The death of renowned Nigerian politician, business mogul and the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, on July 25, 2024, has created a huge vacuum that will be very hard to fill in Igbo leadership. Since his demise at the age of 82, eminent Nigerians and leaders have paid glowing tributes to the departed patriot, elder statesman and philanthropist. His death at a time his services are highly needed is a great loss to Ndigbo and all Nigerians.
In his befitting tribute, President Bola Tinubu stated that Chief Iwuanyanwu will always be remembered for his remarkable legacy. Former President Muhammadu Buhari eulogized him for his passionate commitment to the unity, peaceful coexistence, and the development of the country. Similarly, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, recalled that Iwuanyanwu was not just a father to many, but a bridge builder who remained committed to the peaceful coexistence of the nation.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was an engineer, newspaper publisher and sports enthusiast. He was the chairman of Hardel and Eric Construction Company. His business interests cut across advertising, media, insurance, shipping, hotels and aviation. He was the founder and publisher of Champion Newspapers. He also founded the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club, which won national and continental titles.
He was born on September 4, 1942, to the family of Pa Bernard and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu of Umuahii Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. He had his primary education at St Patrick School, Nkpokwu, now Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, and the Holy Trinity Primary School, Umuapara, from 1948 to 1954. He later attended the New Bethel College, Onitsha, Anambra State, from 1955 to 1959. In 1960, Iwuanyanwu was offered admission into the Federal School of Science, Lagos, where he studied Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
He proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), to study Civil Engineering in 1963, where his brilliance earned him German Academic Exchange Scholarship, which covered school fees, boarding, feeding and holiday tickets. Iwuanyanwu’s education at the UNN was disrupted by the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970. He enlisted in the Biafran Army where, on account of his engineering background, he was drafted into the Research and Production (R&P) Directorate, where he served in the Directorate’s Rocket Unit.
Iwuanyanwu returned to the UNN at the end of the civil war to complete his studies and earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1971. He also had a D.Sc degree in Engineering from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1983, in addition to numerous honourary degrees and certificates.
He participated in the ill-fated 1990-1993 political transition programme of the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, where he was a prominent figure in the National Republican Convention (NRC). In the 1996-1998 Gen. Sani Abacha contraption, Iwuanyanwu joined forces with like minds to found the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). Following the death of Abacha and emergence of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s political transition in 1999, Iwuanyanwu joined the then All Peoples Party (APP), before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He remained a member of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) till his death. He was a member of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.
For his dedicated service to the nation, Iwuanyanwu was conferred with the national honours of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Science & Technology; Nigerian Society of Engineers; Institute of Management Consultants; Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students; Chartered Institute of Transport of Great Britain; Solar Energy Society of Nigeria; Nigerian Institute of Sales Management; and the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.
His traditional titles include Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo; Eze Omereoha of Atta; Oke Osisi Kuferemba of Mbaise; Anaghiegbuiyi of Orlu; Onwa Na Agbara Oha of Orji, among others. His desire for justice, equity, progress and development of the nation transcended ethnic and religious boundaries. Apart from being the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, he was also the President of Owerri Peoples Assembly. Considering his immense contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, we urge the Federal Government to immortalise him. We commiserate with his family, friends and the political class over the irreparable loss. Goodbye Ahaejiagamba!