WOW !!!! ANAMBRA STATE RANKED MOST SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHIEST STATE IN NIGERIA

 
The history of Anambra State(LIGHT OF THE NATION) and Her Towns
Town of The Day: Nnewi City
Nnewi is the second largest city in Anambra State
in southeastern Nigeria. Nnewi as a metropolitan
city encompasses 4 local government areas, Nnewi
North, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala Local
Government; Nnewi North is commonly referred to
as Nnewi central, and comprises four autonomous
quarters: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi.
Nnewi North also includes Ichi, an autonomous
neighbouring town. The first indigenous car
manufacturing plant in Nigeria is located in the city
while the first wholly made-in-Nigeria motorcycle,
the 'NASENI M1' was manufactured in Nnewi.
As of 2006, Nnewi has an estimated population of
391,227 according to the Nigerian census. The city
spans over 1,076.9 square miles (2,789 km2) in
Anambra State. Nnewi Metropolitan Area and its
satellite towns is home to nearly 2.5 million
residents As of 2005. Dimensionally, Nnewi has an
edge over all other units, being recognized by the
1953 census figures as the largest inland town of all
others in the Eastern states of Nigeria.
History
In Nnewi oral history and mythology, the 'ewi' (Igbo:
bush rat) played a great role in saving the founders
of Nnewi during wars. Throughout its history, Nnewi
has used its military might to maintain its borders
and because of this, the killing or eating of ewi in
Nnewi is forbidden to the present day. Nnewi
existed as an independent kingdom from the 15th
century to 1904, when British colonial administration
occupied the kingdom.
Nnewi kingdom was founded on four quarters (large
villages), namely Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and
Nnewichi. Each village was divided into family units
called 'umunna'. Each umunna had a first family
known as the 'obi'.
These four quarters were these original names of
the Sons of Edo: Otolo being the eldest and
Nnewichi being the youngest of the sons Obi of
Nnewi
The Place of Nnewi in Igbo History
Originally when the Igbos or Ibos settled in the
present day Eastern Nigeria, they arrived with three
leader two were spiritual leaders and the youngest
of the three a hereditary King known as Obi a King
by birthright. The first was the Eze Nri of Awka a
Priest King, the second the Eze Aro of Arochukwu a
Priest King and the third the Obi of Nnewi a political
and war ruler. The Obi Nnewi enthroned the Obi of
Onitsha as an Obi an upgrade from is former title
Eze of Onitsha in the 1740s. The Obi of Onitsha was
well qualified to become an Obi being disputably the
first among the two sons of the Oba of Benin. The
Onitsha people are visitors and later settlers in Igbo
land. The Aros know this history (Nnewi being a
relation and a leader among the Igbos) and this part
of the reason there are no Aro settlements in
Nnewi. The Obi of Nnewi Obi Okoli in1780s lost his
stool when inside palace politics that hinged on
tradition edged him out. Traditional royal law had it
that the Crown Prince must perform the funeral
rights of the late Obi before he can be crowned, Obi
Okoli was absent and arrived home only after the
late Obi Okoli 1st was buried. His Uncle (The late
Obi Okoli the 1st younger brother) performed the
funeral rights in his stead and took over as Igwe
Nnewi he could not be enthroned as an Obi (which
means the first son). The Obi Okoli royal linage was
forced into exile, they got refuge at Umune-Alam in
Umudim, Nnewi where they still are to this day. The
Obi Okoli family still bears the Ofor Nnewi till this
day.
Edo is the supreme deity of all the Alusi (Igbo: deity)
in the Anaedo country. The central shrine of this
unifying Alusi is at Nkwo Nnewi, the central Market.
There are four other deities in Nnewi: Ana,
Ezemewi, Eze and Ele. Christianity was introduced
by the Europeans in 1885 and many Nnewi people
now practice Christianity.
Nnewi, Ichi and Oraifite made up the Anaedo state.
Anaedo communities have common ancestries,
beliefs and traditional value systems. Nnewi is a
major trading and manufacturing center in Nigeria.
Due to its high commercial activities, the city has
attracted millions of migrants from other states and
countries.
The Ofala Nnewi is a cultural festival held every
year to celebrate the coronation of the Igwe of
Nnewi. Afiaolu (New yam festival) and Ikwuaru are
also among traditional festivals held annually in
Nnewi. Nnewi Kingdom is also known as Anaedo
meaning the Land of Gold (The supreme deity and
goddess of Nnewi).
Geography
Geographically, Nnewi falls within the tropical rain
forest region of Nigeria. Though it suffers from soil
leaching and erosion which has reduced the soil in
some areas to a porous sandy terrain, it remains an
area of rich agricultural produce and the epicenter
of business trade. The city is located east of the
Niger River, and about 22 kilometers south east of
Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Government
The traditional monarch of Nnewi is called the Igwe.
The Igweship in Nnewi kingdom predates the arrival
of Europeans, making it a unique monarchy in Igbo
land. The Igbos are known for not having kings,
hence the popular Igbo saying Igbo é nwě Eze',
meaning 'the Igbos have no king'. In other Igbo
clans, the British colonial administrators created
warrant chiefs who then assumed the office and
title of Igwe and are elected to this day. In Nnewi,
the Igwe is the isi obi (head of the Obis) and hence
the Igwe, which literally translates as the heavenly
one or highness as he is the holder of the Ofo, the
religious and political symbol. He is born and not
made or elected, and the institution of inheritance is
the traditional right and privilege. The position is
neither transferable nor negotiable. He is also an
Obi. Obi is the title held by ruling chiefs; it is the
equivalent of a duke in the nobility.
The 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe (King) of Nnewi
Kingdom, His Royal Highness Igwe Kenneth
Onyeneke Orizu III
The present reigning monarch is His Royal
Highness Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III; he is
the longest serving monarch in Nigeria [11] and he
is currently the 20th monarch in the Nnofo Royal
lineage. Igwe Kenneth Orizu III is the first class
chief in Anambra state from Nnewi as well as the
vice Chairman of the Anambra State House of
Chiefs.
The traditional rulers of Nnewi
There are Obis in the four clans that make up
Nnewi. The highest and the most senior obi is the
Obi of Otolo, who is also the Igwe of Nnewi. Chief
Nnamdi Obi, Obi Bennett Okafor and Obi George
Onyekaba are the current obis of Uruagu, Umudim,
and Nnewichi, respectively. These three obis with
Igwe Orizu, III as chairman constitute the Igwe-in-
Council and they deliberate on the spiritual,
traditional, and communal matters, in Nnewi.
There is also an active town union called the
Nzuko-Ora Nnewi. It is a forum through which adult
Nnewi indigenes (18 years or older) can contribute
to the development of Nnewi. This union was set up
to encourage and promote the establishment of
structures and facilities that will promote and
improve the quality of life of people resident at
Nnewi people.
Legal system
The ancient legal system of Nnewi was not based
upon a written law. It was purely a natural law,
involving custom, tradition, and civil and criminal
cases. The legal process in Nnewi passed through
the labyrinth of extended family system. A report
against an offender or a criminal in the first
instance, had to be made to the head of his family at
his ancestral home known as obi. The head of the
family would invite elders and minor obis from his
extended family unit to sit in judgment, while the
complainant would also invite the elders and minor
obis from his extended family side, if both of them
were not from the same family. This obi would
serve as the court of the first instance, depending,
of course, on the nature of the offense or crime
allegedly committed. The trial might end here, if
both the complainant and the accused were
satisfied with the judgment given, or they might take
the case to the next senior obi of the same
extended' family, in ascending order, until, probably,
the matter got to the highest obi in the lineage. If
the complainant was not satisfied at this point, he
would appeal to the obi of the quarter and the
leaders of his family could be summoned to defend
their judgment.
Through this legal procedure, guilt or innocence
could easily be established, as the decision was
based purely on natural justice. Punishments for
offenses and criminal acts were given in relation to
their gravity. A man who was found guilty of a
serious crime might have no option than to be sold
into slavery or expelled from the community for life.
He would not be killed because the killing of human
beings was against the injunction of Edo Goddess.
The judicial system in Nnewi seems to have
recognized three classes of cases, the minor
offenses, the true criminal case, and the civil suits
of debt, bride price and land. The breaking of by-
laws was really an offence against some particular
juju and as such was to be expiated by a sacrifice.
It was, for example, forbidden to kill an "eke" snake,
a type of python, or to eat "ewi," rodent of rabbit
family. It is probable these laws were never broken
willingly and if broken by accident, the offender
would automatically perform a sacrifice without any
form of judicial trial being held. The criminal code,
with regard to serious crimes, appears to have been
more developed in Nnewi than elsewhere in
Igboland. There were seven main classes of
offences, which were known as "ori-obi," offenses
against the obi, as their investigation was always
carried out in the obi of the quarter.
Politics Edit
Nnewi has contributed its fair share of key players
in Nigerian politics. A. A. Nwafor Orizu; president of
the Nigerian Senate in the First Republic and later,
the Acting President before the first coup d’etat of
1966, M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu; a nationalist, anti-
colonialist and first republic law-maker, Chief Z.C.
Obi (Onunekwuluigbo Igbo); First republic politician,
Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, OBE, Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi); former military
Governor of defunct Eastern Nigeria and President
of defunct Republic of Biafra, Comrade Dr. Edward
Ikem Okeke; Deputy President of the PRP and
Special Adviser to the President (Second Republic),
Mr. F. C. Nwokedi; the first Nigerian Permanent
Secretary, Dr. Dozie Ikedife (Ikenga Nnewi); former
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor
A. B. C. Nwosu; Former Health Commissioner in
East Central state and Anambra state, respectively,
Dr. Chu Okongwu; Former Minister of Finance;Dr
David Bennet Anagwu Ofomata;The first Indigenous
Medical Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, First
CEO/Chairman Anambra Health Management Board
& Chairman old Nnewi LGA;
Economy
Agbo Edo, a forest land which belonged to Edo
Nnewi deity, was cleared to make way for a new
market called Nkwo Nnewi market. The
development of this market propelled the fast
development of the local economy.
As a fast developing city and a major industrial and
commercial hub in Africa, Nnewi experiences
voluminous financial activities, therefore hosts
major banks, and other financial institutions.
Industries are dotted around the city and adjoining
towns. Palm oil, cosmetics, motor, and motorcycle
spare parts, books, and stationery, textiles, electric
cables, and so on are produced in commercial
quantity in the area. Its main trading centers include
Nkwo Nnewi market (the largest spare parts market
in west Africa) and Nwafor market, Eke Amaobi
market, Eke Ochie, Eke Ichi Market, Orie otube
Market, etc.
Agriculture and forestry
The main occupation of Nnewi people is trading and
farming, therefore they depend mainly on
agriculture and commerce for their daily livelihood.
Most Nnewian have mbubo (home gardens) and ubi
(out-station gardens) were they usually cultivate
their farm products. These crops when they are
harvested are usually taken to the market for sale.
Most of the prime cash crops include oil palm, raffia
palm, groundnut, melon, cotton, cocoa, rubber,
maize, et cetera. Food crops such as yam, cassava,
cocoyam, breadfruit, and three-leaf yam are also
produced in large quantities. The location of Nnewi
within the tropical rainforest gives it the ecological
basis for production of a wide range of tropical
agriculture crops with widespread potential for
industrial convention.
Industries
Nnewi is home to many major indigenous
manufacturing industries including Ibeto Group of
Companies, Cutix and ADswitch, Uru Industries Ltd,
Omata Holdings Ltd, Cento Group of Companies,
Coscharis of Companies Group, Innoson Group of
Companies, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries,
Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group,
Louis Carter Group, etc. The great majority of
industrialists in the cluster of spare parts factories
in Nnewi are also traders, and most of these
traders are producing one or more of the products
they specialize in marketing as traders (usually
motor vehicle parts), and most began by distributing
their products through their preexisting distribution
networks. Nnewi is part of eastern Nigeria's
industrial axis. The town has through culturally
grounded institutions that act as sophisticated
networks expanded to include an international
dimension through trading relations with exporters
from Asia. Over the last decade, the town of Nnewi
has experienced relatively rapid industrialization. In
excess of 20 medium-to-large-scale industries
have been established across a variety of sectors.
Since 1970, Nnewi residents have controlled
approximately 80 to 90 percent of the motor-parts
trade in Nigeria. Nkwo Nnewi Market is the major
import and wholesale point for motor spare parts in
Nigeria. The industrialists of Nnewi are adapting
foreign technology to local needs, providing
employment to thousands, and making available
goods and services which are relevant actual needs
of the Nigerian citizens. The first indigenous car
manufacturing plant is located in the city, while the
first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle was
manufactured in Nnewi by the National Agency for
Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Auto parts
Nnewi is known for the vibrant auto industry in the
city, the first Igbo man to own and drive a car was
HRH Igwe. Orizu I (Eze Ugbo Onya Mba) in 1912. By
1940, Nnewi residents were at the center of an
international trading network that dominated the
supply of motor spare parts in Nigeria. The town
subsequently became a center for commerce and
industry, and has one of the largest automotive
parts markets in Africa. Nnewi Township is an
authentic "manufacturing miracle." Small and
medium-sized industries have set up in the town
and are producing not only for the Nigeria markets
but – albeit still to a limited extent – for markets
abroad.
Industrialization of the town began around 1970
when Nnewi motor parts traders began marketing
their own brand name products instead of the
reproductions of "original" parts. There are a
several auto and motorcycle spare parts dealers in
Nnewi; the Nnewi Motorcycle spare parts market is
well known throughout West Africa. There is also
new auto plant, the first of its kind in Nigeria, owned
by an Nnewi businessman, Innocent Chukwuma,
Oon and a Chinese auto Company.
Culture
Nnewi, as a historical city, has many cultural
events and places adorned with festivities and
cultural monuments, including Edo Na Ezemewi
shrine, Udoogwugwu shrine (Ichi), Kamanu shrine
(Ichi), and many other shrines dotted across all
sections of Nnewi city. Nnewi host many festivals,
notably amongst them is the New yam (Afiolu, also
known as Ifejioku festival) which all parts of the city
participates and masquerades from all federating
towns participates in. The festival attracts all sorts
of activities and celebrations of which all Nnewi
residents’ holds to the highest esteem.
In average home of any Nnewi citizen, they usually
keep kola nuts, garden egg and peanut butter in
their refrigerator should in case of any stranger or
visitor to their home. Every visitation to their home
begins with the offering of the kola nuts to the
visitor. The kola nut is indicating that the visitor is
very much welcomed. The ritual of the offering of
kola nut is inspired with the giving in prayers and
blessing or lobby to the supreme God and other
deities, for the protection of the visitor and the host.
Its seems to be a custom to the people of Nnewi in
any of their traditional ceremony.
Arts and crafts
Local artists thrive in this municipal rural
communities. Works of art produced in the area
comprises, carved doors, walking sticks of different
designs, sculptures, flutes, wooden mortars and
pestles, gongs, and the famous talking drums.
Metal works and various types of productions are
locally fashioned.
Music
The Nnewi people, just like every other Igbo group,
have a musical style into which they incorporate
various percussion instruments: the udu, which is
essentially designed from a clay jug; an ekwe,
which is formed from a hollowed log; and the ogene,
a hand bell designed from forged iron. Other
instruments include opi, a wind instrument similar to
the flute, igba, and ichaka.
Traditional marriage
There are three types of marriages in Nnewi as also
practiced across the Nigerian society: the
traditional marriage held in the house of the woman;
the official wedding, held in a registry office and
which allows only one wife; and the religious
marriage.
The official marriage ceremony is called
“Igbankwu”, which is the Igbo word for the
traditional marriage ceremony. Nnewi do not have
an “engagement” ceremony. Rather, the Igbankwu
is preceded by a series of events during which the
potential bride’s and groom’s families engage each
other to discuss the terms of the marriage. Perhaps
this can be characterized as an engagement..
Please note that Nigeria has 250 ethnic groups and
each varies on marriage traditions. Further, within
groups there can be even greater differentiation.
Cultural attire
The traditional attire for the men is an overflowing
jumper or a long-sleeved shirt worn over the gooji
wrapper, which is tied around the waist, curving
down to the ankles. This dress is matched with a
cap and a walking stick, which aids as an
instrument of support and defense. The traditional
wear for the women is a blouse, worn over a loin
cloth. This female attire goes with a head-tie ear
rings and necklaces or traditional necklaces.
New Yam Festival
New Yam Festival of the Igbo
In Nnewi, the occasion of Iri-ji ohuu (new-yam
eating) is a cultural festival because of its
significance. Nnewi people celebrate their new yam
festival usually at the end of August during which
assortment of festivities mark the eating of new
yam. These festivities normally include a lot of
variety entertainment including performance of
ceremonial rites by the Igwe (King), cultural dances
by Igbo men, women and their children as well as a
display of Igbo cultural activities in the form of
contemporary shows, masquerade dance, and
feasting at a grand scale on a wide variety of food
making up the menu of the Igbos.
The first day of the festival the Igwe of Nnewi will
officiate the Harvest thanksgiving ceremony at his
palace where the yams are offered to gods and
ancestors first before distributing them to the
villagers. After the prayer of thanksgiving to god,
The Igwe eats the first yam because it is believed
that his position gives him the privilege of being
intermediaries between Nnewi communities and the
gods of the land. The rituals involved in the new
yam eating are meant to express the community's
appreciation to the gods for making the harvest of
their yams possible. This therefore explains the
three aspect of Igbo worldview, that they are
pragmatic, religious and appreciative. This
ceremony has been celebrated for centuries and as
has always presented the right conditions for all
and sundry, family and friends to come together to
demonstrate their commitment and solidarity to
their local community. Due to this fact, the Igbos
every where in the world do celebrate this event in
a highly captivating manner in order to protect and
celebrate the enriched cultural heritage of her
people
Health
Nnewi hosts a number of institutions and places of
learning and healing, which include Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and a
number of international agencies. The Nnamdi
Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, is in
the forefront of providing excellent health services
to the nation. The hospital and its annexes since
inception had provided specialized and
comprehensive medical care to the immediate
community and beyond. Its mandate also includes
undergraduate and postgraduate medical and
paramedical training as well as research. These
services had grown from strength to strength
through the years fueled by comprehensive annual
plans approved by the Federal Government.
Education
The ancient city of Nnewi hosts a number of
traditional and formal learning institutions and
places of learning, which include a Medical
University: Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching
Hospital (NAUTH) Government secondary schools:
Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Maria Regina
Secondary School, Nnewi High School, Ichi
Technical School (Ichi Community), Ichi Girls,
Akoboezemu Community Secondary School,
Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi-Ichi
Community Secondary School e.t.c. Private
schools: Summit International School, The Good
Shepherd School, New Era School, Dr. Alutu's
College of Excellence School e.t.c. ,
Crime
Crime rates are low[clarification needed] but civil
disputes such as land ownership and family
inheritance exist. In more recent times, the market
square and banks have experienced well publicized
and organized criminal attacks that have been
allegedly linked to the local police. There are now
open debates on reinstating a local vigilante crime
fighting group called the Bakkassi Boys,[15] who
had a multi-year stint in Nnewi in the late 1990s
when crime was on the increase. This group had a
modus operandi that many considered barbaric but
necessary – convicted thieves were killed in public
by dismembering their body parts with a sharp
machete and burning them alive. The activities of
this group of men which had permission of the
Governor of the state was seen by the Human
rights activists and civil right movement as a
violation of human rights and campaigned against
their practices. Recently, Nnewi is relatively
peaceful except for isolated occurrences of
kidnapping of prominent local citizens for large
ransoms.
Transportation
Nnewi is well known as the home of several
transport and logistics businesses since the end of
the second world war. Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu
was one of Nigeria's first transporters and since
then, many more transporters have emerged from
Nnewi. Some of the Nnewi owned transport firms in
Nigeria are:
Chi Di Ebere Transport Ltd
Ekene Dili Chukwu Nig. Ltd.
Ijeoma Motors Nig. Ltd.
Ekeson Motors Ltd
Izuchukwu Nig. Ltd.
Nsoedo Transport Ltd
Orizu Transport Limited
Bluebase Transport Solutions
Izu Okaka Anaedo Ltd
Hotels
Nnewi is also prominent in the hospitality industry
with modern hotels that include;
Beverly Hills Hotel
Calido Fine Hotel
Hotel De Universe
Jideofo Hotel
King's Palace Hotel
Regent Hotel
Sabena Hotel
Twin Towers Hotel
Con-vAj
People
Nnewi is the ancestral home of prominent
Nigerians, including:
Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbonyamba) ; 18th Igwe Nnewi
and the first Igbo person to own and drive a car
Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, OBE ; First Nigerian
multimillionaire and father of General Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu
General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba
Nnewi) ; First University graduate in the Nigerian
Army, former military Governor of defunct Eastern
Nigeria and first
President of defunct Republic of Biafra
Dr. Edward Ikem Okeke ; Former Deputy President
of the PRP Political Party
Dr. Chu Okongwu ; Former Minister of Finance,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Prof. A.B.C Nwosu; Former Anambra State
Commissioner of Health & Minister of Health,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
HRH Prince Nwafor Orizu ; Aristocrat, Educationist,
2nd Senate President of Nigeria (16, 1960 to
January 15, 1966) and Acting President of Nigeria
(1965–1966)
M.C.K Ajuluchukwu, Nigerian Journalist ; Nationalist,
Anti-colonialist and first republic law-maker, uncle
of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Dr. Dozie Ikedife (Ikenga Nnewi) ; former President-
General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Dr. (Chief) Edwin Leonard Anazor (Ononenyi); St.
Anthony's Hospital Otolo Nnewi
Joseph N.C. Egemonye (Abianaomume Nnewi) ;
Businessman, Journalist and Writer, founder of The
Nigeria Monitor Newspaper, Co-founder of The
Winston-Salem Chronicle Newspaper.
Felix Ezejiofor Okonkwo (Okonkwo-Kano);
Prominent Igbo leader in Northern Nigeria (1960s).
Cletus Ibeto, CON ; Industrialist and Philanthropist
Senator Onyeabo Obi (Oso-Oji Nnewi) ; Second
Republic Senator
Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah ; Nigerian Politician
Gabriel Chukwuma ; Businessman and Founder of
Beverly Hills Resort & Hotel, Nnewi and Gabros
International F.C., Nnewi
Late Chief. Augustine Ejikeme Ilodibe (Onwa na-etili
Ora Nnewi) ; Philanthropist and Founder of
Ekenedilichukwu Motors Nigeria Limited
Late Chief D.C. Ubajaka MFR (Okaka Anaedo)
Epulepu Nnewi; Astute Transporter and Founder of
Izuchukwu Transport Nig. Ltd
Late Dr (Chief) David Bennet Anagwu Ofomata
(Atuma Nnewi); Former Chairman, Old Nnewi LGA
and First Medical Director of the Nigerian Railway
Corporation
Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, OON ; Businessman &
Founder of Innoson Group
L. Amazu (Eze Afojulu Nnewi) ; Founder of Chi di
Ebele Transport Limited and Amazu Oil
Chief C.C. Obienugh JP (Okputolokpu Nnewi) ;
founder African Pioneer Company
Senator Z.C. Obi (Eze-Onunekwulu-Igbo Na Okemili
Nnewi) ; First indigenous east Niger produce
Manager of UAC[disambiguation needed], President
of the Igbo State Union & appointed Senator in the
First Republic.
Criminologist K.C. Okafor-Igwe ; Philosopher & Poet
Late Chief. Onuzulike Daniel Okonkwo (Ozuome-
Nnewi) ; Diplomat, Educator and Writer.
Francis Christian Nnodumene Agbasi (Omenka
Nnewi) ; Engineer and Founding Partner, Frank
Agbasi & Partners.
Samuel Chukwurah ; Industrialist and Founder of the
now defunct Chukwurah agricultural industry
Late Issiah Nwafor (Udumotari) ; Businessman &
Philanthropist
Benson Egemonye ; Nigerian professional
Basketball Player
Evangelist. Cosmas Maduka ; Founder of Coscharis
Group
Dame Virginia Etiaba ; First Nigerian Female
Governor. Former Governor & Deputy Governor of
Anambra state.
Mr. Louis Onwugbenu (Louis Carter) ; Industrialist &
Philanthropist
HRH Late Prince. Sunny Obi (Igiligi Nnewi) ;
Aristocrat, Businessman & Philanthropist
Engr. Obiajulu Uzodike ; Industrialist and founder of
Cutix Nigeria Plc.
Chika Okafor ; Industrialist and founder of Chikason
Group
Ifeanyi Uba ; Philanthropist and founder of Capital oil
and Gas Ind. Ltd.
Engr. Ebele Okeke ; Head of the Civil Services of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria from July 2007 to 2008
Humphrey Obimma ; Business tycoon and founder
of El-nac International Ltd. Also a Philanthropis