By Paul Nwosu
Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu (September 4, 1942 – July 25, 2024) lived his life as a renaissance man, a special being versed in multiform undertakings.
Engineer, contractor, politician, sports administrator, publisher, community leader, philanthropist and businessman, Chief Iwuanyanwu excelled in diverse fields.
He passed away as the 11th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The great man famously hailed as Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo was born in Umuohii Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of present-day Imo State.
He studied Civil Engineering at the esteemed University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but his education was interrupted by the civil war fought between 1967 and 1970.
He served diligently in the Research and Production (RaP) Directorate of Biafra during the civil war.
He eventually graduated from UNN in 1971, and started his working career at the Nigerian Construction and Furniture Company (NCFC), and became a registered engineer on April 12, 1972.
From 1976, Iwuanyanwu’s engineering drive took an upward swing and he founded Hardel and Enic Construction Company.
Iwuanyanwu’s interests spanned well over many companies such as Enic Advertising, Magil Industries, Sunrise Insurance Brokers, Oriental Shipping Lines, Oriental Airlines etc.
He was the publisher of the trailblazing Champion Newspapers.
During the regime of Military President Ibrahim Babangida, Iwuanyanwu threw his hat into the political ring and contested to be the presidential candidate of the right-wing leaning political party, National Republican Convention (NRC).
In October 1992, Babangida annulled the party elections and called for newer candidates to vie for the presidential slots.
Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had to contest the 2023 presidential election with Alhaji Dawakin Tofa of the NRC, but the poll was eventually annulled in a controversial circumstance.
Iwuanyanwu like other top Nigerian politicians endured a tough time during the draconic regime of General Sani Abacha who eventually died on June 8, 1998.
Iwuanyanwu was a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that became the ruling party after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo won the return-to-civil-rule presidential election of 1999.
Chief Iwuanyanwu became the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on April 20, 2023.
He was the founding chairman of Raw Materials and Research Development Council (RMRDC), chairman of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), founding chairman of Nigerian National Lottery, chairman of National Productivity Merit Award, chairman of National Sports Development Fund, chairman of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi etc.
His football club Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri won many national and international laurels before the name was changed to Heartland FC.
His marriage to Lady Eudora lasted for more than 40 years until her death on August 28, 2011. He then got married to Frances Chinonyerem (nee Enwerem) on September 14, 2013.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was decorated with the following National Honours: Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
He has been awarded a troika of Honorary Doctorate Degrees by the University of Jos, the University of Calabar, and Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
With the passing away of Chief Emmanuel Chukwuaemeka Iwuanyanwu, a mighty iroko tree has fallen. The loss to Igboland and Nigeria is indeed irreparable.
Sir Paul Nwosu is Commissioner for Information, Anambra State.
