By: Casmir Ohanele (Casca reporting from USA)
The Catholic Arch Bishop of the metropolitan Arch diocese of Owerri, His Grace Anthony JV Obinna, the first lady of Imo State, Her Excellency, Lady Nkechi Okorocha and Attorney Ken Okorie, the founding secretary general of World Igbo Congress and Dr Ndy Onyiuke, former NSE boss were on Saturday the 2nd of August, 20014, in New York, United States of America honoured by Imo State Congress of America with different categories of award.
The award ceremony which took place at the Igbo Organization Hall (Obi-Ndi Igbo USA) was part of the activities lined up for the 2014 6th annual convention of Imo State Congress of America, ISCA to honour some distinguished sons and daughters of Imo State who have contributed in different ways in the progress of Imo State.
The Catholic cleric, Arch Bishop Obinna was honoured for his advocacy in justice and achievements in promoting Igbo language and culture as the Igbo beacon of justice with the Conscience of Imo State Award. Her Excellency, Lady Nkechi Okorocha was honoured in recognition of her SNARP project, for providing housing to indigent women in Imo State as, Pillar of family support with Ide Na Akwado Udo Award.
The founding secretary general of World Igbo Congress, Attorney Ken Okorie who gave the keynote speech at the convention was recognized with the Igbo Advocate Award for his contributions to the progress of ndi Igbo in the United States and in Nigeria.
Dr Ndy Onyiuke, the former boss of the Nigeria Stock Exchange was given the Imo Economic Trail Blazer award as the Ogbuhuruuzo Imo, for her role in launching Igbo women into reckoning in the financial management with her superlative administration of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Lady Nkechi Okorocha was not there present to receive the award, hers was received by her representative. Responding on behalf of the award recipients, the Arch Bishop thanked the Imo State Congress of America for the honoured done to them noting that it is a charge for them to do more to help humanity.
The vocal cleric charged the Imo people living in the USA on the need to teach their children the culture and traditions of Igbo people. He also hammered on the need for Igbo people to do away completely with some peganistic idol worshipping and Osu cast syndrome as God created humanity in his own image with discrimination. He also urged them to be good ambassador of Imo State in America.
The event was graced by the crème de le crème of Imolites living in USA and some distinguished personalities from Nigeria which include, Prof Jude Njoku, PDP guber aspirant, Hon TOE Ekechi, Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr Henrylynn Ibezim, PDP guber aspirant, Chief Stanford Nwankwo and Barr Rex Anunobi, Sokom who represented Senator Hope Uzodimma
