All is set to give departed wordsmith Prof. Chinua Achebe what could turn out to be the burial of the year.

Events celebrating his life has already commenced in different parts of Nigeria and abroad. His home state government led by Governor Peter Obi is offering all the needed support to make the funeral a huge success as all roads will lead to his hometown, Ogidi next week. The Nigerian Government has been fully supportive in planning the funeral.

Recently Gov. Obi held a press conference in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, during which he underlined support for the funeral as articulated by the Achebe Family.

The great man’s funeral will formally start on Wednesday, May 22, when Ndi Anambra will gather at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, to bid farewell to the great writer of Things Fall Apart and celebrate his rich life and legacies. He will be buried the next day after a church service at St. Philips Anglican Church in his hometown, Ogidi.

Secretary to the Government of Anambra State, Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, who is a member of the International Funeral Committee and chair of the Anambra State Government Funeral Committee, said: “All roads will lead to Ogidi next week.” Obaze confirmed that several Heads of State and Government and foreign dignitaries were being expected, but declined to be specific. “Chinua Achebe,” he said, “deserves to be celebrated like no other Nigerian. He was a legend in his lifetime.”

News Express learnt that the major roads of Anambra will be adorned with billboards in tribute to Achebe ahead of the burial.

Achebe died March 31, aged 82, the news of his death being broken by News Express.