Today, history has been made as the Proprietor of Standard International Secondary School, Umuahia who is also the Chairman, Eziokwu bu ndu foundation,Chief Dr Smart Onyekachi Nwokorie as stepped out in style to be honoured by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Abia State.
Accompanied by Creme de la cre’me of the society, Council of Chiefs,cultural troops,relatives, friends and well wishers joined him to be conffered with the Pillar of Culture award in recognition of his invaluable contributions to cultural norms,tradition ,value system of his people and by extension,Igbo land..etc
This all important conferment ceremony will take place at Micheal Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
A peep into the history his intimidating profile of this cultural icon will convince even the doubting Thomas that this is an honour well deserved.
And there is no better day to honour this culture personafied educationist than the World cultural day celebration. And the award coming from Abia State government to say the least, worth celebrating.
It was in recognition of the above that United Nations General Assembly first declared this World Cultural Day in 2022, following UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognizing the need to “enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving development and global peaceful coexistence.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is an occasion to promote culture and highlight the significance of its diversity as an agent of inclusion and positive change. It represents an opportunity to celebrate culture’s manifold forms, from the tangible and intangible, to creative industries, to diversity of expressions and to reflect on how we contribute to dialogue, mutual understanding, social sustainable development. great environmental and economic sectors of Here in Abia State, we are not left out in conforming with and celebration of this event, that ensures we are not cut out from our root.
It is not a surprise neither is it a coincidence that this citation is being read today, it simply means the fact speaking for itself. We cannot mention culture continuous without existence, mentioning promotion those who have ensured its cum modifications. One of such persons is no other than the erudite Cultural Scholar, Educationist per Excellence Cultural Practitioner -Chief Dr. Smart O. Nwokorie. Chief Nwokorie was one of the several persons honoured with the Traditional Title of “Onyinye Chukwu Nyere Dim Na Opara” in the last Nollywood New Yam Festival celebrated in Abuja, FCT, Nigeria. One then would wonder why he was singled out by the Entertainment Industry in Nigeria for being a gift to the people, the meaning of the title. For the records, this was not the first time of being honoured. HRH. EZE (HONS) AMB. ARUNSI N. UKA (JP), the Traditional Ruler of Agbo-Oha Autonomous Community, Okwoko Nkpor Ohafia L.G.A, Abia State had earlier in 2020, conferred on Chief Nwokorie the title of “Eziokwu bu ndu”, meaning Truth is Life.
More recently, precisely on Monday, the 1st of May, 2023, HRM EZE ENGR. WISDOM EKUEKU, OHAZURUME 1 of Dim na Opara Autonomous Community and Chairman of Umuopara Traditional Rulers council, conferred on Chief Nwokorie the same title of “Eziokwu Bu Ndu” of Dim Na Opara Autonomous Community, Ogbodiukwu, Umuopara, Umuahia, Abia State. In living up to the truth behind the title of “Eziokwu bu Ndu”, Chief Nwokorie embarked on a Twenty Five Million (N25,000,000) fundraising for Fifty (50) farmers on the 15th of October, 2022, while celebrating the New Yam Festival in his Homeland that attracted creme de la creme in Abia State and beyond.
As usual, Chief Nwokorie seized the opportunity to portray the rich cultural heritage of New Yam Festival by giving out tubers of yam to indigenes and non-indigenes. He equally distributed yam seedlings to farmers in his Community and beyond for planting all in a bid to restore the prominence of yam as the King of all crops thereby celebrating New Yam Festival every year. Born in Umuahia, Abia State on 2nd August, 1971, Chief Dr. Smart O. Nwokorie had Primary, His primary Education at Ogbodiukwu Community Umuopara, Umuahia.
He proceeded to Umuopara Secondary School, Umuahia multifaceted beyond. degrees Science from from 1984 to several 1990 and universities further across earned Nigeria his and Unizik, B.Sc. Applied Microbiology and Brewery 1996; MOUAU, B.Sc Food and Technology 2000; M.Sc Food Processing and Preservation 2019; IMSU Toxicology Ph.D 2021 and ABSU M.Sc Science Education 2020; ABSU Science Education Ph.D in-view. Standard Chief Dr. Smart O. Nwokorie is the CEO and Founder of Standard Academy, International Schools, Standard Scholarship Foundation and Estandar Resources LTD, all in Umuahia, Abia State and beyond. As a philanthropist, he has contributed His finance, experience, time, talent and skills to helping others create a better world.
As a politician and educationist, He has touched and is still touching lives.
