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By Oliver Okpala
Over the years, the renowned oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze, has remained an enigma and a phenomenon in Nigeria’s philanthropic space.
Arthur Eze, who hails from the royal family in Ukpo Kingdom, in Dunukofia clan, Anambra State, is the chairman of Orlanto Atlas Petroleum, the largest indigenous oil exploration firm in Africa.
Prince Eze 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.
Prince Eze’s philanthropy knows no boundaries, as he doles out to the poor, homeless, sick and needy; no wonder he is known as the Ozoigbondu, the Igbo word for ‘the one who saves lives.’
To politicians and political office seekers, he is the destination whose keys unlock political opportunities and fortunes.
The Ukpo-born 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 purposes 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 Centre in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
The Ijaw, not Igbo, are the major beneficiaries of this Youth Development Centre. That is nationalism!
Prince 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 in Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State.
He was among those that contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency, the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup, the flood relief efforts in 2013 and the COVID-19 crisis mitigation.
A church in Abagana community benefited from his free giving as he doled out N20 million for musical instruments and renovations in 2015.
Prince Eze singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State. He modernized the local market near the Ukpo palace and also created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighbouring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana.
This underlines his acceptance across the country.
And this is why he remains perhaps the brightest star of the Igbo race across the globe.
To ensure his service to humanity outlives him, a few years ago, Prince Eze, who studied mechanical and chemical engineering in California State University at Long Beach, USA, between 1974 and 1978, founded the Prince Arthur Eze Philanthropy and Empowerment International to drive his charitable activities.
The purpose of the NGO is to establish an organised structure and consolidated channels of empowerment and philanthropy.
Prince Eze’s emphasis is not how rich he is but how much he gives back to the society. In this terrain he towers above all his peers.
It is this nationalistic outlook of the philanthropist that has ennobled the Arewa Youth Council of Nigeria to recently nominate him for the Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Excellence Award as the “Jarman Matasan Arewa,” meaning ‘Outstanding Philanthropist’ to the youths of northern Nigeria.
The National Association of Igbo Youths has hailed the decision of the northern group to honour Prince Eze at a ceremony taking place in Abuja on Wednesday this week.
The association is proud to eulogize Prince Eze even while alive.
“For all you have been doing to uplift the downtrodden from misery and pain, words alone cannot be enough to say thank you. 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.
“Dear Prince Arthur Eze, as you continue to live in good health and harmony with your people and humanity as a whole, it is our prayer that the Good Lord would keep sustaining you for the good of the common man wherever they may be!”
•Okpala, a public affairs
analyst, lives in Enugu
