As preparations towards the Abia at 30 Commemorative Lecture to be held at the Abuja International Conference Center hits its final stage, the Abia Book of Legacies a compendium of notable events and remarkable individuals that has contributed in building the socio-economic development of the state and Nigerian nation at large, which shall be presented to the public, has been reviewed and given an excellent mark by Prof. Greg Ibe the founder and Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu.
The compendium revisited the pre-independence history of Nigeria, hinged on the communities that made up the present Abia, and recounted vital history of the state from the Aro Confederacy of 1690 to 1902 which culminated with the Anglo-Aro war of 1901 to 1902 that also led to the assumed destruction of the Ibini Ukpabi shrine.
It also gave a detailed account of the Aba Women Riot of 1929 ,the rise of the Made in Aba industry as well as narrating the Abiriba’s business ingenuity and their contribution to the economic rise of Abia with self initiated industries that accelerated Abia as a destination of choice for commercial activities.
“Posterity will also be kind to the personable and notable Abians of diverse profession identified in this book to have contributed to the development Abia state in particular and the Nigerian nation in general.” Prof. Gregory Ibe said.
The Compendium was dedicated to Abians of great repute and elder statesmen like the foremost Nigerian educationist Dr. Alvan Azinna Ikoku and ex Nigeria Military Head of State Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi as well as Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd).
A section of the compendium narrated the legacies of senior icons of the state from the industrialist Sam Ohuabunwa of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, the great evangelist Rev Dr. Umah Ukpai, Chief Allen Nwachukwu that constructed 3 new markets in Aba as well as Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika.
The compendium which is compiled to serve as a literature to mentor the Nigerian youths and shape their ambitions to lofty dreams, also featured profile of 30 most inspiring Abians of the last 3 decades which is led by the founder of Master’s Energy Hon. Uche Ogah , the Cancer Vision Goggle inventor Samuel Achilefu, first female pilot of Nigeria Chinyere Kalu and Nigeria’s Aeronautical Engineer with America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Chima Nwafor alongside other notable 25 others.
The Compendium will be presented at the Abuja International Conference center during the Abia @30 Commemorative Lecture on the theme Memorizing the past,Deconstructing the present and Re-Imagining the future of Gods own state with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah expected as the guest speaker.
