The death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday, July 25, 2024, has drawn widespread reactions across Nigeria, with many people expressing their sorrow and honouring his achievements.
The death was announced by his son, Jide Iwuanyanwu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri.
The statement read, “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82.”
Here are 10 things to know about the late Ohaneze leader.
1. Iwuanyanwu was born on Friday, September 4, 1942, to Pa Bernard and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State.
2. He studied civil engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and became a successful engineer and businessman.
3. Chief Iwuanyanwu became the ninth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on April 30, 2023, succeeding the late Professor George Obiozor, who had also passed away while in office.
4. He bought the state-owned Spartans Football Club, Owerri and renamed it Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC, now Heartland FC.
5. He was the founder of the defunct Champion Newspaper.
6. He ran for the presidency three times under different parties: the Nigeria National Congress, which later evolved into the National Republican Convention, the All People’s Party, and the United Nigeria Congress Party.
7. Chief Iwuanyanwu received several prestigious honors, including the Chief Executive of the Year award from the Business Education Executive Council in 1985, the Business Person of the Year award in 1999, and was conferred with the 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 was also recognized as a Knight of the Order of St. Christopher.
8. In an interview, Iwuanyanwu reflected on his deepest sorrow, citing the death of his wife, Uduora Iwuanyanwu, whom he had dated for six years at university and was married to for over 40 years. In 2013, he married Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem.
9. His signature philanthropic efforts led to the establishment of two prominent non-profit organisations: the Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance and the Iwuanyanwu Foundation, both of which have a broad impact across Nigeria.
10. He served as Chairman in the following Ohanaeze Committees: State Creation Committee, Planning and Strategy Committee, Political Committee, Constitution Drafting Committee and currently, the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
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