By Gozie Ofonze, Awka
The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has on Sunday 1st October announced that the former Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport will now be known as Chinua Achebe Airport, NewdayReporters learned.
Soludo made this announcement while delivering his speech in commemoration of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.
A statement in the state government’s official page on X confirmed it. According to Anambra New Media Page on X “Governor @CCSoludo Renames the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport to Chinua Achebe International Passenger and Cargo Airport!”. The statement read.
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart written in 1958, occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel.
Along with Things Fall Apart, his No Longer at Ease written in1960 and Arrow of God written in 1964 complete the “African Trilogy”.
Later novels include A Man of the People written in 1966 and Anthills of the Savannah written in 1987.
In the West, Achebe is often referred to as the “father of African literature”.
The legendary writer hailed from Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
