THE immediate past president general of the Ohaneze Ndigbo World-Wide, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, has advised the Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA) to engage their Igbo counterpart in regular discussions with a view to addressing certain issues bordering the nation.
Ozichukwu said this in Owerri at the weekend after receiving a “Golden Leadership Excellence Award” from the Yoruba Youths Assembly (YYA), whose membership is drawn from the six South-West states and the Yoruba-speaking areas of Kogi and Kwara states.
He said that what the two strong ethnic groups in the country deservecross breeding of ideas to be able to address some of the challenges facing the regions and the larger nation Nigeria.
He said: “All we need is cross breeding of ideas. There is need for both bodies to meet themselves either in a seminars/workshop to fashion out more robust ideas for the country.”
The Igbo leader described the award as ‘the past being carried into the future,” assuring not to go back but to to improve on the things that earned him the honour.
He said: “I am shot of words, but must thank God at the same time pray to God to sustain their endeavours to encourage people to do their best to the society to be appreciated and recorgnised.”
Presenting the award, the delegation of Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA), led by their president, Honourable Olarinde Thomas, said the award was in recognition of Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu’s contributions to national growth, development and excellence service to the nation.
He said: “The award is in appreciation and recorgnition of the impressive profiles and records of landmark accomplishments both in public and private sector by the Igbo leader.”
Thomas said that the choice of the Nze Ozichukwu came after a thorough consultations and search by both the apex Yoruba Youths, Yoruba leaders including the revered Obas.
The president said that the achievements of Nze Ozichukwu towards the advancement of Nigerian economy, especially in financial institutions and in the political space, as well as his advancement of democracy and good governance, organisational capability has earned him a name over the years, with untainted and unblemished records.
He said: “for many decades, Nze Ozichukwu has demonstrated some rare qualities which has towered him above his peers. He is a man of great intellectual capacity.”
The YYA President described Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu as an administrative guru, a cerebral thinker, a community builder, a renowned reformer and a humanitarian per excellence.
He charged both present and past leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo to provide the direction and set the pace for the journey of life for the people destined to be Igbo man and women.
In his remarks, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly Hon. Chike Olemgbe described the former PG Ohaneze Ndigbo World Wide, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu as one who has impacted positively in the lives of many Imo people and the larger society.
While he prayed for a longer life of the Igbo leader, the state lawmaker representing Ihitte/Uboma state constituency expressed appreciation on the selfless services of the Ozichukwu.
The current national publicity secretary of the Ohaneze Ndigbo World-Wide, Dr Ezechi Chukwu while expressing joy for the honour done to Nze Chukwu, described him as a leader endowed with ideas and leadership qualities
He said that with the honour done to him, Nze Ozichukwu has added another feather to his cap, adding that the former PG has initiated a mechanism quite unprecedented that would continue to propel the current leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
High point of the ceremony was the decoration and presentation of leadership award to the former PG of Ohaneze Ndigbo by the Yoruba Youth Assembly delegation made up of the President Hon. Olarinde Thomas, Adeosun Williams- President Yoruba Study Group, Gold Wumi, Waheed Olaide, and Abass Abayomi.
Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the immediate past PG Ohaneze Ndigbo World-wide receiving award from the leadership of Yoruba Youth Assembly YYA led by Hon. Olarinde Thomas in Owerri Friday
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