By Our correspondent
Anambra State International Convention Centre (ICC),Awka will be named after the immediate past governor of the state Chief Willie Obiano, the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has said.
This is coming when every expection is the Anambra International CargoAirport, Umueri, near Obiano’s Aguleri hometown, would be named after the immediate past governor who singlehandedly built airport.
Already Obiano’s effigy is conspicuously placed at the airport to apparently show a kind of hereditament.
When Obiano left, there were glamours from many quarters to name the airport after him to pay him for realizing an objective that eluded the state for over 30 years.
A source who would not want to be named , said Soludo may be reserving the naming of the airport after a former Vice president of Nigeria, the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was his( Soludo’s) mentor.
Obiano simultaneously built the International Convention Centre and the Anambra International Cargo Airport during the twilight of his administration
But during the Anambra Investment Summit 2023 held at the ICC, Awka on Thursday,Soludo gave the hint that the centre would be named after Obiano.
Soludo said the naming of ICC after Obiano would be in recognition of his immense contribution to the development of the state.
The Anambra State investment summit had the theme ” Laying The Foundation for a Prosperous Smart Mega City”
According to Soludo, who commended the past governor for his vision to build the edifice said Obiano deserved the honour.
The governor said though he had not inform Obiano about his plans ,he( Obiano) deserved to be honoured by naming the centre after him.
He said time has come to honour every Anambra leader who had made meaningful contributions to the development of the state.
He said,”The International Conference Centre ICC,Awka will be name after Chief Willie Obiano for his vision. We will also find other institutions to name after other past governors like Chief Emeka Ezeife, Dr Chris Nhige , Peter Obi.
“We will also honour other Ndi Anambra people who had contributed immensely to the development of the state.”
He also stated that for those who had been making sacrificethe state government would design awards to appreciate them.
According to him, in the recognition, the state would consider on what the person has done to the development of the state , number of people in his/ her employment.
