BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi on Wednesday unveiled ‘Igbo Book of Records’ in Enugu with a call on Ndigbo to tell their own history.
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A compendium of Igbo heritage, events and achievers, titled: ’IGBO BOOK OF RECORDS”, was authored by two Veteran Journalists, Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
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Obi said that Igbo are more disposed to write and tell the world of their own history, culture, heritage and events as measure of defining the future more than other any other.
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The 2023 presidential candidate, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Valentine Obinyan, described the compendium as a masterpiece that encompasses various tradition, culture and way of life of the ancient Igbo race by which they rose to stardom through dints of hardwork than the present era of being in the fast lane.
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Obi commended the two veteran Journalists for the good work and described the compendium as a renaissance of the Igbo nation.
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“It is an entirely a reinsurance of Igbonation.The authors have done a great thing for the Igbo race Now the Igbos have a book of records”
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The 2023 LP presidential candidate tasked Ndigbo to be good ambassadors of the Igbo race stating the Igbo are the best to tell the world about their history.
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According to him, the vision of the authors in coming up with the compendium Igbo book of Records’ aligned with a book on India where some Indian authors wrote about their culture, their great founders.
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He noted that Jewish philosophers and writers had also written famous books and even the Holy Bible through which the world knows their history and civilization etc.
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An Associate Professor, Mrs Rebecca Nnamani In her lecture delivered at the event, advocated the revival of Igbo culture as a gateway of redefining Igbo future, pointing out that Igbo ppeople are known for hard work, resilience and spirit of enterprise.
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Nnamani stated, ”Our ancestors valued reasoning, strategic thinking and planning. We must encourage intellectualism, we must promote our culture and language”.
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She advised that Igbo must reject laziness, mediocrity and imbibe hardwork, resilience and perseverance so as to reclaim Igbo lost values.
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“When we talk of perseverance,No ethnic group in Africa has demonstrated resilience more than the Igbos.A people who worked tirelessly to shape their destiny were the Igbos of origin. Igbos create, they do not fold their hands but innovate.
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She further advocated a re awakening of the Igbo spirit of enterprise.
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“It requires a radical action. A re awakening of the system that produced billionaires. The Jappa syndrome shouldn’t be in Igbo land. Igbo have suffered economic strangulation and marginalization but still survives,” she added.
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A veteran Journalist, Dr Uche Maduemesi, who reviewed the book also poured encomium of the authors, Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
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Maduemesi who is also a lawyer took time to x-ray all the parts of the book, stressing that ‘Igbo Book of Records is a must read.
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Earlier in his address, Nze Sam Nwanze, said the objectives of the book is in line with the policy of the parent body ‘Igbo Achievers Foundation registered in 2018 to champion the Igbo cause of recovering our lost values as a panacea for enhancing intellectualism, research and authentic information on the Igbo race.
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Parts of his address read: ”The book is meant to be a compendium where authentic and well researched issues on Igbo culture, Tradition,Events and genuine Achievers can be found.
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“As an annual publication,we must make sure we don’t depart from this policy.In this way, Igbos and others including foreigners who are seeking genuine and authentic information and materials for research or personal knowledge can take us seriously and see the book as a one- stop resource for the information they seek”.
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The compendium comprises of six parts of insightful topics about the history, culture and heritage of the Igbo nation.
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Part one consists of a detailed article on the Origin of the Igbo race written by Prof.Aloezi, Kolanut in Igbo culture also written by Prof Aloezi and an account of the Nigeria- Biafra Civil war, written by Prof.Achebe.
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Part two of the compendium gives an insight of the South East Governor’s and their profiles.
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Part three outlined the fifty winners in the Igbo Achievers list while part five emphasized on past Igbo heroes.
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Part five of the compendium also analysed late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s opinionated account of late Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, His roles during the war, etc.
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The highpoints of the event were unveiling of the book and inauguration of the 7-man award committee members chaired by Archbishop Emeritus, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma.
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The Committee is for selection of Annual Best Southeast Governor of the year.
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