CITATION
OF IMO @ 40 LIFETIME ACHIEVER AWARD
RECIPIENT: CHIEF (DR) EMMANUEL CHUKWUEMEKA IWUANYANWU
In
life, some leaders are simply born great; some have greatness bestowed on them by providence; while some achieve
greatness by hard work. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu is indeed a rare
combination of these three phenomenal traits.
Born on Friday 4th September, 1942 to the
humble Christian family of Late Pa Bernard and Late Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu of
Unuohii Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
has today risen to the pinnacle of greatness and stardom. Propelled by the
virtues of hard work, honesty and unalloyed faith in God, he has attained an
enviable height as a successful role model, a political colossus, an industrial
giant, a dedicated soldier of Christ, a professional icon of superlative class,
a pace setter, an unprecedented philanthropist, a champion of youth
empowerment, a detribalized Nigerian patriot, an epitome of integrity.
He has the following academic qualification:
1. B.sc Hon Civil Engineering
University of Nigeria Nsukka.
2. D.sc Engineering Morgan State
University Baltimore, Maryland USA
3. L.ld (Hon) Shaw University Raleigh
, North Carolina USA
4. DBA Hon University of Nigeria
Nsukka
5. D.sc Hon University of Jos
6. D.sc Hon University of Calabar
7. D Tech Federal University of
Technology Owerri
8. DBA (Hon) Edo State University
9. D.sc (Hon ) Engineering , Imo
State University
Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is a registered
Engineer by the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria. He is a Fellow of Nigerian Society of
Engineers, Fellow Institute of Civil Engineers, Fellow Institute of Science
& Technology, Fellow Solar Energy Society of Nigeria and Many others.
Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel
Iwuanyanwu is a meticulous and articulate investor, whose business
empire runs through all spheres of economic endeavour.
So far, this business mogul has established
twenty-two business outfits within an outside Nigeria.
In Politics, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has blazed
the entire landscape like a legend. For some year, he flew the flag of Ndigbo
as a frontline presidential aspirant. In the People’s Democratic Party today he
is a member of the National Board of Trustees and also a member of the National
Caucus of the party representing the entire South East Zone. HE served as
Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo State Creation Committee, Chairman Ohaneze Ndigbo Planning
and Strategy Committee, Board Chairman Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Board
Chairman Nigerian Investment Promotion, Founding Chairman Raw Materials
Research and Development Council of
Nigeria, Chairman National Productivity Merit Award Committee and presently
Pro-Chancellor University of Calabar, just to mention a few.
In his philanthropic activities, he made
contributions in the following area;
1. He built the Children Center in
his Alma-Mater in University of Nigeria Nsukka which he dedicated to his dear
mother Late Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu.
2. He built and equipped Blood
Transfusion Center at Federal Medical Center Owerri which was taken over by the
Federal Government. Today, this center is the Center of Excellence of Blood
Transfusion for the whole of South Eastern Nigeria.
3. Under the governorship of Gen Ike
Nwachukwu Chief Emmanuel chaired a Committee on Works and Infrastructure which
recommended the building of Imo airport. He argued that Imo state at a time
which comprised the present Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States was landlocked. And
besides, the State was a home of many prominent entrepreneurs who regularly
flew to other parts of the world for their business. This project was commenced
with contributions from the then Imo Communities. At a stage when the project
was suspended for lack of fund, leaders from Owerri Zone, the Zone in which the
Airport was located held a meeting with the Military Governor at the time who
explained that N2 million was required from the Government in order to continue
the Airport project. Owerri Zone subsequently promised to pay the N2 million.
The cheque for this project was handed over to Late Hezekiah Ofurum who was
then a Commissioner under Governor Madueke. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu paid this
N2 million on behalf of Owerri people. It is important to note that at that
time, N2 million was more than $2million (Two Million Dollars). Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanaynwu did not request for any refund from Owerri Zone or the Government.
4. When the Airport was completed,
the Airport was not commissioned to any use as the Federal Government at a time
argues that it was very close to Port Harcourt Airport. Chief Iwuanyanwu
established Oriental Airlines and brought in Six Air-Crafts that operated
between Owerri, Abuja, Kano and Maduigiri. Other Airlines found this route
profitable and followed Oriental Airlines. Today Imo Airport is a beehive of
Commercial Activities.
5. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
established Champion Newspapers to create a balance in the dissemination of
information which was dominated by Press outside Igboland. Champion Newspapers
indeed gave Igbos a sense of belonging.
6. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu established
Iwuanyanwu National Football Club which was an offshoot of Spartans Football
club which was virgin for disbandment. Iwuanyanwu National Football for many
years dominated the lead, winning the league and FA Champion and Charity Cup a
number of times. It is historic to note that Iwuanyanwu Nationale Club was the first Club to win the
profession league in Nigeria.
7. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made a
lot of other contributions to the development of sports through Iwuanayanwu
Sports and Athletic Foundation and Iwuanyanwu Comet
8. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
established Iwuanyanwu Foundation which awarded University scholarship to many
gifted students to study in tertiary institutions. All together he has trained
over 3,000 Nigerian youths in his scholarship programme.
9. Chief Iwuanyanwu was the Chairman
of Owerri Chambers of Commerce. HE was a strong advocate of homeward
integration by businessmen from Igboland. By this policy, he insisted that Igbo
entrepreneurs should invest part of their businesses in Igboland to create
goods, services and employment for the youths of Igboland. He set example of this by establishing
most of his businesses in Owerri and even in his village Atta, Ikeduru.
10. Chief Iwuanyanwu made substantial
contributions to the development of many communities in Imo State for the
provision of light, water and roads.
11. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
appreciated that most people in Igboland are Christians of various denominations;
he therefore supported many Christian projects in Igboland.
12. Around 1987, when the military
indicted their intention to hand over power, leaders of Imo State comprising
Imo, Abia and part of Ebonyi met at the palace of Onuegwunwoke in Owerri in
order to select a Spokesman for the Igbos. At that time, Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanyanwu was still a young man and the leadership was expected to fall in the
hands of older leaders such as Dr Jaja Wachukwu, Chief R.B.K Okafor and Dr.
J.O.J Okezie. At a well attended meeting by all Traditional Rulers, Political
leaders and Religious leaders in Igboland, these three older leaders failed to
step down for the other to be the rallying point for the Igbos. After many
hours of deliberation, the Traditional Rulers announced that they were going on
a caucus to select somebody. We all agreed to accept whoever they selected.
After their deliberation which lasted for One hour, they came back from their
meeting and announcement was made by HRM Eze Benard Enweremandu in behalf of
the Traditional Rulers that they have selected a younger person Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanywu to carry this assignment. The three leading politicians Chied R.B. K
Okafor, Dr. Jaja Wachukwu and D. J.O.J Okezie one after the other declared
their support for Chief Iwuanyanwu. Chief Iwuanyanwu was therefore unanimously
appointed the Spokesman for Igbo people on all political issues.
Subsequently, all the meetings
about the creation of Ebonyi State were held in Chief Iwuanyanwu’s residence.
Later when Ebonyi was being created, the dispute between Afikpo and Abakiliki
areas was also resolved in Chief Iwuanyanwu’s house
Chief Iwuanyanwu therefore has played major role in
shaping the life and destiny of Igbo people.
In recognition of his selfless services to humanity,
Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu is a recipient of an avalanche of
International and National awards and titles including Ahaejiagamba Ndibo
conferred on him by Chairman of Traditional Rulers Representing the seven Igbo
Stated of Nigeria.
In all his houses, he established of Chapel of Holy
Bethel where constant praises and prayers are offered to the Almighty God. All
through his life, he had remained a dedicated soldier of the Christ, using his
time, money, intellect and other resources in the effective propagation of the
Gospel. He is the member of the Order of Knights of St Christopher in the
Anglican Communion.
His philosophy of life is appropriately encapsulated
in his speech on Monday 11th November, 1985 when he handed over a
Blood Transfusion Center which he built, furnished and donated to the Imo State
Government and I quote:
“I believe in the Supreme Being. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent.
He is all loving and all wise. He is the Almighty God.
I believe that the highest fulfillment, the greatest
happiness and the wildest usefulness if the individual can only be realized in
harmony with the divine will of the Almighty God.
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual, in
his right to life and liberty and pursuit of happiness.
I believe in the sacredness of human life and human
right.
I believe that every right implies a responsibility,
every opportunity an obligation and every possession a duty.
I believe in dignity of labour whether with the head
or with the hand.
I believe that the goof God in his infinite mercy
has bestowed mankind with sundry gifts and whatever gift bestowed on any man is
given to him by the good Lord in sacred trust and man should use such gifts to
promote love, happiness and peace among the people of all races and creed.
I believe that the world owes no man a living but
owes every man an opportunity to make a living.
I believe that love is the greatest thing in the
world and it can over-come hate, greed and rancor.
I believe that the rendering of useful service is
the common duty of mankind and the greatest happiness and peace of the human
soul can be attained in rendering such services.
I believe that truth, justice and equity are fundamental
pre-requisites to an enduring social order that right can and will always
triumph over might.
I believe in the sacredness of promise, that man’s
word should be as good os a bond, that
character not wealth or power or possession is of supreme worth.
I believe that prudence is essential to well ordered
living and that economy is a pre-requisite of a sound financial structure
whether in government, business or personal affairs.
And finally, I believe that law is made for man and
not man for law and that government is the servant of the people and not the
master and no individual can be greater than the society in which he lives.”
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to
you, Chief (Dr.) Engr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu CRR, OFR, MFR,FNSE,
FNICE,KSC AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO, a distinguished , illustrious and celebrated
Nigerian. A living legend of our time. His heritage if humility. His profession
is pragmatism. His legacy is diligence and prudence. His promise is versatility
spiced with magnanimity.
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