Skip to main content

Anezi Okoro at 90

The Albino Foundation and the Coal City Literary Foundation on Thursday celebrated a renowned author and medical guru, Prof Anezionwu Okoro as he clocks 90 years.
Born May 17, 1929, the nonagenarian dermatologist is the author of many fictions, medicine/health, environmental sciences and ecology including One Week One Trouble, The Village School and the Village Headmaster.
Prof Anezi, as he is fondly called, has also written over 200 poems.
His recent publication is the translation of 10 Lamb’s tales of Shakespeare to Igbo language entitled, `Akuko Ufodu Shakespeare Koro’ in collaboration with another author, Mrs Nwobiara Chukwura.
Okoro, a native of Arondizuogu in Imo, is the first dermatologist in West Africa and the second in Africa.
Speaking at the event, Mr Jake Epelle, the National President and Founder of Albino Foundation said that the dermatologist was the brain behind the foundation.
According to Epelle, the Albino Foundation will not have been known without Prof Anezi who fought the cause of albinos since the 50s.
“His intervention in the lives of albinos has enabled us to have clearer skin,” he said.
He said that the author had lived his life purposefully and selflessly without being recognised nationally and thanked God for keeping him alive till 90.
In her remarks, the President of the Coal City Literary Foundation, (CCLF), Dr Adaobi Nwoye described the renowned author as a `formidable pillar of the foundation’.
Nwoye said that as the Chairman of CCLF Board, the professor had been in the forefront of its growth by encouraging and mentoring the young ones to imbibe the culture of reading and writing.
Mr Victor Atuonwu, former Chief of Staff to former Gov. Sullivan Chime and Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State expressed dismay that in spite of numerous contributions to national development, Okoro had not been recognised by any government.
“Prof Anezi Okoro was a member of NNPC board, yet he does not own an oil block; he was a board member, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and he came out unscathed during a scandal.
“Prof Okoro was instrumental to the site of the Federal Capital in Abuja, yet no street was named after him nor received any national honour,’’ he said.
Atuonwu described Okoro as the `only Nigerian that is not corrupt’ and urged the federal government and the South East Governors in particular to recognise and honour him in his lifetime and not posthumously.
Also speaking, the author’s wife, Dr Ese Anezi-Okoro said her husband was a loving and caring husband and father for over 50 years.
Ese who is a gynaecologist, disclosed that her husband refused several political appointments because of his commitment to the development of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).
She thanked the groups and friends for celebrating the professor saying that she would always cherish their kind gestures.
Responding, the nonagenarian thanked the groups for always celebrating and remembering him which he said was rewarding.
“I am even happier to be celebrated by the younger generation and friends. It is a great honour and I thank God for keeping alive to see this day,’’ Okoro said.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Stop inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians with tax demands, ex-SSG implores Umahi

Former Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh, has implored the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, to desist from inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians. In an open letter he made available to Paulokahblog Friday morning, Odoh said that, "as a way of cushioning the devastating effects of the covid-19 pandemic on Ebonyi’s struggling economy, there is urgent need to jettison the collection of tenement rates/ground rents from landlords, excessive/forceful drive for quarry haulage levies and waiving of personal income taxes".  Odoh regretted that, despite the efforts of the state government in policing its borders against the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebonyi State, as of May 21, has recorded 13 cases and expressed hope that the situation would not get worse in the state in particular and Nigeria in general, even as he pledged support for the state government in ensuring that the active cases are managed successfully "to t...

Don't quit by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you're trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup; and he learned too late when the night came down, how close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem...

Why Ebonyi State is absent at national sports festival- Umahi

The Ebonyi Government on Saturday gave reasons for the non participation of its athletes at the on-going National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abuja. Mr Charles Akpuenika, the state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the government was concentrating on locally-organised sporting events to unearth hidden talents. Akpuenika noted that the government organised several sporting events in 2018 as the talents discovered would be groomed to equitably represent the state in zonal and national competitions. “We have organised the inaugural David Umahi Tertiary Institutions Games (DUMTIGA) where several talents were discovered from the participating tertiary institutions in the state. “The state also organised the David Umahi Para-military games where security agencies to promote unity among the agencies and ensure the fitness of their officers. “The school sports competition which was last organised in 2008 is presentl...