Abia author wins International Guild of West Africa Authors’ 2020 award

Nnamdi Elekwachi, renowned Author and Abia State born administrator, has emerged winner of the International Guild of West African Authors 2020 Author of the Year award.

In a rel e a se by the International Guild of West African Authors, Elekwachi is the twelfth Nigerian, as well as, the first Abian to win the prestigious Award since the inception of the competition 22 years ago.

Elakwachi, a graduate of Linguistics from the Abia State University, Uturu, was adjudged to have qualified for the award having published 17 books on different fields of study in eleven years from 2009 – 2020.

In another development, Chris Ezem, secretary to Abia State Government, has enjoined Nigerians, especially the youths to imbibe good reading culture so as to remain outstanding in life. Ezem gave the advice at the public presentation of a book titled, “The Great State Called Abia” written by Nnamdi Elekwachi in Umuahia.

The Abia State scribe, who represented by Isaac Nwachukwu, permanent secretary, Bureau of Political Affairs, thanked the author for providing the society with a well-detailed book for general readership.

Reviewing the book, David Adiele of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, revealed that the 128-page book was indeed a master-piece and a must-read. In a selected development, John Okiyi Kalu, Abia State Commissioner for Information, has charged Nigerian youths to always play the leadership roles they had been trained for and be with the consciousness that they were country’s future leaders.

Kalu gave the charge at the public presentation of two books titled “Understanding the NYSC” and “Modern Approach to English Essays and Letters” also written by Nnamdi Elekwachi in Umuahia.

The I n f o r ma t i o n Commissioner, who spoke through Caroline Igwe, permanent secretar y of the ministry, commended the author for making out time to educate the society through his books and asked Nigerians to make reading a culture.

In his vote of thanks, Elekwachi, who is presently a director of administration in the ministry, thanked God for the wisdom to write books but regretted that mobile phones have done more harm than good on youths who prefer pressing phones to reading. According to him, whenever reading stops, brain decay sets in.