Recently, a very insightful, informative and interesting article titled, ‘The Travails Of Ohanaeze and The Shame Of Ndigbo’ trended massively on social media platforms. It disrupted the status quo, touched nerves and generated mixed reactions and feelings, especially among the Igbo. It ruffled feathers because the writer hit the nail on the head by challenging political leaders and prominent people of the Southeast region on the urgent need to identify, support and rally round the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The article was topnotch and frank. It is typical of the writer, Prof. Okey Anueyiagu, a professor of Political Economy, an author and a newspaper columnist.
I am quite aware and cocksure that since the publication of the article, apart from tongues that have wagged and questions that have been asked about the writer, he has been under immense pressure from prominent Igbos to step forward and bell the cat for his people. But the truth is that Prof. Anueyiagu is neither interested in occupying any public position nor contesting any political office.
Although not many know him in person; not that he is not popular and visible but because he is less noisy and involved; he is a detribalised Nigerian, renowned philanthropist and a strict disciplinarian.
My path crossed with that of Anueyiagu in 2012 when I was with The Guardian. The then Managing Director of the newspaper, Mr. Emeka Izeze, gave me Anueyiagu’s number and instructed me to reach him to finalise arrangements on how to interview his nonagenarian father, Pa Chukwuma Anueyiagu, a doyen and an unsung hero of Nigerian journalism, who was then 97 years old. On reaching out to Anueyiagu as directed, he welcomed me warmly and we had a fruitful discussion. Arrangements were made and I travelled from Lagos to Amudo village, Awka South Local Council of Anambra State, where I had an exclusive, incisive and revealing interview with Pa Anueyiagu.
The interview generated a lot of commendations and plaudits when it was published by the newspaper. Since then, I and Prof. Anueyiagu, who was happy with my professional handling of the assignment, became friends. Even though he is older than me, he has continued to treat me like his peer and brother since then.
Sadly and unfortunately, his father, a great Zikist, renowned editor of five different newspapers, great nationalist, leader and entrepreneur, died in 2014 at the age of 100. His burial was a carnival of a sort as the crème-de-la-crème of Nigerian society from all walks of life were in Amudo, Awka, to pay their last tribute to the late sage.
His admiration and love for his late father made him script a powerful tribute in his honour that highlights the man’s life and the experiences they shared, which included many spiritual and philosophical discussions.
In the tribute, Anueyiagu said he greatly admired his father, who he felt embodied integrity. He said he learned many lessons from his father, including the belief that a simple life is the most successful and powerful. In addition, he said that his father taught him that peace and simplicity are closely intertwined. Anueyiagu respected the fact that his father led a life free of hate, hurriedness and clutter.
Knowing that Anueyiagu is a great writer and guest columnist of This Day newspaper, I kept tab on him and his media interventions and activisms since then to date. His writings are always blunt, factual, nationalistic and altruistic, likewise his unique personality.
Despite his deep pocket, sound academic qualifications and vast contacts across the divide, Anueyiagu has remained humble, taciturn and apolitical. It is on record, and that is not surprising, that over the decades, he has remained consistent and committed to good governance, quality leadership and developmental programmes and projects that will enhance the lives and well-being of the people. He detests cronyism, corruption and prebendalism in public or private service with passion.
A scion of the great Anueyiagu dynasty of Amudo and a chip of the old block, Anueyiagu was born in Kano State. He graduated, with honours, from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka; studied and earned post graduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of Rochester, New York and Fordham University, New York. He was a pioneer staff member of the old Anambra State University of Technology.
A teacher, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an activist, an art collector and a humanist, Anueyiagu has distinguished himself in various endeavours of life. He has for over four decades promoted various ventures in oil and gas, agriculture, telecommunication, construction, manufacturing and industry; and has sponsored the promotion of art and culture across continents.
He has worked in various fields of endeavour in the promotion of harmonious coexistence of the various tribes, entities and peoples within varying geopolitical landscapes of Africa and the world. His foray into socio-political spheres is geared towards fostering unity and peaceful coexistence between diverse groups and entities.
In the academic field, he has published a compendium of research materials, journals and books, a few of which are: Wealth and Economic Status: A perspective on Racial inequality (1982), Foreign Trade Policy and Black Economic Advancement (1982); Trends, Prospects and Strategies for Black Economic Progress (1984); The Political Mobilisation of Black America 1982- 1984 (1986); The Determinants of Black Partisanship (1985); Race: Politics and Economics (1985); Minorities and the Labour Market (1985); Foreign Policy Planning: Its Practice and Problems in the United States Department of State (1985) and Practice and Problems of the United States Foreign Policy Planning: A Case Study of Africa (1985).
Others are: Voter Choice in Presidential Elections: A Casual Analysis (1986); Welfare System in Nigeria: An Analysis (1987); Debt Conversion and Direct Equity Investment: The Mexican Experience (1988); The Economic Implications of a Two-party System in the Third Republic (1988); Privatisation: A Case Study of the Nigeria Oil Industry (1989); The Arrogance and Glorification of Illiteracy (2009); African Contemporary Art: Collection of Essays, (2011) and Contemporary African Art: My Private Collection of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke (2012).
His latest book titled, ‘Biafra: The Horrors of War, The Story of a Child Soldier’ is a must-read. It is deep, factual and revealing.
Some of his professional memberships include Member, the Joint Centre for Political Studies, Washington D.C., U.S.; Member, Democratic National Convention, New York Chapter; Member, National Policy Institute, Washington D.C. U.S.; Associate Member, Economic and Social Task Force, JCPS Washington D.C.; Member, Association for Intelligence Officers, Virginia, U.S. and Member, Journals of U.S. and International Intelligence Studies.
He is also a member of The Academy of Political Science, New York and The Economic Summit Group, Nigeria.
He served as a board member of the Nigeria Coal Corporation, where he pioneered processes geared towards the liberalisation and commercialisation of the huge coal industry in Nigeria.
His entrepreneurial activities started as far back the mid-1980s when he established financial consultancy companies and trading companies specialising in advisory activities for blue chip companies and various government agencies. He also established and chaired companies with interest in various enterprises, including agriculture, oil and gas, power and energy systems, aviation equipment supplies, mining, engineering and construction.
He currently serves on the boards of Pointec Group and Brown Brommel, companies that are pursuing and executing interests in construction, oil and gas trading and refinery projects.
Anueyiagu’s enormous investments in philanthropy are legendary and unprecedented. He has contributed to various projects in support of the poor and down trodden in society. Through his organisation, Dr. Okey Anueyiagu Foundation, a structure was built to serve as accommodation and clinic for orphans in Awka. The foundation, among other projects, has built, reconstructed and rehabilitated many old and dilapidated elementary schools, churches and homes in Awka.
In the field of art, he is an avid art collector who has spent well over 40 years collecting paintings and sculptures from around the world. In 2012, he published a 265-page book titled, ‘Contemporary African Art – My Private Collection of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke’. The book, which includes images reflecting the sweeping governmental changes throughout Africa and the rest of the world, pays tribute to Offoedu-Okeke’s heritage and the artists who preceded him. Topics range from primal emotion to complicated sociological concerns.
Throughout the anthology, the artist aims to express his experience and observations through rhythm, poetry, pattern and colour. Anueyiagu’s book and essays ultimately seek to advance and preserve the culture of Africa and, by extension, the world.
A Ph.D. graduate of Fordham University with an emphasis in Economics and Political Science, Anueyiagu is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brown Brommel Limited in Lagos, Nigeria. The company provides advanced technology services and leads innovation in multiple sectors such as energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture and publishing. As the CEO, Anueyiagu helps the company to maintain global strategic alliance networks and international partnerships that contribute to project planning and execution. He has been described by very prominent scholars and respected individuals in very frank and superlative ways.
Anueyiagu is married to Hadiza, a lawyer and a partner of over 30 years, and has three daughters; Tochi, Ebele and Dera, and twin boys; Aka and Arize.
• Ezea contributed this piece from Enugu.