Governor says Igbo culture is protected in Anambra

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said the State had been promoting and projecting Igbo culture and tradition with a view to bringing back the values and morals the Igbos were known for.

Obiano made the remark while receiving the executive committee of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Women World Wide who paid him a courtesy visit in Awka on Saturday.

According to the governor, machineries are in motion to instil ``think home philosophy’’, in Ndi-Igbo in diasporas so that Anambra and the entire Igbo race will be developed like other developed societies.

He assured that the goal would be achieved in a secure atmosphere and provision of business opportunities to which many indigenous investors have keyed into.

He called for unity among Igbo women both at home and in diasporas for promotion of one indivisible entity.

Obiano, who extolled the women for coming together to champion the cause of the Igbos, advised them to interface with other women group.

The leader of the group, Mrs Nkiru Adimachukwu, said the visit was to show appreciation over re-naming the state’s Women Development Centre after late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

Adimachukwu said such gesture would encourage others to be patriotic and work hard to place the state in an enviable map.

"This shows that hard work is being appreciated in the state. Akunyili was too patriotic and left foot prints on the sand 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 service and mass burial for the dead.

She said the group planned to hold Igbo summit aimed at letting the Igbos in diasporas to know the importance of investing in their area.

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