Ohanaeze Ndigbo has nominated Nigeria’s Aviation minister, Chibuike Amaechi, its Man of the year for 2015.
The immediate past governor of Rivers state’s emergence was announced as the winner of the award from the array of Igbo sons and daughters scattered across the globe.
The Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the national secretary of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, who made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday, said that Amaechi won the award after a stiff poll organised by the OYC.
According to Nnabuike, the award would be officially conferred on Amaechi on Saturday, 30 January, at Nike Lake Hotel in Enugu.
Okwu also stated that Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy Senate president, has been named the outstanding Igbo politician of the year.
According to reports, the scribe said Amaechi was chosen in recognition of hi actions actions before and during the presidential election which helped in great measures deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
He said, “We recall how he doggedly fought and retained his position as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, against all odds.
“Apart from that, as the director of President Buhari’s campaign team, he gallantly led the fight that led to the change in the country today. These no doubt, put him forward as a true Igbo son from the South-South.
“On the part of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, apart from the effective representation he has given to his constituency and the South-East Zone, he emerged as the Deputy Senate President against all odds.”
Winners of other categories include: Governor Willy Obiano – the best Igbo governor of the year, Senator Hope Uzodimma – the Igbo legislator of the year, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah – the Igbo entrepreneur of the year, Leo Stan Ekeh – the Igbo Scientist of the year, Prof Ben Nwabueze – the Igbo elder statesman of the year, Prof May Nwoye – the Igbo Woman of the year.
Others are Ogbonnaya Onu – the Igbo minister of the year, Chief Charles Okereke – the Igbo journalist of the year, Chief Innocent Chukwuma – the Igbo investor of the year, Chief Author Eze – the Igbo philanthropist of the year, Chief Maduka Onyishi – the Igbo transporter of the year.
