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The Statue of
The Statue of Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...
is a bronze monument erected by Governor Rochas Okorocha
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (born 22 September 1962) is a Nigerian politician of Igbo extraction, from Imo State. He is the senator representing Imo West Senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate. He is also the former Governor of Imo St ...
of Imo State
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...
. The monument commemorated the visit of the South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
n President, Jacob Zuma who visited Imo State when he was still the President. Governor Okorocha stated during the unveiling of the statue that: "We have decided to honor you for your love for education, though you were deprived in your early days in life but you are working to make sure that every poor child went to school". The unveiling was done in the state capital Owerri during a ceremony attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...
, former governors, chiefs and distinguished members of the state.
The statue was a life-sized monument that cost around 520million Naira which is the equivalent to $1.4 million. The Zuma as reported by BBC Pidgin "dey among di seven odas wey Governor Rochas Okorocha arrange full Imo State capital, Owerri."
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Governor Okorocha and President Zuma, to provide free education for poor children on the continent. President Zuma was also given a Chieftaincy title of Ochiagha Imo that translates to the ''ceremonial leader'' ''of warriors'' by Eze Imo, Samuel Ohiri. He received a Merit Award and a street was also named after him. The Jacob Zuma statue generated lots of debate and complaints.
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