Emmanuel Chukwumeka Iwuanyanwu (1942-2024)

The death on July 25, 2024 of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo, and President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide marks the end of an eventful era. He was an astute businessman, administrator, media proprietor, philanthropist and a sports enthusiast who invested heavily on football.

At 81, his passing is a huge loss to the nation in general and the Ndigbo in particular, especially at this time when the country is faced with a myriad of socio-economic problems; and the South East states of Igboland battle with unrest being propagated by secessionist groups such as the Indigenous Peoplesof Biafra (IPOB)). Iwuanyanwu’s experience as a person passionate about the welfare and development of Igbo will be missed. He was cosmopolitan in outlook with capacity to accommodate multiplicity of cultures and divergent views.

Iwuanyanwu was about the last of the titans that thronged the Biafran struggle during the civil war days. He was unapologetically Igbo; his dogged commitment to the Igbo cause and voice of reason either as a politician, or as Ohanaeze leader is undoubtedly unpretentious. He made the Igbo struggle his life and presented the case of Ndigbo at any available opportunity.
Notwithstanding his determination to defend the Igbo cause, he was a consummate nationalist and quintessential statesman who gave his allin service to the nation and to the Igbo race.

On April 20, 2023, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was announced as the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide. This was according to the “doctrine of necessity”, which took effect when the National Executive Council of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo directed the people of Imo State to find a credible replacement for the past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Obiozor, who died in December 2022. By an act of providence Iwuanyanwu became the ninth person to hold the position he never contemplated or lobbied for.He accepted the mantle of leadership and courageously defended the Igbo cause across the globe.

However, his real aspiration and ambition was to become the President of Nigeria. Iwuanyanwu’s political practice epitomised the principle of compromise and tolerance. But the nomenclature could be misleading. He did not take compromise to mean an acceptance of injustice; rather there must be tolerance with the appreciation of varying positions. He contested for presidency three times and lost. He took his losses in good faith under the political parties, Nigeria National Congress, which later became National Republican Convention, the All People’s Party and the United Nigeria Congress Party.

Notwithstanding the difficult terrain the Ahaejiagamba took up the mantle of leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and acquitted himself most creditably as a confident leader whose vision and aspirations charted a new roadmap for Igbo renaissance in the Nigerian commonwealth. Iwuanyanwu belonged to a generation of those who espoused the view that equity, justice and fairness were irreducible requirements, indeed spiritual conditions for peace and progress in a society. Hence, his firm belief and advocacy that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB from detention will bring about lasting peace in the South East. His venture into the newspaper business with the emergence of Champion Newspapers on October 1, 1988, added to the dynamics of newspapering in the country.

He was born on September 4, 1942 to Pa Bernard and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu in Umuohi Atta in Ikeduru Local Council of Imo State. Iwuanyanwu life trajectory was dotted with distinctive stardom right from his early days in school. His elementary education was at St. Patrick’s school in Npokwu, Port Harcourt, renamed Rukpokwu primary school.  He concluded his primary education at Holy Trinity Primary school in Umuapara. Again, the school was later renamed Rumuapara primary school. He had his secondary education at New Bethel College, Anambra state, (1955-1959).

In 1960, he studied pure and applied mathematics, physics and chemistry at Federal school of science in Lagos. His desire to become a civil engineer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka was truncated by the Nigeria/Biafra civil war (1967-1970) as he was drafted into the Biafra research and production (R&P) directorate, where he served in the rocket unit. His group of researchers produced several essential armaments including the dreaded Ogbunigwe. He rose to become a captain in the Biafran army.

Chief Iwuanyanwu’s wife of more than 40 years, Lady Eudora Nnenna Ozinyereaku Iwuanyanwu, with whom he had three sons and five daughters, died on August 28, 2011, at the age of 63.Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu married Frances Chinonyerem (nee Enwerem) on 14 September 2013.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu founded the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which won several national and international championships. He was the Chairman, National Sports Development Fund, and, Chairman, Nigerian Football Association USA “94” and Cup of Nations Fund Raising Committee.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said: “There was a time in history; Iwuanyanwu was the highest employer of labour, at least in the entire East of the Niger. The Iwuanyanwu Foundation has offered scholarships to over 10,000 indigent students across the country.”

At various times, he was honoured with Doctor of Laws, Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina; Doctor of Science, University of Jos, 1989; and Doctor of Science, University of Calabar, 1990.

Chief Iwuanyanwu held several political offices for the Nigerian government. He was the Founding Chairman, Raw Materials and Research Development Council (RMRDC), FCT, Abuja. He was also Chairman, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission(NIPC), Abuja. On 22 September 2005, he was appointed Chairman of the 20-man board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).Chief Iwuanyanwu also served as the Founding Chairman, Nigerian National Lottery, Chairman, National Productivity Merit Award, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and one-time Chairman of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. He was also a Member of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.

Two volumes of the Biography of Chief Iwuanyanwu were authored by Jeff Unaegbu, Sam Chukwu and Chinedu Nsofor in 2022. In life and death, Iwuanyanwu deserved the various encomiums showered on him as an upright and astute businessman and philanthropist who was a benefactor to many lives. In recognition of his patriotism and contributions to nation building, he was bestowed with three national honours among other feathers that dotted his cap: Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He will be remembered for his leadership qualities, influential figure, patriotic spirit and undying dedication to the good of the Igbo nation and all Nigerians.