The Oko community of Anambra State is set to dedicate its remodeled Oko Civic Centre to the memory of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, during a grand ceremony scheduled for January 5, 2024.
The event will be graced by a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, including political figures, business leaders, and prominent members of society. Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, a close ally of the late Vice President, will serve as the special guest of honor and will officially inaugurate the Alex Ekwueme Civic Centre.
In preparation for this momentous occasion, a group of Oko indigenes known as the Ide Memorial Group, led by Chief Handel Okoli, a former Special Assistant to President Obasanjo on Special Duties, has spearheaded the fundraising efforts to transform the community’s civic centre into a multi-million dollar, multipurpose facility.
Chief Handel Okoli expressed the significance of this event, stating, “This dedication ceremony serves as a testament to the life and legacy of Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a man of exceptional character who made immense contributions to the Oko community and Nigeria as a whole.”
He further elaborated, “As brothers and sisters, united by our shared heritage, we have collaborated with the Oko Community leadership to pool our resources and transform our town’s civic centre into a fitting tribute to our revered icon.”
Chief Okoli also announced that Chief Sir Ben Okoye (Onwa Nnewi), a prominent title holder from Nnewi and the Chief Executive Officer of Brass Fertilizer And Petrochemical Company Limited, has graciously accepted to chair this momentous occasion.
The Oko Community leadership, headed by His Royal Highness, Professor Laz Ekwueme, Eze Ijikala II, Igwe Oko, and the Oko People’s Union, led by Comrade Luke Nweke, are working closely with the Alex Ekwueme Memorial Group to ensure a warm and welcoming reception for all guests. The event is anticipated to be a grand celebration of Oko’s heritage, a homecoming for Oko indigenes worldwide, and a fitting tribute to the indelible mark left by Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
