ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Funeral rites for the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, will begin on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 with a Day of Tributes at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The chairman of the National Burial Committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this in a message delivered on his behalf at an interactive engagement with online publishers on Monday at The Statement Hotel, Abuja.
Prof Okey Ikechukwu, chairman of the National Burial’s sub-committee on Media and Publicity, who represented Senator Obi, that the engagement was to update online publishers on the committee’s preparations to honour the late Chief Iwuanyanwu.
Describing the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as “a distinguished national icon, leader, business mogul, sports philanthropist and patriot.”
Prof Ikechukwu said the Day of Tributes in Lagos would be followed by another Day of Tributes in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, October 18 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Following this, on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, Chief Iwuanyanwu’s body will arrive Enugu, en-route Owerri. There shall be a grand reception first, at the Ohanaeze Headquarters and then tributes at the Michael Okpara Square before departure to Owerri.
“The climax of the funeral rites will take place on Tuesday 29th October 2024, beginning with a Service of Songs in Owerri.
“The body will be conveyed to his hometown, Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area, for a final Commendation Service and Interment on the 1st of November 2024,” Prof Ikechukwu stated.
He saud the elaborate arrangement was necessary in order to ‘regenerate interest’ on the persona of Chief Iwuanyanwu as the generation that knew him has largely passed on. Ikechukwu said the federal officials, state governors and local government functionaries as well as major regional political and socio-cultural organisations, elder statesmen and women, youth and women organisations have reaffirmed their individual and collective resolve to give Chief Iwuanyanwu a befitting burial.
He said when alive, Chief Iwuanyanwu bestrode and impacted on the Nigerian economy with investments in media (Champion Newspapers), banking, sports (Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club), aviation (Oriental Airlines) and philanthropy.
According to him, the burial ceremonies would be used to celebrate and immortalise Chief Iwuanyanwu’s propriety and sense of value, stressing that it is not much about monuments or annual lectures.
“I should use this occasion to express our profound gratitude to all Nigerians and well-wishers across the globe and the media, for their outpouring of love and support during this difficult time.
“This is perhaps not entirely surprising, given that Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo, is one of the few Nigerians who can be described as a gift of God to Ndigbo, to this country and to the world in general.
“He touched many lives, communities and sectors in his long and eventful life. He invested heavily in nation building, group cohesion and the struggle for equity in our national life,” Ikechukwu stated, stressing that Chief Iwuanyanwu performed with distinction in all these areas and left lasting and indelible impressions.
