H.R. No. 462
R E S O L U T I O N
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