Embrace Values of our Founding Fathers – ABU VC Tells FG

By Praise Chinecherem

Vice-Chancellor, Ahmmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof Kabiru Bala has described Igbo culture and traditions, Onitsha Community in particular as wonderful, outstanding and very impactful.

Bala who spoke to reporters at the 2024 Ofala festival of the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, maintained that a story of a people with culture and well defined identity were clear indication that the people are proud of themselves.

Represented on the occasion by Professor Ahmed Doko Abraham of the University, the Vice- Chancellor, noted that the people who know where they are come from and know themselves have a future.

According to him, it is his dream that Nigeria would recognize the values of the people, especially the values of the founding fathers of the country so that they would embrace and project them to the international community.

He opined that such move, if attained, would make Nigerians be proud of themselves, rather than adopting everything western, hence, projecting the image of our people and their culture.

The University don, who said that a word cannot describe the mutual relationship between the University Community and Obi Achebe as the Chancellor of the University, equally described the royal father as a father to Ahmmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He affirmed that Obi Achebe is outstanding, simple, full of wisdom, fairness, just and broadminded and commended his foresight, adding that each time they were in any form of confusion and consult him that he gives them direction, guidance, and ways they never imagined.

The University boss, while saying that they are proud to be associated with the Traditional Ruler, prayed God to continue to grant him good health, wisdom, and above all, grant his people peace.

On the current committee inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to oversee the demands of the Nigerian Universities, Professor Bala said that this was the first time they are seen light in the end of the tunnel, emphasizing that they are very lucky that the Chairman Governing Council of Ahmmadu Bello University, Zaria, Alhaji Momudu Yalele, former head of service of the federation, was appointed as the Chairman of the negotiation committee.

He expressed hope that this would be the end of the crisis between federal government and the unions of the Nigerian Universities, describing the Chairman of the negotiation Committee, Professor Yalele, as a man of wisdom, well connected with Obi Alfred Achebe.

In another interview, the Vice- Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Enugu State, Reverend Father Professor Christian Anaeke, described Obi Achebe as the Chairman Board of Trustees of scholarship scheme of the University.

He added that Obi Achebe was there live at the inception of the scholarship scheme of the University, saying that from that starting point till date they had awarded scholarship to more than two hundred students under the watch of Obi Achebe.

Father Anaeke, who was represented on the occasion by Mr. Fredrick Ozoilo, said that they came to appreciate the revered royal father for his contributions for development of the University with particular reference to the scholarship scheme of the University, which according to him was designed for less privileged persons in the area .

He, however, prayed God to grant him long life and the opportunity to continue his kindness to humanity, describing the Monarch as the pride and identity of the South -East in terms of culture.

“Last year’s ofala festival of Obi of Onitsha was a global event”, he said.

In separate speeches, the Chairman, Onitsha Sports Club, Chief Dan Okafor, Mr Emmanuel Chukwurah of Ugoamaka age-grade, Onistha, described the event as a moment of stocktaking, thanksgiving to God by Onitsha people for theiru bountiful harvest as well as a period where the people have one- on -one interaction with their Traditional Ruler each year