Izuchukwu Okosi
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The good name of late Professor Chinua Achebe, one of Africa’s greatest novelists and essayists has continued to resonate with the medical and science feat of his second son making his state, Anambra, very proud reports Prime Business Africa.
Anambra state outgoing governor Dr Willie Obiano and the incoming state governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo have both expressed their elation to the winning of the 2022 prestigious John and Samuel Bard Award in the United States for excellence in medicine and science of Dr Chidi Achebe.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba conveyed the goodwill messages of his excellencies to Dr Chidi whose father won several literary awards.
“This is a parting gift to me and the Anambra people as I am about to depart office after eight years of giving my best to a great state”, Adinuba quoted Chief Obiano as saying.
“Professor Chinua Achebe remains a very great man even in the grave, and it is reassuring that his children like Chidi, a medical doctor who trained in some of the best institutions in the world, is steeped in the tradition of global excellence,” the governor added.
On his part, former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Soludo who edged out PDP’s Valentine Ozigbo for the Anambra gubernatorial seat of power after the election on 6 November 2021 described the younger Achebe as a distinguished and worthy ‘ambassador of the state.
“The younger Achebe is acutely conscious of his roots and belongs to an ever increasing number of Anambra indigenes keenly interested in contributing actively to a new dawn in our beloved state”
“He is a pan Africanist of the finest hue,” Soludo affirms.
Achebe is the Chief Executive of African Integrated Development Enterprise (AIDE) which is building 18 health facilities across Africa, starting with Nigeria and Kenya.
The 2022 Bard College Awards will hold on Friday, May 27, as part of the Commencement and Reunion Weekend.
Recalled Leon Botstein, president of Bard College in New York said: “The John and Samuel Bard Award is named for the two 18th-century physicians, father and son, whose descendant, John Bard, founded the college.
“The award honors scientists whose achievements demonstrate the breadth of concern and depth of commitment that characterized these pioneer physicians. Previous recipients have included Nobel laureates Linus Pauling and Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, as well as Mathilde Krim and Lewis Thomas.
“The medal was presented for the first time to an alumnus in 1990, and since then the tradition of honoring those close to the college has continued, with such recipients as László Z. Bitó ’60, Ann Ho ’62, George Rose ’63, Kathryn Stein ’66, Ilyas Washington ’96, and Drs. Gabrielle H. Reem and Herbert J. Kayden, whose generosity made possible Bard’s state-of-the-art facility for the teaching of science and computation.”
Highlighting the Achebe father-son linkage in Bard College, Botstein further stresses that “it is particularly appropriate for the college to honor an alumnus of your distinction on the eve of commencement, which focuses on the accomplishments of the members of the graduating class and their prospects for the future.
“And even more special is to think of your own father/son connection to Bard.
“I know he would be proud of your many achievements and I imagine he would feel you are also honoring him and his work by allowing us to celebrate you with this award.”
Professor Achebe held a distinguished professorial chair for several years at Bard College.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
