Bill Text: TX HR462 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Welcoming Nigerian writer Chike Momah to the State Capitol and recognizing him for his literary achievements.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-17 - Reported enrolled [HR462 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR462-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 462 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Celebrated Nigerian writer Chike Momah is visiting | ||
| the State Capitol on February 22, 2011, hosted by the Honorable | ||
| Yvonne Davis and members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Aba, Nigeria, in 1930, Christian Chike Momah | ||
| was selected to attend Government College Umuahia, an all-boys | ||
| citadel of secondary boarding school learning that was founded by | ||
| the colonial British government in 1927 and modeled on the famous | ||
| English public schools Eton and Harrow; he went on to earn a | ||
| bachelor's degree in history, English, and religious studies from | ||
| University College Ibadan in 1953; he and his peers were part of a | ||
| remarkable generation that produced many of Africa's most notable | ||
| artists, leaders, and thinkers, including the poet Christopher | ||
| Okigbo, the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and the novelist Chinua | ||
| Achebe; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Momah enjoyed a long and varied career before | ||
| turning to writing full time; he served as the first Nigerian | ||
| graduate land officer in the Public Service of the Eastern Nigerian | ||
| Government from 1954 to 1956 and then worked as a librarian at | ||
| University College Ibadan and the University of Lagos; he continued | ||
| in this profession with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, | ||
| from 1966 to 1978, when he transferred to UN headquarters in New | ||
| York to accept a position at the Dag Hammarskjold Library; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Although Mr. Momah had published a story in the | ||
| 1950s, it was not until after he retired in 1990 that his words saw | ||
| print again; today he is the author of five novels, Friends and | ||
| Dreams, Titi: Biafran Maid in Geneva, The Shining Ones, The Stream | ||
| Never Dries Up, and A Snake Under a Thatch; his work evokes his | ||
| native Nigeria as well as the experience of the Nigerian diaspora | ||
| and reflects Mr. Momah's own humility and moral vision; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Now living in Arlington, this esteemed gentleman is | ||
| supported in his endeavors by his wife of 51 years, Ethel, and their | ||
| three children, Chukwudi, Azuka, and Adaora; Mr. Momah remains | ||
| active with the Nigerian community in the United States, serving as | ||
| a board member of the Texas chapter of GCUOBA-USA, a nonprofit | ||
| organization of ex-students of Government College Umuahia, whose | ||
| members are referred to as "old boys" and their wives as "young | ||
| girls"; in 2003, he was honored with the chieftaincy title | ||
| Nnabuenyi-Nnewi by HRH Kenneth Orizu, Igwe Nnewi; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Members of GCUOBA-USA and its Texas chapter, under | ||
| the able leadership of Chike Momah, Dr. Bato Amu, M.D., Dr. Emma | ||
| Okafor, M.D., and Ike Egbuoyne, P.E., who respectively serve as the | ||
| grand patron, board chair, and president of the national | ||
| organization and president of its Texas chapter, recently funded | ||
| and rehabilitated five school buildings in Government College | ||
| Umuahia; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Acting as chair of the Launch Committee, Jay O. Oji | ||
| (GCU Old Boy) of Southlake, along with committee members Angie N. | ||
| Nduka (GCU Young Girl) of Flower Mound, Paul Iwuchkwu of Arlington, | ||
| Nnaerika Okonkwo of Cedar Hill, and Ali N. Talib (GCU Old Boy) of | ||
| Richmond, has organized a Texas launch of three of Mr. Momah's | ||
| novels, including The Shining Ones, The Stream Never Dries Up, and A | ||
| Snake Under a Thatch; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Chike Momah has distinguished himself through his | ||
| outstanding contributions to the literature of his homeland, and it | ||
| is indeed a pleasure to welcome him to the Texas State Capitol; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize Chike Momah for his literary | ||
| achievements and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued | ||
| success and happiness; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Momah as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Davis of Dallas | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 462 was adopted by the House on | ||
| February 16, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
