Business tycoon, politician and 11th President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Emeka Iwuanyanwu, has been buried in his hometown Ikeduru in Imo State.
Aged 82 years, the Publisher of the Champion newspaper chain died 25th July 2024.
Dignitaries at the burial on Friday included: Imo State’s Governor Hope Uzodinma, Enugu State’s Governor Peter Mbah, former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, All Progressives Congress National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate Peter Obi and others.
Sharing a tweet on his X handle on Saturday, Enugu State’s Governor Peter Mbah wrote:
“Yesterday, I joined fellow Ndigbo and indeed Nigerians in paying my final respects to Chief Dr Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, CFR, Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo, until his demise the distinguished President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as he was laid to rest in his hometown, Atta, in Ikeduru LGA, Imo State. Chief Iwuanyanwu was a true statesman, a visionary leader, and a dedicated advocate for the Igbo nation and Nigeria as a whole.
“His commitment to unity, progress, and peace will forever remain in our hearts. Chief Iwuanyanwu will be sorely missed, but his legacy will continue to serve as a shining light for future generations. May his family find comfort in this difficult time, and may his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Peter Obi tweeted:
“The well-attended burial ceremony bore witness to the positive legacy he left behind and the profound impact he made on people’s lives. He was not only a bridge builder committed to fostering peaceful coexistence in the nation but also a deeply patriotic Nigerian dedicated to justice, equity, and the progress and development of Nigeria.’
Chief Engr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu (4 September 1942 – 25 July 2024) was a Nigerian politician and businessman. He was considered one of the richest Igbo men in NIGERIA. Iwuanyanwu was until his death the 11th president-general of Ọhanaeze Ndigbo; preceded by George Obiozor.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was born on Friday, 4 September 1942 to Pa Bernard Iwuanyanwu and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu of Umuohii Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State of Nigeria. His grandfather, Iwuanyanwu, was a war commander who led native warriors into battle. Though born into a very humble family, Chief Iwuanyanwu emerged as a politician, businessman and philanthropist to be reckoned with in Nigeria.
He attended St. Patrick’s School, Nkpokwu (later renamed Rukpokwu), Port Harcourt, for his Standard one to four, from 1948 to 1952. For his Standard five and six, he was transferred to Holy Trinity Primary School in Holy Trinity Church, Umuapara (later renamed Rumuapara, now in Obiakpo Local Government Area, Rivers State). This was from 1953 to 1954. From 1955 to 1959, he attended New Bethel College, Onitsha, Anambra State. In 1960, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, along with a select brilliant few, were offered admission into the Federal school of Science, Lagos, where he studied Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
In 1963, he gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he studied Civil Engineering. Because of his notable feats in academics while in his early years in the University, Iwuanyanwu was awarded the prestigious German Academic Exchange Scholarship covering fees, boarding, holiday tickets and feeding, promptly facilitated by the Federal Republic of Germany. This award was for a few talented students of African descent.
The Nigerian Civil war fought from 1967 to 1970, interrupted Iwuanyanwu’s studies. He was drafted into the Biafra Research and Production (RaP) Directorate headed by Professor Benjamin Chukwuka Nwosu, a nuclear physicist. Iwuanyanwu served in the Rocket Unit of RaP headed by Professor Gordian Ezekwe. With little access to armaments from the outside world, this group of researchers put on their thinking caps, including the nuclear physicist, Dr. Felix Oragwu, producing essential amenities and armaments, especially the dreaded Ogbunigwe. Desiring to see action, Iwuanyanwu later served as a soldier rising to captain of a unit of the secessionist forces of the breakaway Biafra and leading from the front at the war fronts. After treating a leg injury he sustained during the war, he was sent to study a course in advanced military intelligence at the Biafran School of Military Intelligence. After the course, he was transferred to the Biafran Combat Engineering Unit and appointed the Head of the Biafran Combat Engineering Military Intelligence. In this capacity, he worked directly under the office of the General Officer Commanding the Biafran Army, Major General Alexander Madiebo. Immediately after the Biafran war, Iwuanyanwu humanely volunteered to sweep the war-time mines for the Nigerian federal government. This was because he had all the intelligence maps as former Head of Biafran Combat Intelligence and he knew where the mines were.
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu founded and owned Daily Champion Newspaper and Iwuanyanwu Nationale football club now Heartland FC, etc.
Chief Engr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu was a successful businessman and a renowned politician. Iwuanyanwu died a wealthy Igbo man.
