SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 304

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 United Nations 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd 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 from the Texas Senate.

Davis

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 22, 2011.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate