Anambra expands evacuation of indigenes from Jos, mourns Uwaifo, Obiora

Anambra State Government says it has expanded the evacuation of students of Anambra origin from the University of Jos to include all indigenes of the state in Jos, who wish to return home.

The decision followed the re-imposition of 24-hour curfew by the Plateau State Government, as a result of renewed hostilities in Jos, the state capital.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said interested indigenes should go to the GUO Motors station in Jos, where officials of the Anambra State Liaison office in Abuja will identify them and, in conjunction with GUO Motors management, arrange for their immediate travel.

Adinuba said Governor Willie Obiano has directed the State Liaison office in Abuja to monitor round the clock the safety of all Anambra students at the University of Jos and all the other tertiary educational institutions in Jos and report to him directly, through electronic means and to the Secretary to the State Government for immediate action.

“The safety of every Anambra person everywhere in Nigeria and beyond is of paramount importance to the State Administration, Adinuba said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner has stated that Anambra State Government is saddened by the deaths of two distinguished Nigerians, Dr Augustine Amaechi, co-founder of the famous Eko Hospital in Lagos, and highlife music icon, Professor Victor Efosa Uwaifo.

Dr Obiora was 85 years old while Professor Uwaifo was 80.

READ: Highlife great Sir Victor Uwaifo is dead

“They both made profound contributions to Nigeria’s development and displayed outstanding brilliance in not just the practice of their professions but also in intellectual and academic matters.

“Dr Obiora studied at Edo College in Benin City in today’s Edo State on a scholarship and at Government College in Owerri, in today’s Imo State, also on a scholarship, on account of his superior intellect. He was, in addition, an outstanding student at the medical school of the University of Ibadan from where he graduated in 1964. His record at the Royal College of Surgeons in Scotland was no less impressive. He rose rapidly to the position of Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“Uwaifo’s academic record is equally shining. Graduating with distinction in Fine and Applied Arts from the College of Technology in Yaba, Lagos State, he was to earn a bachelor’s degree (first class) in the same discipline from the University of Benin when he was already in his 50s, and followed it up with a master’s degree and a doctorate. In no time he attained the rank of a full professor of architectural sculpture at Uniben. His is a very inspiring story.

“Governor Willie Obiano has called the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, to commiserate with him and the entire Onitsha people over the loss of Dr Obiora, who, as a proud member of the Onitsha Royal Cabinet, dressed for over two years in the appropriate Onitsha traditional dress everywhere he went in Nigeria and abroad. Governor Obiano has also condoled with Governor Godwin Obaseki over the death of Professor Uwaifo whom he described as “a huge national asset”, the Commissioner said.