The Airport which was built by the immediate past Governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano is currently undergoing more work in order to give it a full international status.
According to Soludo in his independence anniversary speech he noted that the state government is working with the Federal government to put the necessary infrastructure in place to actualize the dream of Obiano in making the Airport a full international status.
” An example of Africa’s unsung hero is late Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe (Chinua Achebe). Wikipedia describes Achebe as
“a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ‘magnum opus’, Things Fall Apart (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” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964) complete the “African Trilogy”.
“At an auspicious time, I will be able to say a lot more about Achebe’s place in history. Unfortunately some people wrongly think of legacies in terms of brick and mortar. Legacy is about impact on human lifeand human civilization. That is why those who have been celebrated for centuries are not those who built artefacts but those who changed the course of history. Achebe was not a President or Governor or Minister”
“He did not build bridges or roads or airports. But he will outlive most presidents, governors or ministers. Achebe gave the African literature an identity and a voice. In a way, he rightly reconstructed and redefined who we are and we will never forget. Indeed, he was not an Anambra hero, nor a Nigerian hero. He was an African and global hero, and yet largely unsung at home”
“Achebe rejected Nigeria’s National Honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state, Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour Chinua Achebe”
“After wide consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra State than Anambra’s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe (With its escalating population, Anambra will probably need two more airports in the future). Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to CHINUA ACHEBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UMUERI. Yes, it has to be an international airport, and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status”he said.
