Ahead of Anambra State’s 25th anniversary, WALE AJETUNMOBI profiles some of the state’s superstars
Anambra State is 25 but its story transcends its birth and age. It is a story of a land that gave birth to a plethora of gold fish and is still producing, a land saturated with resourceful and enterprising people. As Anambrarians mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of their state, they are also celebrating their iconic sons and daughters who were indeed torchbearers in virtually all human endeavours- men and women who showed the light for other Nigerians to follow.
Modern-day Anambra, which was carved out of the old Anambra, still parades such men and women while some have gone to rest with their creator. In the Southeast, the present-day Enugu and parts of Ebonyi were fathered by Anambra. And this is how: The old Anambra was created out of the defunct East Central state in 1976 with Enugu as capital. A further balkanisation in 1991 during the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida culminated in the division of Anambra into states two- new Anambra and Enugu states. Parts of Enugu and Abia states would later in 1996 form a new state, Ebonyi courtesy the late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha.
When Anambra was created in 1991, Awka was named as its capital. From a mere local government setting 25 years ago, Awka has grown into a bubbling state capital, complete with modern infrastructures. The other two tripod legs on which the state rests are Onistha, Anambra’s commercial nerve centre with its many markets where multi-billion naira articles are traded, and Nnewi, an industrial hub. Nnewi has given Nigeria the gift of almost hundred percent made-in-Nigeria vehicles through Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing company owned by a son of the state and an Nnewi indigene, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma.
Apart from Chukwuma, some of Anambra’s business and industrial icons-business moguls and industrialists whose contributions to the economic growth of the state in particular and Nigeria in general give fillip to Anambra’s “Light of the Nation” slogan- include the late Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, father of the former military governor of the defunct Eastern Region and later Head of state of the defunct Republic of Biafra, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Louis was one of Nigeria’s richest men in the 1950s and 1960s. His business empire endures till date. Anambra is blessed with others such as Eric Umeofia of Erisco tomato fame, Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Group, Ifeanyi Uba of Capital Oil and Gas, Obinna Uzor of Guccuz Group, Athur Eze of Triax Airline among others.
In the entertainment and literary sphere, Anambra boasts of such giants as professor Chinua Achebe of the blessed memory whose famous Things Fall Apart has been translated into more than 50 world languages, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, the author of the timeless Bottled Leopard, Chimamanda Adichie of Half a Yellow Sun fame, the late Cyprian Ekwensi of Drummer Boy, the late Christopher Okigbo whose poetic prowess still resonates almost 50 years after his death, among others.
There are the highly successful musical Twins, P Square, late Highlife music maestros, Steven Osita Osadebe and Sunday Akanite aka Oliver De Coque.
Anambra has also produced many political and military heavyweights and many firsts in Nigeria’s political and military arena. Leading the pack is the late first president of Nigeria and one of Nigeria’s founding father, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first Executive Vice president of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, first President of Nigeria’s Senate, late Dr. Nwafor Orizu, first Quarter Master-General of Nigerian Army and first university graduate to join the service, the late General Ojukwu, the first Igbo man to attain the rank of Lieutenant-General in Nigeria Army, Lt. General Chukwukadia Obiakor, the first Senate President upon the return of democracy in 1999, the late Chuba Okadigbo, Nigeria’s first Speaker of the House of Representatives under the current presidential system of government, late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke.
The state equally parades exceptional great men and women who exceedingly excelled in their chosen careers and appointments, and received avalanche of accolades and effusive praises for exhibiting high sense of honesty, integrity and patriotism in the course of their work. Some of these include former governor Peter Obi, former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo, late Prof Dora Akunyili who made NAFDAC thick, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, Former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, NEC, professor Humphrey Nwosu, the man who developed the fastest Computer in the world, Philip Emeagwali and erudite economist, Pious Okigbo.
In Agulu, one of Anambra’s many urban centres, sits a lake noted for its rich crocodile and sea Turtle content. The Agulu lake is an alluring tourists’ destination but if you are a lover of crocodiles and hope to hunt them in the lake or go a fishing there, then Agulu lake is not your ideal destination. This is because the estimated 400 crocodiles and sea Turtles in the Agulu lake are sacred to the people of the area. The creatures therefore cannot be killed and eaten. Fishing is also not allowed in the lake.
Another tourist centre in Anambra is the ancient Ogbunike cave located in Oyi local government area of the state. Visitors to the cave are enthralled by wonders of nature’s architectural masterpiece which it represents.
There is also the Igboukwu Museum noted for its breathtaking metal crafts and bronze artefacts. Thurstan Shaw, an English archeologist first excavated the bronzes, which were discovered in 1938.
The current Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano is the sixth civilian, democratically elected governor of the state since its creation 25 years ago and the fifth since the return of democracy in 1999. Obiano and his immediate predecessor, Peter Obi have in the last 10 years pulled Anambra away from the doldrums by embarking on massive infrastructural and economic re-invention of the state.
For example, Obiano’s agricultural revolution has ensured that Anambra is now producing rice in commercial quantity. Tagged “Anambra Rice”, bags of the commodity are now sold in markets across Nigeria.
