Onyeocha N’Aba Hon Alex Ikwechegh Thanks Gov Uzodinma for Posthumous GSSI Award to His Uncle, Former Imo Governor Amadi Ikwechegh
Onyeocha N’Aba Hon Alex Ikwechegh Thanks Gov Uzodinma for Posthumous GSSI Award to His Uncle, Former Imo Governor Amadi Ikwechegh
Today, my heart is full, yet gently burdened with memory, gratitude, and reflection.
At the Imo State 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee held last week, the Government of Imo State bestowed a profound honour on my family. My late uncle, Commodore Amadi Guy Ikwechegh, former Military Governor of Imo State, was posthumously awarded the Grand Service Star of Imo State (GSSI), and our family was granted Honorary State Citizenship.
Receiving this award on his behalf was a moment I will never forget. It was far more than a ceremony; it was a powerful affirmation of a life dedicated to service, and for me, it was deeply personal.
To the public, Commodore Ikwechegh was a pioneering leader, a distinguished naval officer, and an erudite administrator who helped lay critical foundations for Imo State during his tenure from 1986 to 1989. His record speaks eloquently for itself; from the Nigerian Defence Academy to Dartmouth College, from strategic naval commands to the Governor’s Office.
But to me,he was simply Uncle Amadi
This honour is a resounding echo of his life’s work. I extend my profound and heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, for this thoughtful act of recognition and remembrance. By instituting the Imo State @ 50 Star Honours, Your Excellency has demonstrated a deep commitment to preserving our history and celebrating the giants upon whose shoulders our state stands. Thank you for ensuring that the labours of our heroes past are not forgotten, but instead woven deliberately into the fabric of Imo State’s legacy and future aspirations.
As I stood there while the award was presented, I felt the beautiful and solemn weight of legacy. As the only member of our family currently serving in government.
I remain deeply grateful to the Government and people of Imo State for this act of remembrance. You have honoured not only a former Governor, but a great man, one who gave selflessly to his family, his state, and his country.
Thank you, Imo State.
Thank you Comodore Amadi ikwechegh
Your labour was not in vain.
We remember.
We honour.
We continue.
