By Samson Ezea
Recently, a very insightful, informative, and interesting article titled: “The Travails Of Ohanaeze and The Shame Of Ndigbo” trended massively on social media platforms. It disrupted the status quo, touched nerves, and generated mixed reactions and feelings, especially among the Igbos.
Yes, it ruffled feathers because the writer hit the nail on the head, by challenging political leaders and prominent people of the Southeast region on the urgent need to identify, support and rally round the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndígbo. The article was topnotch and frank. It is typical of the writer, Prof. Anueyiagu, Professor of Political Economy, Author and Newspaper Columnist.
I am quite aware and cocksure that before and since after the publication of the article, that apart from tongues that have wagged and questions that have been asked about the writer, the writer has been under immense call and pressure from prominent Igbos to step forward and bell the cat for his people. But the irony and truth about the whole thing is that Prof. Anueyiagu is neither interested in occupying any public position, nor contesting any political office.
Although, not many know, Prof. Anueyiagu as a person. Not that he is not popular and visible. He is, but less noisy and involved. He is a detribalised Nigerian, renowned philanthropist, and a strict disciplinarian.
My path crossed with that of Prof. Anueyiagu in 2012 when I was with The Guardian Newspaper, Lagos. The then Managing Director of The Guardian Newspaper Lagos, Emeka Izeze, gave me Prof. Anueyiagu’s number and instructed me to reach him to finalize arrangements on how to interview his nonegenerian father, Pa Chukwuma Anueyiagu, the then doyen and unsung hero of Nigerian Journalism, who was 97 years old.
On reaching out to Prof Anueyiagu, I was warmly welcomed. We had a fruitful discussion. Arrangements were made, and I came down to Amudo village, Awka South LGA of Anambra State, where I had an exclusive, incisive, and revealing interview with Pa Anueyiagu.
The interview, which was published in The Guardian Newspaper, generated a lot of commendations and applauses. Since then, I and Prof. Anueyiagu, who was happy with my professional handling of the assignment, became friends. Even though he is older than me, he has continued to treat me like his peer and brother since then.
Sadly and unfortunately, his father, a great Zikist, renowned editor of five different newspapers, great nationalist, leader, and entrepreneur, later died in 2014 at the age of 100. His burial was a carnival of sort as great personalities and creme de la creme of Nigerian society from all walks of life were in Amudo, Awka, to pay last tribute to the late sage.
Knowing that Prof. Anueyiagu is a great writer and guest columnist of This Day Newspaper, I kept tab on him and his media interventions and activisms since then to date. His writings are always blunt, factual, nationalistic and altruistic, likewise his unique personality.
Despite his deep pocket, sound academic, and vast contacts across the divide, Prof Anueyiagu has remained humble, taciturn, and apolitical.
It is on record and not surprising that over the decades, Prof. Anueyiagu has remained consistent and committed to good governance, quality leadership, and developmental programmes and projects that will enhance the lives and well-being of the people. He detests with passion, cronyism, corruption, and prebendalism in public or private service.
A scion of the great Anueyiagu dynasty of Amudo, Awka South LGA of Anambra State and a chip of old block, Prof. Anueyiagu was born in Kano, Nigeria. He graduated, with honours, from the prestigious University of Nigeria, NSUKKA, studied and earned post graduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of Rochester, New York and Fordham University, New York. He was a pioneer staff member of the old Anambra State University of Technology.
Anueyiagu, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and activist, an art collector, and a humanist, has distinguished himself in various endeavours of life. He has for over four decades promoted various ventures in oil and gas, agriculture, telecommunication, construction, manufacturing, and industry and has sponsored the promotion of art and culture across continents.
He has worked in various field of endeavours in the promotion of harmonious coexistence of the various tribes, entities, and peoples within the varying geopolitical landscape of Africa and the world His foray into sociopolitical spheres is geared toward fostering unity and peaceful coexistence between diverse groups and entities.
In the academic field, he has published a compendium of research materials, journals and books, a few of which are listed herewith; Wealth and Economic Status: A perspective on Racial inequality (1982), Foreign Trade Policy and Black economic Advancement. (1982), Trends, Prospects, and Strategies for Black Economic Progress. (1984), The Political Mobilization of Black America, 1982- 1984 (1986), The Determinants of Black Partisanship (1985), Race: Politics and Economics. (1985), Minorities and the Labour Market (1985), Foreign Policy Planning: Its practice and problems in the United States Department of State. (1985), Practice & Problems of the United States Foreign Policy Planning: A Case Study of Africa. (1985), Voter Choice in Presidential Elections: A Casual Analysis. (1986), Welfare System in Nigeria: An Analysis. (1987), Debt Conversion & Direct Equity investment: The Mexican Experience. (1988), The Economic Implications of a Two-party System in the Third Republic. (1988), Privatization: A Case Study of the Nigeria Oil Industry. (1989), The Arrogance and Glorification of Illiteracy, (2009), African Contemporary Art: Collection of Essays, (2011), Contemporary African Art; My Private Collection of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, 265 Pages (2012).
His latest book titled: ” Biafra: The Horrors Of War, The Story Of A Child Soldier is a must-read. It is deep, factual, and revealing.
Some of his professional memberships include the Member, the Joint Centre for Political Studies, Washington D.C., U.S.A; Member, Democratic National Convention, New York Chapter; Member, National Policy Institute, Washington D.C. U.S.A; Associate Member, Economic and Social Task Force, JCPS Washington D.C.; Member, Association for Intelligence Officers, Virginia, USA, Member, Journals of U.S and International Intelligence Studies, USA; The Academy of Political Science, New York; The Economic Summit Group, Nigeria.
His entrepreneurial activities started as far back as in the mid-1980s, when he established financial consultancy companies and trading companies specialising in advisory activities for blue chip companies and for various government agencies. He served as a Board Member of the Nigeria Coal Corporation, where he pioneered processes geared toward the liberalization and commercialization of the huge coal industry in Nigeria.
He established and chaired companies with interest in various enterprises, including agriculture, oil and gas, power and energy systems, aviation equipment supplies, mining, engineering, and construction.
He currently serves on the boards of Pointec Group and Brown Brommel, companies that are pursuing and executing interests in construction, oil, and gas trading and refinery projects.
He has been described by very prominent scholars, successful and well revered, and respected individuals in very frank and superlative ways.
His enormous contributions and investments to philanthropy are legendary and unprecedented. He has contributed to various projects in support of the poor, the down trodden, the hungry, the homeless, orphans, and the less privileged in the society. Through his organization; DR. OKEY ANUEYIAGU FOUNDATION (okeyanueyiagufoundation.org), a structure was built to serve as accommodation and clinic for orphans in Awka. The Foundation, amongst other projects, has built, reconstructed, and rehabilitated many old and dilapidated elementary schools, churches, and homes in Awka.
In the field of art, he is an avid art collector who has spent well over 40 years collecting paintings and sculptures from around the world. In 2012, he published a 265-page book titled; “Contemporary African Art- My Private Collection of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke.” The book, which includes images reflecting the sweeping governmental changes throughout Africa and the rest of the world, pays tribute to Offoedu-Okeke’s heritage and the artists who preceded him. Topics range from primal emotion to complicated sociological concerns. Throughout the anthology, the artist aims to express his experience and observations through rhythm, poetry, pattern, and colour. Anueyiagu’s book and essays ultimately seek to advance and preserve the culture of Africa and, by extension, of the world.
The Ph.D. graduate of Fordham University with an emphasis in Economics and Political Science, is the CEO of Brown Brommel Limited in Lagos, Nigeria. The company provides advanced technology services and leading innovation in multiple sectors, such as energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture, and publishing.
Furthermore, he helps the company to maintain global strategic alliance networks and international partnerships that contribute to project planning and execution.
His admiration and love for his late father, Pa Chukwuma Anueyiagu, the doyen of Nigerian Journalism, made him script powerful tribute in his honour that highlights the man’s life and the experiences they shared.
In his tribute, to his father, Chief Chuma, a Legendary Journalist and writer, who died in 2014, at 100, years, Anueyiagu said he greatly admired his father, who he felt embodied integrity. He said he learned many lessons from his father, including the belief that a simple life is the most successful and powerful. In addition, he said that his father taught him that peace and simplicity are closely intertwined. Anueyiagu respected the fact that his father led a life free of hate, hurriedness, and clutter.
Prof. Okey Anueyiagu and his father shared many spiritual and philosophical discussions. Prof. Anueyiagu is married to Hadiza, a lawyer and a partner of over 30 years, and has three daughters; Tochi, Ebele and Dera, and twin boys Aka and Arize.
Ezea writes from Independence Layout, Enugu State.
