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His Royal Highness Igwe Kenneth Orizu 111, Igwe of Nnewi Kingdom is the oldest living monarch in the world, being 100 years old and also the longest serving monarch in the world, having ascended the throne 62 years ago in 1963.
As the 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe Nnewi, he is a highly respected traditional ruler, mentor and one who has played a major role in facilitating the transformation of Nnewi into an industrial hub.
He has also contributed greatly to developing the traditional institution in Anambra State, having served as Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council at a time. He has also contributed to peace and progress in the state.
As a young boy, his admission into the prestigious Hope Waddell College, Calabar in 1942 and subsequent transfer to New Bethel College, Onitsha, set the stage for his ascension to the throne and glorious reign.
When he began his professional career in Kano as a young man, he distinguished himself in John Holt between 1955 and 1959; as well as the Eastern States Information Service. The story was the same at the Nigeria Outlook in Onitsha, and Mid-Western Region between 1962 and 1963 when he served as manager.
At different times, he held several positions, including Representative, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council during FESTAC in 1977; Chairman, Nnewi Community Meeting (1979-1988); member of the Board of Trustees, former Anambra State Development Fund; and Member, Board of Trustees, Society for the Handicapped.
Igwe Kenneth Orizu is also the Founder and Chairman, Igwe Orizu Centre for Humanity; National Patron for the Boy Scouts; the Girl Guides and various organisations at state and national levels.
A great philanthropist, Igwe Orizu once donated from his family land, about 75 per cent of the total land area needed for the take-off of the then Teachers Training College, Nnewi. The same site is now occupied by the College of Health Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He also donated a community land for the construction of NITEL Exchange and NEPA in Nnewi.
The Igwe’s constant appeal to wealthy sons of Nnewi Kingdom resulted in the emergence of tarred roads and provision of clean water by the citizens to help reduce the sufferings of the people.
He played a major role in mobilising Nnewi sons for the building of classroom blocks. In all, eight buildings, including a hall, were built and donated to the school. They also donated learning equipment worth several millions of Naira at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital located in Nnewi.
With well over 300 medium and small-scale industries, Nnewi is the industrial hub of the South-East. He visited all the major towns in Nigeria, appealing to Nnewi-born investors who had the capacity to come home and invest in the town.
To realise the dream of industrialisation, he made Nnewi investor-friendly, using his three sub-Obis, the Town Union and the Nnewi Royal Cabinet, such that even non-indigenes were encouraged to site industries in what is now one of the biggest commercial centre in Nigeria.
His accomplishments earned him an honorary Doctorate Degree from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University; a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), having made his mark as a contributor to national development.
Igwe Kenneth Orizu 111 is the winner of The Sun Most Outstanding Royal Father of the Year Award for 2025.
