FAREWELL TO THE GREAT IROKO OF AFRICA; CHIEF ENGR. DR. EMMANUEL IWUANYANWU CFR, OFR, MFR, FNSE, FNICE, FNIST, KSC, GCSI, AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO (PRESIDENT GENERAL OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO)
BY CHINEDU NSOFOR
Sahara Weekly Reports That It is with a heart filled with grief that I received the death of my political leader and mentor, my father and role model, my boss and benefactor; Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu CFR, OFR, MFR, FNSE, FNICE, FNIST,KSC, GSI, AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO(PRESIDENT GENERAL OF OHANAEZE ND IGBO WORLDWIDE). I was privileged to serve him as his Special Assistant (Special Duties and Special Projects) for five years, I was his National Coordinator/Board Secretary of Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Foundation for five years. Coordinator of Iwuanyanwu Foundation for five years. Indeed I was his most favorite personal aid while he was alife. I was so close to the great AHAEJIAGAMBA of Igbo land that I was among the very few he allowed access to him even in his bedroom whenever he had retired from work for the day. So I know this man too well and in fact was one of his authorized biographers.
We started writing his biography while I was still a Corps Member at the Presidency SURE-P and concluded writing the biography seven years later. The book “AMAZING GRACE” (A 940 pages biography of Chief Iwuanyanwu) was officially launched on his 80th birthday in 2022. I was very instrumental to ensuring that the 80th birthday of our great leader and boss was a huge success as I traversed round the nook and crannies of this country reaching out to very prominent Nigerians to attend the birthday celebration.
I personally convinced the former President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebere Jonathan GCFR to be physically present at the event,even when he had told me he was earlier scheduled to be outside the country for an International assignment. I ensure President Ibrahim Babangida sent in his goodwill messages as I met him personally for that purpose. I ensured our current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent in his goodwill messages as I follow him up through his son Seyi and his personal assistant. I personally ensured over three former Senate Presidents of Nigeria attended the 80th birthday of my hero and great leader as I personally met each and everyone of them. I ensured several captains of industry and billionaires where properly followed up and constantly reminded to be physically present at his landmark 80th birthday event.
I knew that was the last biggest honour I needed to pay my great leader while he was still alife. Today our great Iroko is gone and his impact resounds all over the country because he is one man that has raised Global leaders and several billionaires within and outside the country. Chief Iwuanyanwu is one man honoured and respected more outside the shores of Nigeria than even in Nigeria; this I got to find out in my recent partnerships with foreign business partners and organizations.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was a living legend respected and honoured more in the far north than in Igbo land, this I got to find out during my one month tour of Nigeria in preparation for the 80th birthday of my hero.
As his personal biographer, there are secrets of his greatness I got to find out that had been the propelling force that made him stand out as a global business and political Titan. Chief Iwuanyanwu considered humanity first before any other considerations while stepping into business or politics. In business he set up the Oriental Airlines, Champion Newspapers, etc in other to project and promote his people;Ndigbo. In civil engineering, he set up the Hardel and Enic Group in other to compete with the International construction firms at that time. In politics he was practically pushed into politics after a group of Igbo Leaders/Traditional rulers picked him as Ndigbo’s sole Presidential candidate to fill in the gap created by the ban of older politicians from contesting elections at that time. Chief Iwuanyanwu almost rejected the call but he struggled within himself and accepted to be the consensus presidential candidate for NDIGBO at that time and he was subsequently taken to the great Zik of Africa Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe for his blessings and guidance. Even though Chief Iwuanyanwu eventually never became president of Nigeria, he has successfully raised leaders within and outside Nigeria to carry on from where he stopped in politics.
Time will fail me to talk about this great man, but I will forever remain grateful to God for bringing me in close contact with the great AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO.
Adiu my hero, gee nkeoma Okeosisi NDIGBO!
Your Very Loyal Son/Boy
Chinedu A. Nsofor
Former SA/National Coordinator of Iwuanyanwu Foundations