Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to name the Faculty of Mass Communication of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) after the late legendary broadcaster, Chief Patrick Ezeja Eke (Paddy Eke).

“We have learnt of the passage of one of the most Iconic broadcasters and journalists east of the Niger, the Enugu State-born former professional broadcaster, Chief Patrick Ezeja Eke.

“We the entire members of the media-oriented human rights body, are by this public statement extending our condolences and solidarity to the governor of Enugu State and the good people of Enugu and indeed the South East of Nigeria over the demise of a great man who glamorized broadcasting and deployed his immense media talents to promote harmony national peace and to champion respect for constituted authority.

“HURIWA recalled with nostalgia that Chief Eke (Paddy Eke) started his professional career in broadcasting in 1966 with the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service (ENBS). He was a prominent voice during the Biafran war, when he broadcast to the sound of bombs detonating dangerously close by. That was from 1967-1970.

“HURIWA notes also that this Iconic journalist took a course in Broadcasting at the BBC London in 1979. He rose through the ranks to become Controller of Programmes when Eastern broadcasting was reborn and became Anambra Broadcasting Service in 1985. In 1997 he became Director of Programmes. In recognition of his contribution to the growth and development of Enugu State in general and the broadcast media in particular, he was made Justice of Peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – a worthy achievement – in 1998. He became the Chairman, Board of Directors of ESBS after his retirement in 1999, under the administration of Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. He gave 35 years of active life to the career he loved so much, broadcasting. May his soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

HURIWA recalled that the late broadcaster was a contemporary of the equally Iconic broadcaster and film star, Chief Pete Edochie, even as the group said: “We know that Governor Ugwuanyi will use his powers to ensure that the memories of this great son of Igbo land is extolled and engraved.

“There is the imperative need for the Enugu State Government to consider honouring the beautiful memories of their great son. This honour will also spur on hundreds of other broadcasters and journalists of Enugu State and South East to also dedicate their professional careers to the service and advancement of humanity and the nation.

“HURIWA recalls that recently the Anambra State governor honored their own version of Iconic broadcaster, Chief Pete Edochie, who is a contemporary of Chief Paddu Eke now of blessed memory. Even though 70-year-old Pete Edochie is an accomplished actor, not many know that the man was famous for his role as ‘Okonkwo’ in ‘Things Fall Apart’, movie was a broadcaster. Edochie who worked with the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), retired in 1998 and faced Nollywood squarely. The actor alongside his former colleagues had reason to smile recently, as the Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, paid their gratuities which had been owed them for a really long time.

HURIWA stated too that: “Knowing Governor Ugwuanyi as a man of the people, we believe that his administration will do the needful to immortalize their legendary son the late Chief Paddy Eke. The Government and people of Enugu state will forever be remembered by generations yet unborn for doing so much to create memorabilia and build institutions to immortalise and engrave the good names of her heroes past.”

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