Tinubu, Sultan, Others To Grace Zik Annual Lecture

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the chief guest of honour at this year’s Zik Annual Lecture/Merit Award.

The event is billed to hold Friday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

This was revealed by the director-general of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Lecture/Merit Award, Chief Chineme Onyeke during a chat with journalists yesterday.

Also, to grace the event is the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III who is billed to be the chairman of the occasion, while Zik’s widow, professor emeritus, Dame Uche Azikiwe, will be the mother of the day.

Onyeke said the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, who is the chief host, will declare the event open, while a former governor of Niger State, Alhaji Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (The Chief Servant) will be the keynote speaker.

On the merit award, he listed the personalities as Wike, Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, businessman and employer, Chief Cletus Ibeto; vice chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Nnenna Oti; the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Opaoluwa Ogwuche, Alhaji Jimoh Rauf Badamosi, Professor Tahir Mamman, Pastor Chibuzor of the Omega Power Ministries, among others.

He disclosed that the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is also expected to be in attendance along with a host of other prominent personalities both within and outside the country.

Onyeke said the Zik’s Annual Lecture/Merit Award remains a rallying point for Nigerians to x-ray the various issues bedeviling the nation and find ways of fostering unity and common understanding among Nigerians as espoused by Zik when he was alive.

“Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, whose canvas undoubtedly traversed the entire length and breadth of the African continent, was the first among equals within the colony of our country’s founding fathers.

“Zik stood for the unity of Nigeria even against his personal interest; believing till his last breath in Nigeria as one united country, perpetual and eternal where  though tribe and tongue may differ but brotherhood remains its rock-solid foundation. 

“This is what we need most in the country now; men and women who will rise above self and tribal sentiment; it is a virtue this generation of leaders must imbibe for the country to move forward,” he stressed.

“This forthcoming event promises to be a commemoration of the 119th posthumous birthday anniversary of the visionary leader’s enduring legacy,” he said.