The entire people of Ogwuaga Abba Autonomous Community on the 8th of November, 2020 came out in their large numbers to identify with a great son of the land and Eze-elect of Ogwuaga Abba Autonomous Community on his 53rd birthday ceremony, which kicked off with a Thanksgiving Service at St’ Stephen’s Anglican Church, Amato Village in Ogwuaga Abba.
In attendance at the epochal event was the acting President-General of Ogwuaga Abba Autonomous Community, Dr. Frank Orjiako, his Vice, Mr. Uchegold Ubechu and other executive members. The Church service was presided over by the Vicar General of Orlu Catholic Diocese Rev. Canon Chris Ihekweaba. A visiting clergy and former Vicar General of the Church, Venerable Gideon Nnanaemere delivered the sermon.
Speaking, the Ven. Nnanaemere thanked God for the life of Chief Chikezie Chikere Akwiwu and for adding another year to his life. Delivering his scripture from Luke, Chapter 7, verse: 1. Ven. Nnanaemere appreciated Rev. Canon Ihekwuaba for allowing him to preach at the special service organised in honour of Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu.
Ven. Nnanaemere drew the attention of the congregation to a rich man in the Bible who devoted his time to the service of God. Using the rich man in the bible as reference to Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu’s humility and kind-hearted disposition to his community, and everyone around him including his employees. Ven. Nnanaenere gave account of Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu humanitarian services to the under-privileged members in the society.
“When I was here as the resident clergy of this parish our brother Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu told me quietly to forward the names of indigent women in the community to him, which I did but learnt later that he placed all of them on a monthly salary of N25, 000 including a blind woman who never had the priviledge of seeing the man who pays her”. This has been running for the past 6 years. And has since been expanded.
Ven. Nnanaemere recalled that when one of the beneficiaries passed away, Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu, requested him to forward the name of a replacement.
Ven. Nnanaemere, told the congregation that several children of the less priviledged members of the community have been recieving scholarship from Chief Chikere Okezie Akwiwu to further their educations.
He urged the congregation to ensure the generous heart of Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu is encouraged by doing what is right before God, even as he prayed that God should continue to strengthen Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu in his effort to better the lots of his people.
Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu, is the fourth amongst five children born into the family of late Chief E. C. Akwiwu, SAN, first Republic Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, the Oshimiri II, Odokoro Omee I and Ukaeje I of Abba Clan.
He started his primary education at Owerri Road Primary School, Aba, Abia State and later had his secondary education at Federal Government College Kano, Kano State.
The Eze-elect was admitted into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, where he obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Second Class Upper). Before proceeding to Middlessex University, London, United Kingdom where he later obtained his MBA. Whilst schooling, Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu leant the rudimentary skills of becoming successful.
Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu, is a member of Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE) and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers and also a member of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN).
Upon graduation, he worked with the family business but later opted out alongside his younger brother Engr Ndukwe Akwiwu to establish their own businesses. Together they own businesses locally and internationally. .
Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu, Eze-elect of Ogwuaga Abba Autonomous Community, in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, has successfully established two flourishing Oil & Gas Service Companies, with headquarters in Lagos, and branch offices in Bonny Island, Port Harcourt, and Warri, Delta State respectively. These companies currently employ in excess of 250 people.
The Eze-elect is interested in fitness as a routine programme for his physical and mental alertness and enjoys watching football occasionally travelling and current affairs.
Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu’s stream of friends cut across various strata of life and as a global citizen his relationship with everyone irrespective of background is second to none.
A recipient of numerous awards, a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, his academic background and business exposure are is a major factors for his passion for humanity, which is responsible for his too many charity works.
In 2009, he built a big hall for St’ Stephen’s Anglican Church, Umuogbu, Ogwuaga Abba. His philanthropy was a major factor that influenced his people’s interest to beckon on him to serve them. It is noteworthy that these humanitarian gestures started when he never knew his people will beckon on him to be their natural ruler as custodian of the peoples culture and tradition.
On 30th of August, 2020 the entire people of Ogwuaga Abba Autonomous Community in a landslide plebiscite, elected Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu as their Eze-elect.
While the people of this community patiently await His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Oyoko) the presentation of the Staff of Office to this illustrious son of Ogwuaga Abba Community. Spectators and on-lookers were marvelled and excited at the carnival atmosphere of the occasion at the residence of the Eze-elect on the day of his birthday, indicating the love, passion and high regards his people have for him.
Elders of the community used the opportunity of the birthday to formally induct Chief Okezie Chikere Akwiwu as the Eze-elect of Ogwuaga Abba and thereafter presented him to the community. The good people of this great Kingdom believe that they are yet to get the best of this uncommon man, as illustrated by Venerable Gideon Nnanaemere during the sermon.
