,No ethnic group in Africa has demonstrated resilience more than the Igbos.A people who worked tirelessly to shape their destiny were the Igbos of origin. Igbos create, they do not fold their hands but innovate.
She further advocated for a re awakening of the Igbo spirit of enterprise.
“It requires a radical action. A re awakening of the system that produced billionaires. The Jappa syndrome shouldn’t be in Igbo land.
Igbos have suffered economic strangulation and marginalization but still survives,” Prof. Nnamani buttressed.
A veteran Journalist,Barr.Uche Maduemesi, who received the book also poured encomium of the authors, Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
Earlier in his address, Nze Sam Nwanze, said the objectives of the book is in line with the policy of the parent body ‘Igbo Achievers Foundation registered in 2018 to champion the Igbo cause of recovering our lost values as a panacea for enhancing intellectualism, research and authentic information on the Igbo race.
Part of his address reads,”The book is meant to be a compendium where authentic and well researched issues on Igbo culture, Tradition,Events and genuine Achievers can be found.
“As an annual publication,we must make sure we don’t depart from this policy.In this way, Igbos and others including foreigners who are seeking genuine and authentic information and materials for research or personal knowledge can take us seriously and see the book as a one- stop resource for the information they seek”.
The compendium comprises of six parts of insightful topics about the history, culture and heritage of the Igbo nation.
Part one consists of a detailed article on the Origin of the Igbo race written by Prof.Aloezi,Kola nut in Igbo culture also written by Prof Aloezi and an account of the Nigeria- Biafra Civil war, written by Prof.Achebe.
Part two of the compendium gives an insight of the South East Governor’s and their profiles.
Part three outlined the fifty winners in the Igbo Achievers list while part five emphasized on past Igbo heroes.
Part five of the compendium also analysed late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s opinionated account of late Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, His roles during the war and more.
