Abuja, NIGERIA — The various reactions from the members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze and from all the organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide indicate wild jubilations with the news that Chief Dr. Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR, OFR, MFR, GCSI, FNSE, FNIST, FNICE, KSC (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), the Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been selected as a replacement to Ambassador George Obiozor who died in 2022.
In line with a doctrine of necessity, the NEC had at the demise of Ambassador Professor George Obiozor directed the people of Imo State to find a credible replacement of Obiozor for the post of President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
A press release dated April 19, 2023, signed by Mr Oguwike Nwachuku, the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor of Imo State, stated that the Imo State Council of Elders, led by Eze Ilomuanya presented Chief Iwuanyanwu to the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as “the consensus candidate of the Council for the post of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide” Eze Ilomuanya described Iwuanyanwu as a “dynamic, versatile, purpose driven and broad-minded personality of impeccable pedigree”.
Before now, Iwuanyanwu is one of the finest amongst the Igbo; a philanthropist, massive employer of labour, robust creative thinker, brave soldier, accomplished engineer, astute business mogul, industrialist and sagacious politician.
Beyond the above attributes is the general outcry for the prerequisites or the required persona for the Office of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Most expect the president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to be economically stable and viable. He should have a presidential stature and clout. He should have robust intellect and a mind of his own. The president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo must detach himself from any governor and should have the courage and moral authority to reproach or condemn a governor or any high office holder who goes against the Igbo interest or public norms. The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo must show capacity in many respects. He should have the courage and convictions to channel Igbo interests to the President of Nigeria without compromises.
He should place Igbo interest above self interest. He should be large enough or should have the tentacles that will incorporate the Igbo elements in the South South of Nigeria and other sundry places. The person must have contributed his quota in diverse forms in promoting the Igbo heritage. The president general of Ohanaeze must not only understand the intricate and labyrinthine political dynamics of Nigeria but must have sufficient political and business contacts across Nigeria and beyond; in other words, he should understand the nuances of governments at all levels.
It is important to add that reverence to age is part of our culture and to that extent, the person must have an elderly disposition up enough to command the allegiance of most. More importantly, the president general must have been an active participant in the Ohanaeze activities. And more—.Chief Iwuanyanwu fits in squarely into the above prerequisites.
Some illustrations, in line with the above desideratum: there was a time in history, Iwuanyanwu was the highest employer of labour, at least in the entire East of the Niger. The Iwuanyanwu Foundation has offered scholarships to over ten thousand indigent students across the country. He has donated to universities to create conducive environments for learning; built Churches and other community facilities.
By sheer hard work and ingenuity, he founded over twenty limited liability Companies that employed thousands of Nigerians. Some of the companies include: Chairman, Hardel & Enic Construction Ltd; Champion Newspapers; Oriental Airlines; Oriental Shipping Lines Ltd; Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club of Owerri, which won several national and international championships (now Heartland F.C of Owerri); Enic Advertising and Marketing; Sunrise Insurance Brokers; Benhol Farms Limited; Magil Agricultural & Animal Health Products Limited, among many others.
Iwuanyanwu has held many public offices: they include: Board Chairman, Federal Road Maintenance Agency; Board Chairman, Nigerian Investment Promotion; Founding Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria; Chairman, National Productivity Merit Award; Chairman, Nigerian Sports Development Council; Founding Chairman, Nigerian National Lottery; Chairman, National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos; Pro-Chancellor, the University of Calabar, Cross River State.
As an unassailable trail blazer, he was honoured with Chief Executive of the Year, Business Education Executive Council in 1985 and the Business Person of the Year Award in 1990; Member Federal Republic (MFR), Officer Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander Federal Republic (CFR); and a Knight of the Order of St. Christopher. Some universities have also decorated Iwuanyanwu with doctorate degrees, honoris causa. They include: D.Sc. Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Doctor of Laws, LLD, Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Doctor of Science, D.Sc, University of Jos; Doctor of Science, D.Sc, University of Calabar; Doctor of Technology, D.Tech, Federal University of Technology Owerri; Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, Edo State University and a Doctor of Science, D.Sc, Imo State University, Owerri. He is a Fellow of several institutions. Iwuanyanwu is cited in Who is Who in Nigeria; Who is Who in Africa; Who is Who in Commonwealth and Who is Who in the World.
The Iwuanyanwu trajectory is a veritable and inspiring tribute to virtues of hard work, sincerity, heroism, sacrifice, ingenuity, philanthropy and mentorship to the people. For instance, when his people needed his services most, he volunteered to serve as a Biafran soldier, rising to the rank of a Captain at a very young age. Apart from his gallantry and exploits in the theatre of war, he was among the engineers that invented the multi-purpose Biafran bomb, called the Ogbunigwe.
At the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Iwuanyanwu has served as Chairman in the following Ohanaeze Committees: State Creation Committee, Planning and Strategy Committee, Political Committee, Constitution Drafting Committee and currently, the Chairman, Ohanaeze Elders Council.
Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia; National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
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