…as Oko indigenes declare Ekwueme as founder

By O’star Eze

As part of efforts to immortalise late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s former vice president and founder of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Orumba North LGA, Anambra State, the college’s staff and Oko indigenes have called on the federal government to convert the institution to a federal university of technology and rename it Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology.

Speaking to Orient Daily during a colloquium recently in Oko, as one of the polytechnic’s scheduled activities to pay last respects to her founder, the Public Relations Officer, Onuchukwu Obini, said that the Federal Polytechnic, Oko was late Ekwueme’s brainchild and therefore deserves to be named after him.

He said that the institution had been persuading the federal government to rename the institution after her founder and as well upgrade the school to a federal university of technology given that it has attained the human and physical resource capacity to make the transition.

“Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme was the founder of Federal Polytechnic, Oko. This is why we have been calling for an upgrade and rename of the institution just as was done for other elder statesmen like Obafemi Awolowo. With the present demise of the founder, we believe it is high time the federal government gave our prayers serious consideration.

“We have enough infrastructure, enough Ph.D. holders, enough landmass, enough manpower, enough teaching aids and every other thing it would take to make the transition to a federal university a smooth one. So, let the pronouncement be made and we will take it up from there.”

Obini said beside the ongoing colloquium in honor of late elder statesman, which Oko Poly is hosting in conjunction with Old Aguata Union and Oko community, the institution has declared February 1 and 2 public holidays to enable staff and students attend and participate in funeral activities.

He added that the institution has made their academic environment available for the burial activities.

In the same vein, Dr. Allen Nwosu, a lecturer of the federal polytechnic said that Ekwueme placed Oko on the map of the world, his foundation helped a lot of indigent ones to gain western education and was the chief patron of education in Aguata.

“He helped a lot of Aguata people travel outside the country to advance their studies and exposure. The community hospital and the federal polytechnic were all his initiatives and the list continues of the modernisation Alex Ekwueme attracted to Oko community and Old Aguata,” he said.

He said that gaining employment in the polytechnic as an indigene helped him to advance his academic pursuit up to doctorate degree level, stating that he would remain indebted to Late Ekwueme for this.

“Judging from the foregoing, the institution is long overdue for bearing late Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s name,” he said.

Honourable Nwammuo Ike Cyprain, the national president of Oko People’s Union, described the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme as an illustrious son of Oko as well as a father, adding that Ide Aguata was so patriotic that he single-handedly developed Oko, having laid the foundation that led to accelerated development of the community.

These, he said, are the motivators for the efforts being made by the federal and state government as well as the community to give him a befitting burial.

“Roads are being patched, streetlights are being set up and structures being erected to see that late Ekwueme is given a befitting burial,” he said.

Continuing, Nwamuo said, “Oko community loves Ekwueme. During his lifetime, he was peaceful, unassuming and approachable. We intend to set up a structure of Ekwueme in bronze at the Civic Centre.”

He disclosed that Ekwueme had commenced the process of setting up a skill acquisition College in Oko few weeks to his demise and that the committee will ensure that the project is completed and named after Ekwueme, while calling on the federal government to “do the needful by immortalising him and naming Federal Polytechnic, Oko after Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme.”

“We are trying to see if we can continue from where he stopped as a composite body. During Ekwueme’s time, he was a one-man army. He will be remembered as the frontier of democracy being the founder of People’s Democratic Party and therefore deserves to be immortalised,” he said.

Chief Austin Ezeobele, a member of Oko Nze n’ Ozo told Orient Daily that given that late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, was their member as well as Ide Oko and Ide Aguata, he will be accorded all the traditional rites befitting a man of his status.

“Ekwueme was the only man who saw gain and called his brethren to it, a feat that is not normal. He was a cheerful giver, a philanthropist par excellence and deserves to be given all the honour he wants.”

Another Oko native, Mrs. Lucy Ezeokafor, said the reason late Alex was given the title “Ide”(pillar) was because of his role as a pillar for Oko as well as Old Aguata in general.

“He built Oko community when there was no hospital in Old Aguata as a whole. A lot of lives was saved thus. Though his father died when he was a toddler and his family was poor, Ekwueme was diligent and intelligent and went through school with scholarship. God blessed him with wisdom which he consolidated on when he travelled outside the country and when he came back he started implementing it in developing his community as well as his country at large.

“Ekwueme was a very benevolent man who loved helping people but would never make noise about it,” she said.

`source
https://orientdailynews.com.ng/south-east/okopoly-staff-students-school-named/

I no longer celebrate First to comment, it's a common thing for me.

Pa Ekwueme...laa nke oma! Rue mgbe anyi ga ahu n'eligwe.

1

Ok

they should rename UNN instead

Cool

space booked

Since I became a Nigerian till now I haven't heard of this university before so who cares??
Fulanis killings should be the main focus

Not a bad idea

Who him help

Nigerians and misplaced priorities.

coalcoal1:
they should rename UNN instead

Why? the first indigenous University.

CHAIIIIIIIIIIIIII WHAT A MIRACLE.
.
.
.

Alex Ekwueme died and in 1week Oko in ANAMBRA STATE has street lights everywhere, In 1week d bad road from to Ekwulobia to Oko has been reconstructed, in 1week the walls of Saint John Anglican Church (ie the church next to ekwueme's house) has been rebuilt, in 1week a field filled with air conditioned tents has been mounted just in one week!!! IF THE DEATH OF PROMINENT MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT WILL SAVE THIS COUNTRY , THEN LET MORE ....

My prayer: Father lord, there are many roads in the south east that needs attention. so my God pls take note these individuals are still alive
(1) Chris Ngige
(2) Ken Nnamanni
(3) chinwoke mbadinuju
(4) Sullivan chime
(5) ezeife
(6) Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwodo
(7) Rochas Anayo Okorocha etc
I did not say u should kill them oh but we need our roads to be done. Ndi ara

why

lonelydora:
I no longer celebrate First to comment, it's a common thing for me.

Pa Ekwueme...laa nke oma! Rue mgbe anyi ga ahu n'eligwe.

Thats because you eat and sleep on nairaland

It's better to change the name sef because the first half of the name "Oko" means different thing to some parts of the country...... But I wont interpret it because most of the readers are still under 18.......

lonelydora:
CHAIIIIIIIIIIIIII WHAT A MIRACLE.
.
.
.

Alex Ekwueme died and in 1week Oko in ANAMBRA STATE has street lights everywhere, In 1week d bad road from to Ekwulobia to Oko has been reconstructed, in 1week the walls of Saint John Anglican Church (ie the church next to ekwueme's house) has been rebuilt, in 1week a field filled with air conditioned tents has been mounted just in one week!!! IF THE DEATH OF PROMINENT MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT WILL SAVE THIS COUNTRY , THEN LET MORE ....

My prayer: Father lord, there are many roads in the south east that needs attention. so my God pls take note these individuals are still alive
(1) Chris Ngige
(2) Ken Nnamanni
(3) chinwoke mbadinuju
(4) Sullivan chime
(5) ezeife
(6) Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwodo
(7) Rochas Anayo Okorocha etc
I did not say u should kill them oh but we need our roads to be done. Ndi ara

LOLZ

SAVAGERY AT IT'S PEAK!!




e go make sense o olisa doh put hand!!!

OrientDailyNews:





`source
https://orientdailynews.com.ng/south-east/okopoly-staff-students-school-named/

Go and call off d strike in okopoly first b4 u start talking abt dis. we are tired of staying at home

Ok

Alex Ekwueme Polytechnic Oko
Anambra State

lonelydora:
CHAIIIIIIIIIIIIII WHAT A MIRACLE.
.
.
.

Alex Ekwueme died and in 1week Oko in ANAMBRA STATE has street lights everywhere, In 1week d bad road from to Ekwulobia to Oko has been reconstructed, in 1week the walls of Saint John Anglican Church (ie the church next to ekwueme's house) has been rebuilt, in 1week a field filled with air conditioned tents has been mounted just in one week!!! IF THE DEATH OF PROMINENT MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT WILL SAVE THIS COUNTRY , THEN LET MORE ....

My prayer: Father lord, there are many roads in the south east that needs attention. so my God pls take note these individuals are still alive
(1) Chris Ngige
(2) Ken Nnamanni
(3) chinwoke mbadinuju
(4) Sullivan chime
(5) ezeife
(6) Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwodo
(7) Rochas Anayo Okorocha etc
I did not say u should kill them oh but we need our roads to be done. Ndi ara

No! Okorocha won't die for. Now,bcus he has to build statues for all of dem one after d oda as dey die

Nigeria with unnecessary immortalization all the time,both waranted and unwaranted.Am sure Fulani people will rquest to rename Nigerai Buhari when he dies. Federal republic of Buhari
Currency--- 200BHR
Shortcode----BHR
Official name---Buharians
Federalcapital----Daura
Elderstateman------Yusuf buhari
OfficialLanguage---Fulani
LinguaFranca-----Hausa
Tourist centre----Daura cattle colony
Populapastor---Apostle suleman
OfficialfootballTeam----kano pillars
Religion-----islam

EKWUEME was great and greater even on bed,do you know how many marriages ekwueme ruined or how many kids he had out of wedlock,well law students should know about Ekwueme vs Megwualu,He ruined the latter life,had two kids for him which the latter tut was his,well marriage dissolved and ekwueme took the kids to Canada,

He was a wise man by selling all his properties all over the country cos the war at his house would be great.

To me He was a great man but used his greatness to the disavantage of women.The man can Bleep but today his manhood is sleeping.


Oko prisons should be named after him and not the poly.
Adieu ekwueme,

Now that Ekwueme is dead
I hope Oko indigenes should start selling their lands so that people from outside should come in and erect good buildings for us
It's long overdue biko,

If only every igbo man that was ever in power did something lyk dis, u will not hear anyone screaming biafria

You will live long for saying the truth. I Like those that follow history properly, and not just being sentimental.

Adieu great man....it is only a fool that will call him coward.....dat persons generation will never be like ekwueme's...on your television and see biography of a great man.....road close,no movement,public holidays in the state from 2moro cause a king is coming home....rest on IDE Ndi igbo

Adieu Baba #Alex Ekwueme....