By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has unveiled a statue of the author of Things Fall Apart, late Prof Chinua Achebe in the state.
Speaking at the unveiling at the Nwasike Roundabout Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of the State, on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, Governor Soludo framed the tribute not merely as a celebration of the past, but as a roadmap for the future.
“Today, we go back to the root; that Chinua Achebe, though dead, he lives,” Governor Soludo declared. “His ideals will continue to shape the society. This statue is a declaration. For me, it is very fitting that we immortalize and celebrate him, and for the young, to put him forward as a role model.
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“He is a man I can proudly call a role model, so much so that even my second son was named ‘Chinua'”.
The Governor did not mince words regarding the current state of Idemili North, historically the home of the literary giant. He lamented the rise of cult-related elements in the area, stating, “Idemili North is something for which if Chinua Achebe were alive, he would be crying. Anybody in a cult is, in a way, insulting the memory of Chinua Achebe. Those who brandish obscene wealth—Chinua Achebe told us it is not the way to go.”
Governor Soludo emphasized that the monument serves as a permanent, public conscience for the state. “Remember the message behind this statue: he lived and told us the right way to live,” he urged. “By this statue we are unveiling today, Nigerian youths will derive inspiration and be determined to live by those values. May God give us many more Chinua Achebes in various fields,” the Governor remarked.
Reflecting on the magnitude of the literary legend, the Governor added, “He is the greatest of all times (G.O.A.T). We named the airport in his honor, and it is very fitting, I must say.”
The ceremony, which brought together scholars, traditional rulers, and government officials, marks another significant step in the Soludo administration’s efforts to cement Achebe’s legacy within the state’s cultural fabric. This follows the 2023 renaming of the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport in honor of the writer.
Representing the Achebe family, his son, Prof Ike Achebe expressed deep appreciation for the state’s continued dedication to his father’s memory.
In his remark, the Executive Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area of the State, Hon Stanley Nkwoka, commended the governor for recognizing and remembering a hero who has contributed to the greatness of Ogidi community, Idemili LGA, Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole.
Nkwoka described Achebe as a World Class Icon.
The event also featured tributes from the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the Executive Director of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr Hillary Nkem Okeke, the President general, Ogidi Progressive Union, Mr Chijioke Okeke and the National President of Ikenga Ogidi, Dr Kenneth Ogenya, both whom stressed the urgency of preserving Achebe’s intellectual trajectory for the next generation.
