Rivers govt renames Port Harcourt Poly after Elechi Amadi...

Rivers State Government has renamed Port Harcourt Polytechnic Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, even  as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, described the late literary icon as a writer who reflected the conscience of humanity and justice in his literary works.

Governor Nyesom Wike announced the renaming at Amadi’s funeral in Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area. Describing the late literary giant as a great Nigerian who had done his nation proud in various fields and particularly with his literary works, the governor also promised to complete the Faculty of Humanity building named after him at the University of Port Harcourt. 

He said: “Captain Elechi Amadi was a great man and a nationalist, he has made us proud. I never saw him as an Ikwerre man or a Rivers man but as a nationalist. 

If the state had another university, I would have named it after him. He was everything and he can be honoured with anything. 

I wanted to name Ignatius Ajuru University of Education after him. But if I did that, some people would see it as politics. 

But from today the Port Harcourt Polytechnic has been named after him. 

On his part, Prof.  Soyinka, while eulogizing the late Amadi, described him as an artist who reflected the conscience  of humanity and justice in his literary works. 

Soyinka, in his condolence message to the family, also recalled moments he shared with the late writer after he was released by his kidnappers in 2009.