The President-General of the #OhanaezeNdigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Monday highlighted key areas he would focus on while in office. Iwuanyanwu promised to focus on education, security, developing the business community, and developing the industrial sector.
Speaking on Arise Television Morning Show, which monitored by The ECONOMIC TIMES editorial crew, Iwuanyanwu vowed to work with state governors to eradicate unemployment among Igbos.
According to Iwuanywanwu: “We have the problem of youth unemployment and most of the problems in society today, like unknown gunmen killing, kidnapping is caused mainly by unemployment.
“We are going to work with state governors in the #Southeast and Igboland, we will look at facilitating employment opportunities for Igbos across the states. In 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated, Igbos were far behind in civilization and development, but by 1960 when we had independence, Igbos came to the top in education, bureaucracy, military science and technology. Igbos embrace education, so we are going to look at this very seriously.
“#Igbo businessmen have never had political powers, we have been fighting to have power, but we are very advanced. If you come to the Southeast, you will realize that there is a lot of development which is done by our businessmen, and that is why I decided I’m going to set up a council of education as we try to find what makes us strong in education.
“Found the Council of business leaders to make sure our business people succeed and ensure industries work. We can generate power with coal and it’s in abundance in Enugu State; I have been told it’s one of the best in the world. So, we are going to explore the possibility of mining the coal and using it for power.”
“Over the past few decades, Dr Iwuanyanwu has left his mark as a towering figure with grand achievements in almost all possible spheres of human endeavour.
Some notable Igbo leaders present at the event include His Excellency #PeterObi, the #LabourParty Presidential Candidate and two-time Governor of Anambra State; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State; the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, who represented Governor Hope Uzodinma; and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State Dr Kelechi Igwe, who represented Governor Dave Umahi.
Other leaders at the event include former Senate President Chief Adolphus Wabara; the wife of the first President of Nigeria, Dr Mrs Uche Azikiwe; Senator Victor Umeh, the Senator-elect for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone; the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigno, Amb Okey Emuchay; former Presidents-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey and Chief John Nnia Nwodo; Chief Damian Okeke, the former National Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; Iyom Josephine Anenih, a former Minister of Women Affairs, and some former and serving legislators, ambassadors, and clergy members.
Several high-ranking traditional events also graced the event, including His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha; His Royal Highness Amb Lawrence Agubuzu, the Igwe of Ezema Alo and Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers.
Profile of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu was born on September 4, 1942, in Atta, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. He attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied civil engineering. His quest for academic excellence saw him obtain various degrees from Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; University of Jos; University of Calabar; the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Edo State University and the Imo State University.
He was the publisher of Champion Newspapers and has built a conglomerate of over 20 companies, including Iwuanyanwu Holdings & Properties Ltd, Chairman Sunrise Breweries Limited, and Iwuanyanwu National Football Club (now Heartland FC), among others.
Chief Iwuanyanwu remains one of the very few Nigerians to be honoured with three National merit awards, namely Member Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR), Officer Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR), and Commander Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR).
He was conferred with the “Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo” chieftaincy title by Chairmen of Traditional Rulers representing Ndigbo in the seven states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Imo and Rivers states.
