By Ify Obi
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, has unveiled the Ojukwu Legacy Award as an honour to late Biafran leader and Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Disclosing this yesterday in a press conference at Igbariam, The Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha who used the occasion to unveil activities marking the 25th anniversary of the institution and combined convocation said the Ojukwu Legacy Award project is considered very prime to the institution because of who Ojukwu represents globally.
She enlisted activities lined up for the double event to include; charity walk, back to roots event at the first campus of the university, founders and heritage day cultural carnival, convocation lecture, award of honorary doctorate and awards of degrees.
Unveiling the first set of recipients of the Ojukwu Legacy Award, Prof. Omenugha disclosed that the likes of the former speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Late Rt Hon Barth Onugbolu, former governor of Anambra State, Late Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, renowned businessman, Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo and first Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Cornelius Ezekwe would receive the award.
Late Hon Onugbolu was chosen because he was the speaker of Anambra Assembly under whom the law establishing the university was passed while Late Dr Mbadinuju was governor of the state who set up the university which was formally known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology, before it was changed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in 2014.
.She stated that they intend to make the award a legacy project, noting that recipients must be people who can bring legacies to the university and must embody some of the traits Ojukwu was known for which included; courage, resilience, oratory and others.
According to her, two of the recipients are posthumous and two are alive.
Other categories of awards to be presented during the weeklong event include; award to 25 alumni of the institution, awards to facilitators of the establishment of the university in its temporary site at Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area and award of honorary doctorate degrees.
Prof Omenugha also disclosed that a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Forth Dike and businessman, ABC Orjiakor will equally receive awards for their role in establishing the university, while wife of the governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo; traditional ruler of Ogidi kingdom, Igwe Alex Onyido; Chairman Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) South East, Ada Chukwudozie, Engr Chidozie Mbanefo and Chief Christopher Ndubuisi will also be honored.
The event would commence with a fitness walk today Saturday 17th May 2025 with a roadshow from the medical campus of the university to the Anambra State House of Assembly complex.