The Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local government areas, have jointly remembered the great works of Dr. Ibiwari Ikriko, ten years after his death.
The event which took place at the Auditorium of the college was held on March 8, 2012 .
Scholars and friends from the academia turned out in their large numbers to grace the Ibiwari Ikriko Memorial Colloquium.
Commenting on the life, times and works of Dr. Ikriko, the governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuiki Amaechi, joined others to remember the great man scholar as a poet, well educated and a man with a huge sense of humour.
The governor who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner Special Duties, Hon. Emma Wogu, said Dr. Ikriko was a hardworking man.
He expressed concern for the widow and the children of the great scholar.
Speaking at the event, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Chidi Maduka of the University of Port Harcourt, commended the College of Arts and Science and the local governments of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo for taking the initiative to honour the academic legend whose poetic prowess has trained many students in the Niger Delta.
Prof. Maduka said the books written by the Late teacher, instructor and great mind will always speak for him, adding that the event was monumental.
Earlier the Rector of the College, Dr. Hillary Worlu, represented by the Deputy Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Roberta I. Dosunmu, in her closing remarks said the occasion brought a lot of memory about late Ikriko.
She described late Dr. Ikriko as a jovial, intelligent and academically sound man, hoping that the late scholar might have passed his cells to the children.
Dr. Dosunnu posited that the school was pleased with the committee and those that organized the event to remember the great writer as he was instrumental to the running of the school law, the IJMB and many programs.
In an interview after the event, Dr. Dosunmu told journalists that the College of Arts and Science is now polythecnic with greater prospect as very soon students who finished their programmes in law will be admitted into UST without any problem.
In another development Capt. Elechi Amadi, a renowned writer, has warned youths to strive to read widely to avoid being educated illiterates. He blamed parents of those students who have replaced reading and writing with the internet.
The wife of late Dr. Ibiwari Ikriko, Mrs. Stella Ikriko, have earlier used the occasion to appeal to well-meaning individuals and the government of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to come to her aid in the training of the children her late husband left behind.
She said their intervention in the training of the kids will be of a great help to her and described the children as the replica of their father in knowledge, wisdom and intelligent. ###
Pius Dukor
