Arthur Eze: His business legacies, philanthropy, lifestyle

The Southeast region of Nigeria is regarded as the hub of commerce in this part of the world. And it is no surprise that the zone made up of five states is home to the highest number of billionaires in Nigeria.

Anambra, one of the states that made up the Southeast zone is particularly blessed with high-flying entrepreneurs dominating the Nigerian business landscape both within and outside of the southeast. One of such business generals is no one but Prince Arthur Eze, the Ozoigbondu of Igboland. When it comes to entrepreneurship, Prince Eze is in a league of his own.

He’s one of the wealthiest men in Africa. And this is not overhyped one bit. The Ukpo-born oil billionaire is one of prides of the Ndigbo and Nigeria by extension. A pan-Nigerian businessman, Prince Eze has covered himself in glory in terms of entrepreneurial excellence.

He has equally done well in philanthropy, too. Described as one of the last man standing in the competitive Nigerian private sector, Prince Eze built his fortune from scratch. He is not an overnight billionaire. He made his money the old-fashioned way – through hard work, discipline, and integrity, the major principles of wealth creation.

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The Anambra-born business general, Prince Eze is best known as the brains behind one of the largest oil exploration blocks in Africa, Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the company he founded in 1991. Under his guidance, Atlas Oranto Petroleum has become a dominant force in the oil and gas industry in Africa.

According to available information, the company currently has 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 jurisdictions across Africa. In addition, it has assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and several Atlas Oranto operated blocks.

His billion-dollar empire stretches from oil exploration to other juicy pies in key economic sectors across the world. Prince Eze has had an incredible success in the entrepreneurial world thanks to his Oranto Petroleum company. But the Ozoigbondu of Igboland is not all about Oranto Petroleum.

He’s a cheerful giver, a philanthropist of international repute who’s spreading his wealth with the less privileged across the African continent.

Philanthropy is Prince Eze’s middle name. He has spent a huge part of his fortune on philanthropic projects. And he’s still doing more to make the world a better place for people struggling with life necessities. For instance, Prince Eze singlehandedly built and fully equipped a medical research unit at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Not only that, demonstrating that charity begins at home, Prince Eze embarked on some community development projects in his hometown of Ukpo village, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He sponsored the modernization of the community’s market near the Ukpo palace and change the face of the community with construction of road networks connecting his home community with neighboring towns. Outside of southwest, Prince Eze donated $6.3 million in 2013 to help combat flooding in Nigeria.

He was also one of the biggest donors at a fundraiser organised in Abuja to help alleviate the sufferings of victims of Boko Haram insurgency. The pan-Nigerian frontline businessman, Prince Eze donated a whopping $800,000 to support the humanitarian initiative.

Not done, he also constructed a pedestrian bridge in Ebonyi State. Prince Eze is one of the biggest supporters of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell (APLSCD). No doubt, Prince Eze has done for himself and the image of Igboland. In recognition of his economic and philantropic contributions to the growth of Nigeria, he was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).