By Wisdom Nwedene
A Nigerian writer and the author of first Igbo Fiziksi, Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro has revealed that he is yet to receive any invitation from Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.
Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro who hails from Ebonyi State has received accolades from Nigerians and beyond for being the first person in Nigeria to translate Physics textbook to one of the local languages, (Igbo).
Many Nigerians have been agitating that Ebonyi State Governor, Nwifuru should extend a hand of recognition to him in order to encourage and boost the educational sector in the State.
A journalist in Ebonyi State, Wisdom Nwedene had demanded Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro should be invited by the Governor.
He said, “I like how Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu keeps identifying with the Youth and equally encouraging them to do more. He gifted the lady who drove from London – Lagos a brand new car and a house. He equally welcomed a young Nigerian man, Coach Dreh who swum across 11.8 kilometres-long water of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, to raise awareness on mental health.”
“What about our own from Ebonyi State, Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro II who wrote the first Fiziksi textbook? Any recognition yet? How can we boost the confidence of the youth in education if we don’t appreciate a young man who went extra mile to translate the Physics Textbook to Igbo Language?.”
“Ebonyi shouldn’t only be good in throwing Birthday parties.”
“We need to do more!.”
Another writer from Ebonyi State, Friday Mbam also demanded that Maazi should be recognised by the Government.
According to him, “While the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, is trying to put back the state on the map, there’s one aspect that seems to have been forgotten. In a state like Lagos, if a youth breaks ground in a particular area, the Governor quickly recognizes the individual. That way, more youths are encouraged to break more ground in other walks of life.”
“A month or two ago, a young Ebonyian , Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, set a new record by writing a physics textbook in Igbo Language. That is a huge achievement, one that should have attracted the attention of our amiable Governor, but to this day, nothing has been said about the young man’s achievement, apart from the social media hyping that accompanied it.”
“If young Ebonyians are not encouraged or recognized each time they achieve a feat, others may see no need to recognize us. Giving a political position is not a way of encouraging young people to realise their full potential. Those who are close to the corridors of power in Ebonyi State should, perhaps, draw our Governor’s attention to that.”
Shortly after the post was made, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Leo Oketa said Maazi has been invited by the Governor, a claim which the author has denounced.
According to Leo Oketa,” The Governor has taken notice of this beautiful development and has sent for him.”
When contacted, Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro said the Ebonyi State has not invited him.
“That’s not true, nobody sent any invitation,” Maazi said.
