According to the facilitator of the project and the new Igbo leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, the International Conference Centre/Ojukwu Library was conceived to give Igbo identity, adding that it was aimed at having a formal and acceptable place to discus Igbo agenda.
“Ojukwu Memorial Library and Conference foundation stone would be laid by Ojukwu’s widow, Bianca at a colourful ceremony scheduled to take place today at the building site, New Owerri, Imo State,” he said.
Uwazurike further disclosed that he acquired 10 plots of land for millions of naira in the low-density area of Owerri to erect the conference centre because, according to him, as a hero of our time, no honour given to Ojukwu could be said to be too much for him.
“It is a taboo or abomination for Ndigbo to gather and hold their meetings in a hotel or rented apartments and that is why I am building this edifice so that it will serve as both a tourism centre and venue for the all-important and exclusive Igbo assembly. This edifice will contain halls, recreation centres, conference centres and other tourism and monumental centres and its concept is for Ojukwu’s remembrance,” he said.
He disclosed that there will be Ojukwu lectures, symposia, workshops, meetings, colloquiums and all other important Igbo meetings, conferences and congresses at the centre instead of going oversees or holding them in hotels.
“For now, all Igbo meetings will be held in Ojukwu’s house at Nnewi or at the conference centre in Owerri and personally, I can’t attend Igbo meetings in a hotel because in Ojukwu Memorial Conference Hall, we can now discuss Igbo agenda where passersby will not hear what we are discussing,” he said.
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