Buhari, Atiku, mourn as renowned novelist, Chukwuemeka Ike, dies at 88
Nigeria has lost one of her great sons and Africa’s most prolific writers, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike.
Channels TV reports that Ike breathed his last on Thursday, January 9, according to multiple media reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the literary giant was said to have at the Nnamdi Azikwe teaching hospital in Nnewi, Anambra state, at age 88 after a brief illness.
Ike, until his death was the traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in the Orumba south local government area of Anambra state.
His works include: Toads for Supper (1965), The Naked Gods (1970), The Potter’s Wheel (1973), Sunset at Dawn (1976), Expo ’77 (1980), The Chicken Chasers (1980), The Bottled Leopard (1985), Our Children Are Coming Home (1990), and Conspiracy of Silence.
Ike attended government college, Umuahia, the same school attended by the late Prof Chinua Achebe and poet Christopher Okigbo.
Source: UGC
He went on to study English, history, and religion at the University of Ibadan.
He was a former registrar of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the boss of the Nigerian Book Trust Foundation at a time.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, has commiserated with government and people of Anambra state over the passing of Prof Ike, renowned author, scholar and traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu kingdom.
In a statement issued by his special adviser, Femi Adesina, the president condoled with family, friends and associates of the traditional ruler, whose loyalty to the nation would continue to resonate in the way he mobilised his community for civic duties, and sensitized youths on the value of good education.
President Buhari believed that the administrator, cerebral scholar and prolific writer would always be remembered for his exceptional creativity in communicating wisdom in simple ways through books like ‘Toads for Supper,’ ‘The Potter’s Wheel,’ “Sunset at Dawn,’ The Bottled Leopard’ and other publications, which have been used by many institutions as teaching tools, within and outside the country.
The president affirms that the late traditional ruler understood the depth and richness of African cultures and the power of the narratives, exploring every opportunity to showcase Nigeria, and Africa, to the world.
Also, the former vice president Atiku Abubakar, has commiserated with the family of the late Ike and the government of Anambra state, adding that the deceased would be remembered for his classics.
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He said: "I mourn one of Nigeria’s prolific novelist & traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in Anambra State, HRH (Prof) Chukwuemeka Ike, (the Ikelionwu IX). He will be remembered for his classics: Toads for Supper & Sunset at Dawn, among others. May he rest in peace."
Legit.ng had previously reported that Achebe's Things Fall Apart” of 1958, continued to outlive the fallen father of African literature.
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Source: Legit.ng
