Elder statesman, Nationalist, Frontline politician, philantropist and Presidential General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief [Dr] Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu begins his final rites of passage to the hereafter with a Day of Tributes in his honour in Lagos on October 16.
The funerals of the business mogul will culminate in the interment of his remains in his home town, Atta in Ikeduru, Imo State on November 1.
The Committee organising the burial of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, said on Monday in Abuja that the ceremony was scheduled to kick off 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 at an interactive session on Monday with Abuja-based members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers [GOCOP].
Represented by Prof Okey Ikechukwu, the chairman of the National Burial’s sub-committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Obi said that the engagement was to update online publishers on the committee’s preparations towards honouring the late Chief Iwuanyanwu, whom he described as “a distinguished national icon, leader, business mogul, sports philanthropist and patriot,” with a befitting burial.
Prof Ikechukwu said the Day of Tributes in Lagos would be followed by another Day of Tributes in 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 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 said that the elaborate arrangement was necessary in order to ‘regenerate interest’ on the persona of Chief Iwuanyanwu as the generation that knew him had largely passed on.
Prof Ikechukwu said that the federal, state and local government functionaries, as well as major regional political and socio-cultural organisations, elder statesmen and women, youth and women organisations had reaffirmed their individual and collective resolve to give Chief Iwuanyanwu a befitting burial.
He said when alive, Chief Iwuanyanwu bestrode the Nigerian landscape like a collosus and particularly impacted the Nigerian economy with his investments in media (publisher of Champion Newspapers), banking, sports (Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club), aviation (Oriental Airlines) and philanthropy.
According to him, the burial ceremony would be used to celebrate and immortalise Chief Iwuanyanwu’s propriety and sense of value.
He stressed that immortalising Chief Iwuanyanwu was not much about building monuments or organising annual lectures in his honour.
He continued: “I should take the opportunity of 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.”
He said that Chief Iwuanyanwu performed with distinction in all these areas and left lasting and indelible impressions.
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