Apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed deep shock over the passing of President-Common of the organisation, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, saying the Ndigbo has misplaced a gem.
An announcement on Thursday by the Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Dr Alex Ogbonnia mentioned, “He was certainly bigger than life; and the perfect President Ohanaeze Ndigbo ever had. Now we have misplaced a gem.”
Son of the departed Igbo chief, Mr. Jude Iwuanyanwu, introduced the passing of his father, saying that the legendary industrialist departed on Thursday, July 25, 2024 after a short sickness on the age of 82.
Iwuanyanwu assumed workplace because the President-Common of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on April 30, 2023 because the ninth chief of the Igbo group since its inception in 1976.
Reacting to the demise of its chief, Ogbonnia mentioned Iwuanyanwu launched strategic and visionary dimension to the modus operandi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Within the first place, Ahaejiagamba had a towering persona with a formidable document as one of the profitable businessmen in Nigeria.
“He deployed his prodigious mind, political, administrative and political acumen, huge data and invaluable contacts within the selfless service of Ndigbo. The transformative chief lifted Ohanaeze Ndigbo removed from its acquainted habitat and provenance to an enviable pedestal.”
He added that, “As members of the NEC, we have been at all times amazed by the sensible initiatives, elephantine reminiscence, oratory, together with the frequency with which the Igbo chief enunciated sturdy concepts.
“Trying again, Ndigbo all around the world have been delighted {that a} jinx-breaker, enterprise icon, ethical edifice, mobiliser, harmoniser of various pursuits and an achieved achiever within the particular person of Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was on the helm of affairs because the President Common of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. It’s subsequently very painful that Chief Iwuanyanwu has handed on with all of the concepts that have been at his disposal.
“It’s certainly a tragic denouement for the Igbo that each Professor George Obiozor and Chief Iwuanyanwu died in workplace. We’re additionally apprehensive on the price we’re shedding the brightest of the brightest among the many Igbo in a detailed sequence at a time their clever counsels are largely wanted.
“It was Prof Ben Nwabueze, His Majesty, Igwe Joseph Chike Edozien, Dr. Sylvester Ebiwei, Professor Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, amongst others,” he acknowledged.
Ogbonnia described the late chief as a philanthropist par excellence, centered artistic thinker, courageous soldier, achieved engineer, astute enterprise mogul, industrialist and a sagacious politician, and the previous highest employer of labour in your entire East of the Niger.
He famous that because the Chairman of the Iwuanyanwu Basis the deceased provided scholarships to over 10,000 indigent college students throughout the nation, and donating to universities to create conducive environments for studying; constructed church buildings and different neighborhood services.
He recalled that when the previous governor of Previous Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe conceived the concept of an Worldwide Cargo Airport at Owerri over 40 years in the past, it was Iwuanyanwu who made the very best donation of $2 million, amongst others.
In politics, he recalled that the late Iwuanyanwu produced a number of chairmen of native governments, commissioners, senators, ministers and governors most of whom are nonetheless alive.
“The Iwuanyanwu trajectory is an admonition to the current day egocentric and mundane leaders who understand legacy as leaving monumental wealth behind for one’s offspring; moderately, it’s about laying invaluable basis among the many populace, particularly for youthful generations,” he mentioned.
He added that Iwuanyanwu’s life mission transcended self, however one that’s moderately dedicated to charity, humanity and repair to God.
“Nigerians throughout board had seen with immense delight and awe, the varied brave profitable adventures Ahaejiagamba had made in various fields of endeavour.
“He was a person who used his ingenuity and expertise to discovered over twenty restricted legal responsibility firms that employed 1000’s of Nigerians,” he mentioned.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s picture maker additional extolled its late chief, saying regardless of his superb peak in society and busy schedules, he devoted high quality time in service to Ndigbo on completely different platforms resulting in his final because the President-Common, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He described his persona as a veritable and provoking tribute to virtues of laborious work, sincerity, heroism, sacrifice, ingenuity, philanthropy and mentorship to the individuals.
Ogbonnia additional highlighted Iwuanyanwu’s “prodigious mind, character comeliness, generosity, frontier spirit, perseverance and tenacity portraying the infinite capability of human beings to form their very own destinies; and a warning to the hazards of self-delusion, vanity and get-rich-quick syndrome which have turn into the modern social variables amongst in the present day youths.”
“Whereas we ship a heartfelt condolence to the amiable spouse, the kids, the individuals of Umuohiri Attah neighborhood and the Imo State authorities, we ask the Almighty to grant the soul of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an everlasting relaxation in his bosom,” the assertion mentioned.