The Anambra State government has declared Tuesday, November 16, a public holiday in honour of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
This was disclosed in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba.
Azikiwe was born on November 16, 1904.
The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, had previously called on the Federal Government to recognize the date as a nationwide public holiday, in honour of Azikiwe’s contribution to Nigeria.
This year makes it the third year the Anambra State government would be observing the birthday anniversary.
Adinuba said in the statement released on behalf of Obiano: “It was the Great Zik of Africa who inspired such outstanding Pan-African leaders as Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who led his country to freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957.”
Governor Obiano in the press statement reiterated his call on the Federal Government to declare November 16 a national holiday in memory of The Great Zik of Africa.
Obiano said: “After all, the Ghanaians observe the birthday of Dr Nkrumah as a national holiday, just the way Tanzanians observe President Julius Nyerere’s birthday as a national holiday.
“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to declare November 16 a 0national holiday.”
