Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra has said that the state had been promoting and projecting Igbo culture and tradition with a view to bringing back the values and morals the Igbo were known for.
Obiano made the remark while receiving the executive committee of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Women Worldwide who paid him a courtesy visit in Awka on Saturday.
According to the governor, “machinery are in motion to instill “think home philosophy’’in Ndi-Igbo Diaspora so that Anambra and the entire Igbo race will be developed like other developed societies.”
He assured that the goal would be achieved admist a secure atmosphere and availability of business opportunities to which many indigenous investors have keyed into.
The governor noted that unity of purpose would promote one indivisible entity and a common force to achieve tangible goals for the advancement of the Igbo race in general.
Obiano, who extolled the women for coming together to champion the cause of the Igbo, advised them to interface with other women groups.
The leader of the group, Mrs. Nkiru Adimachukwu, said the visit was to show appreciation over the re-naming of the state’s Women Development Centre after the late Prof. Dora Akunyili.
Adimachukwu said such a gesture would encourage others to be patriotic and work hard to place the state in an enviable position on the map.
She told the governor: “This shows that hard work is being appreciated in the state. Akunyili was too patriotic and left footprints on the sands of time that would be difficult to erase.
“Your gesture would spur other women in striving to leave good footprints like her. Akunyili stood as a role model and a reference point to all ages”, she said.
Adimachukwu added that the executives equally came to sympathise with the state over the recent loss of lives in ghastly auto crashes at Onitsha on May 31 and at Umuchu on Oct. 12.
The leader commended the governor for responding speedily to the victims and for organising mass burial for the deceased.
She said the group planned to hold an Igbo summit aimed at letting the Igbos in diaspora to know the importance of investing at home.
The legal adviser of the group, Mrs. Ifeoma Igboanugo said the group numbering 25,000, were indebted to the governor for exhibiting high level of humanitarian service to 25 prisoners.
Igboanugo said the governor not only granted them amnesty and reintegrated them; he also gave them one million naira each for them to pick up the bits of their lives.
The adviser prayed God to continue to give the governor wisdom and that the group would be ready to support the government in a bid to move the state higher.
Igbonugo also pledged the group’s support for the governor’s second term tenure. (NAN)
