By Oliver Okpala
Over the years, the renowned oil magnate a d extraordinary philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze, has remained an enigma and a phenomenon in Nigeria. A prince from the Eze royal family in the Ukpo Kingdom of Dunukofia clan in Anambra State, he is the Chairman of Oranto Atlas Petroleum, the largest indigenous oil exploration firm in Africa.
In 1970, Eze attended St. Augustine Secondary School in Nkwere, Imo State, where he began to discover his passion and talent for mechanical engineering. Thereafter, he went on to study Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach, from 1974 to 1978.
Prince Arthur Eze founded the Prince Arthur Eze Philanthropy and Empowerment International to drive his charitable activities, and through this organisation, his monumental legacies in philanthropy has helped to immortalise his name and person while alive. He is known to be very close to the corridors of power in Africa and the world at large but still closer to the downtrodden. That is why Nigerians who have been following the trajectory of this business mogul will easily point to his record as a philanthropist without borders who is not curtailed by tribe, politics or religion.
Today, his company is the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa. The company’s oil acreage continues to grow day by day.
Prince Eze’s philanthropy knows no boundaries; as he doles out to the poor, homeless, sick, and needy, without let or hindrance. No wonder he is known as the Ozoigbondu, the Igbo word for the one who saves lives.
To the politicians and political office seekers, Prince Eze is the destination whose keys unlock political opportunities and fortunes. The Ukpo prince is also known to have donated huge sums of money to political aspirants across party lines over the decades, especially in his Anambra State without asking for anything in return or breathing down their necks for patronage.
His exploits in the area of human development are unparalleled. Unlike many who do these for political reasons and for the purpose of gaining popularity, Prince Eze goes about his charity without blowing his trumpet. To him, philanthropy is just a way of life and not an opportunity to show off.
Though an indigene of Anambra state, Prince Eze constructed an overhead bridge in Ebonyi State with his funds without asking for government intervention some years ago. He has been severally described as an illustrious son of Ndigbo who has used his wealth to touch the lives of others.
In 2013, he donated $12 million for the construction of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Ijaws, not Igbo, are the major beneficiaries of this Youth Development Center. That is nationalism!
Prince Arthur Eze, thereafter, donated $800,000 for the construction of two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in central South Sudan. That is pan-Africanism!
Through Prince Eze, the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder received the sum of N5 million for a standard sickle cell clinic at the Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State. He was part of those who contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgencies, the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup, the flood relief efforts in 2013, and the COVIS-19 crisis.
A church in Abagana community benefited from his free giving as he dolled out the sum of 20 million naira for musical instruments and renovations in 2015. He singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University and modernised the local market near the Ukpo palace as well as created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighbouring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana.
These communal development efforts and art of philanthropy underline his acceptance across the country. This is why he remains one of the most respected Nigerian.
Prince Eze’s emphasis is not how rich he is but how much he gives back to society at large. In this terrain, he towers above all his peers.
Those who understand the effect of humanitarian service say that if there are large hearts like Chief Arthur Eze in every community or nation, then the problems of the poor masses would have been over.
Indeed, as Prince Eze continue to live in good health and harmony with his people and humanity as a whole, it is the prayer of many that the Good lord would keep sustaining him for the good of the common man.
As he celebrates his 76th birthday today, we pray that God Almighty will continue to guide and protect him. with good health and long life for the continued benefit of the human race.
• Okpala is a public affairs analyst.