My parents insisted on getting an education before anything else, says pharmacist-turned-emcee MC Chaz

Thomas Merton in ‘No Man Is An Island’ said: “For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God’s will, to be what God wants us to be.”

When we are properly aligned, there is a way providence brings us back to where we should be, no matter how far we have gone, or how close we are to the wrong destination. The most crucial things are: happiness and fulfillment; the true signs that we have truly lived.

Undoubtedly, these must have been the thoughts running through the minds of Chaz Chiaz Ogbu, popularly referred to as MC Chaz, a Nigerian-born US-based pharmacist-turned-master of ceremonies, for a long time before taking the walk from his high-flying medical job.

In the natural sense, it would be a deeply disturbing decision, especially to a lot of people and those acquainted with MC Chaz,  for quitting his position as a Senior Reimbursement Counsellor to become a compere and an actor; despite his huge work experience built over the years at Novartis and AstraZeneca, two of the world’s topmost 20 pharmaceutical companies.

MC Chaz relocated to the United States of America for a better life after studying microbiology at the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Anambra State, 16 years ago, and later bagged a degree from Maryland University in the US.

The emcee extraordinaire hails from Ubaha-Akpulu in Ideato North LGA, Imo State, South-east Nigeria, and comes from a family that values education as treasure. He is the last of two boys and two girls. His mother is alive, but his dad is late.

In a recent interview, he talked up his foray into becoming a master of ceremony from being a US-trained medical personnel.

“Through that, I have travelled to the world corners. Germany, London, Australia, China, and 29 states in the United States. I believe I was born with hosting events. Not to toot my horn but, if you were to count the best 20 African MC’s in the diaspora, I’ll be one. I knew one day my turn will arrive and it would last a very long time. I have hosted almost 500 weddings in the last 10 years. It’s been an amazing journey”, said MC Chaz.

Speaking further, MC Chaz said, “I am now a full blown man; refined, reserved, respectful, well groomed, and wiser. All to the glory of the Most High. God’s plan is different from man’s. I used to ask why my life wasn’t “straight to the point”. I always had to go through so many routes, so many processes and then I get frustrated in it. Later in life, I would find out those processes defined me. Now, I want to go through many more processes with patience and love.

“I’m just waiting on Gods time is so much fun and exciting. In my thoughts, I go ‘ok Lord, what are you up to this time? What are you using me for this time?’ Father, teach me your humility, your patience, your love. I want to learn them so well that it becomes a way of life for others around me”, added MC Chaz.

On his family background, Chaz Chiaz Ogbu explained: “I come from a family of four, the youngest of two boys and two girls. I grew up in Nigeria and studied microbiology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, but I moved to the United States some 15 years ago, where I obtained another degree from the University of Maryland and I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nine years.

“Ours is a very educated background. Our parents did not take education lightly; it was no joke in our home. You could choose to be a musician but my parents insisted you must be educated first.

“Childhood was fantastic for me. I wasn’t the child that had all the toys in the world. My mom didn’t believe in them. My father got me bikes and toys, but we had to study as that gave better satisfaction to our parents.”

In the history of the world, Covid-19 brought one of most disruptive periods in 2020, causing virtually a complete shutdown of everything that was in existence. The hospitality and entertainment industries were two of the most hit sectors. But during the period, MC Chaz found a opportunity his colleagues in the industry didn’t.

“I started a matchmaking programme and it has been amazing,” MC Chaz disclosed.