By Chidi Levi
Igbo’s rich cultural heritage was on parade in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Sunday, during an Award/Reception ceremony for political appointees of Igbo extraction in the Government of Governor Ben Ayade.
Organised by an Igbo socio- cultural group, the Igbo Congress, the event witnessed breathtaking cultural displays by various Igbo dancing groups, beautiful renditions by Igbo women and the display of various Igbo cuisines.
Speakers at the event applauded the Governor for finding Igbo sons and daughters worthy of appointment into his government. They commended his administration’s industrialisation drive and pledged continued support for him by the Igbo in Cross River state.
In his address, President of Igbo Congress, Prince Raymond Atulomah, said the body is made up of Igbo professionals cutting across academics, legal, business, the media, public service etc.
He stressed that Igbo Congress will strive to ensure that the existing healthy relationship between the Igbo and their host communities in Cross River State continues to prevail.
Prince Atulomah described the appointment of the Igbo into political offices in the Cross River state Government as novelty, saying, “To our big brother, Professor Ben Ayade, we say thank you for remembering Ndi Igbo. We enjoin you to do more as we are solidly behind you, especially, in the area of Industrialisation of the state”
Earlier in his remark, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Rufus Okoro of the Department of Physics, University of Calabar, commended the Governor for giving Igbo sons and daughters the opportunity to serve in his Government.
Federation of Igbo Students Union(FISU), University of Cross River State, ( UNICROSS) chapter also seized the opportunity to honour the appointees.
Among the appointees honoured were Barrister Ugoji Nwabueze, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Non Indigenes Affair ( Igbo), Chidiebere Onyemaizu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media and Dr. Nancy Irek, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Information
Also honoured was Honourable Justice A.Onyebuke of Akampka High Court.
Chidiebere Onyemaizu was, until his appointment, the Deputy Editor of The Source (Magazine)
