Ohanaeze Mourns Literary Giant, Prof Opata

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, weekend, expressed unhappiness over the demise Prof Damian Opata, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Professorial Chair Endowment Programme.

Opata, a professor of African literature of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, died on Thursday at 76. He was buried on Friday at his nation house, Lejja, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The place of Ohanaeze was contained in an announcement issued by its Global Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, which was made out there to THE WHISTLER.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, within the assertion, acknowledged Prof Opata’s dedication and invaluable contributions to the organisation.

According to him, Opata’s dedication to the Endowment Programme had earned him recognition, notably for his management of its choice course of, describing it “as transparent and merit-driven”.

The pan-Igbi group prolonged its condolences to his household, the educational group and the whole Igbo nation, praying for the peaceable repose of his soul.

Opata was broadly recognised for his scholarship in African literature, Igbo worldview, conventional values and tradition, abandoning a wealthy physique of educational publications that contributed to the preservation and understanding of Igbo heritage and African literary traditions.

He was a scholar of English and Literary Studies on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose educational profession spanned a long time of educating, analysis and college administration.

Speaking throughout his internment, his youthful brother, Prof Christian Opata, a lecturer on the Department of History and International Studies of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), described the demise of his brother as “sudden and shocking”.

According to him, “I am still surprised and shocked on what happened on Thursday morning, after his brief illness of two weeks. We are burying him today in adherence to his directive that when he dies his remains should not be deposited in a mortuary but should be buried the next day.”

The first son of the deceased, Mr Chibueze Opata, stated his father’s demise was surprising.

According to him, “My father has died but l am assuring everyone that we will sustain all his good legacies that endeared him to many people.”

The President, Association of Nsukka Professors, Prof Paulinus Ugwoke, stated the information of Prof Opata’s demise was stunning to the affiliation. “In the death of Opata, the association has lost a big Iroko tree and a goal getter. May God grant his soul eternal rest as well as grant the family members, colleagues, friends and well wishers the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he stated.

Also talking, Dr Adaobi Nwoye, Enugu State Chairperson of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), stated, “I am personally pained and devastated by his demise. He was my mentor and friend.”