Mr. Jide Iwuanyanwu, the eldest son of the late elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who passed away on Thursday morning, has highlighted the numerous virtues of his father.
Jide provided insights into the life and legacy of Chief Iwuanyanwu in a brief biography of the former President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
In a statement released to journalists in Owerri, he described his father as “a renowned Nigerian businessman, politician, and traditional leader.”
He said: “Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was born on September 4, 1942, in Umunakanu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. He came from a humble background and was the first child of his parents. He attended St. Patrick’s Primary School in Umunakanu and later St. Peter’s Secondary School in Umuguma. He furthered his education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated with a degree in Economics.”
Jide further stated that the late Igbo leader began his business career as a trader in the 1960s and ventured into various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and publishing.
“He is the founder and chairman of Champion Newspapers Limited, publishers of Champion newspapers. He also owns other businesses, including construction companies, manufacturing firms, and real estate investments,” Jide added.
He explained that Iwuanyanwu entered active politics in the 1980s, initially as a member of the National Party of Nigeria, and later joined the Peoples Democratic Party. “He held various political positions, including being a member of the State House of Assembly (1983-1985) and Commissioner for Works and Housing (1985-1987),” he stated.
Iwuanyanwu also contested for the Imo East Senatorial District in 1992. Jide described his father as “a respected traditional leader in Igboland,” who was conferred with several chieftaincy titles, including Eze Udo 1 of Umunakanu and Ochiagha Ndigbo, among others. He received numerous awards and honours for “his contributions to business, politics, and traditional leadership.” Some of these awards include Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic and honorary doctorate degrees in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and in Law from Imo State University.
Jide added that the deceased was a devout Catholic who engaged in philanthropic activities throughout his life. He mentioned that the family would announce the date of his burial after due consultation.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu succeeded the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador George Obiozor, who died in December 2022.
