The National Burial Committee for the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, is scheduled to kick off Wednesday, October 16, 2024 with a Day of Tributes at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The chairman of the National Burial Committee, Sen. Ben Obi, disclosed this at an interactive engagement with online publishers on Monday at The Statement Hotel, Abuja.
Represented by Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, the chairman of the National Burial’s sub-committee on Media and Publicity, the Senator noted that the engagement was to update online publishers on the committee’s preparations to honour the late statesman.
Describing the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo as “a distinguished national icon, leader, business mogul, sports philanthropist and patriot”, Mr Ikechukwu said the Day of Tributes in Lagos would be followed by another Day of Tributes at Abuja, 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 OHANEZE 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 the 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,” Mr Ikechukwu stated.
According to him, the elaborate arrangement is necessary in order to ‘regenerate interest’ on the persona of Chief Iwuanyanwu as the generation that knew him has largely passed on.
Mr Ikechukwu added that the federal, 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 Mr Iwuanyanwu a befitting burial.
He said when alive, Mr Iwuanyanwu bestrode and impacted on the Nigerian economy with investments in media (publisher of 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,” Mr Ikechukwu stated, stressing that Mr Iwuanyanwu performed with distinction in all these areas and left lasting and indelible impressions.
