Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lamented the demise of an illustrious Igbo son, Engineer Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, who passed-on on Monday, July 19, 2020.
In a condolence message released by by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Emeka Atammah, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said that it was a huge loss for Ndigbo and Nigeria with the demise of Dr Izuogu whom he described as “an intellectual, researcher, scientist and accomplished politician.”
Chief Nwodo recalled that Dr Izuogu had produced the first all-African car in 1997 with 97% locally produced component and which would have made cars more affordable for Nigerians but regretted that he had to die with his dreams.
The President General condemned the disregard the Federal Government has for the Igbo which made her unreceptive and diametrically opposed to any creative bent from Igbo land citing the abandonment of the innovative, scientific and far-reaching exploits of Ndigbo during the civil war and the Izuogu Z-600 car.
He said that the undeserved neglect of the Igbo by the Federal Government has cost the country the ingenuity of Igbo scientists that could driven the nation’s technological advancement
Chief Nwodo remarked that even as a scholar, Dr Izuogu impacted positively on his students and remained a role model to them.
He commiserated with the Imo State Government and its people for this irreparable loss and urged the Izuogu family to bear his loss with equanimity and faith in God.