Iwuanyanwu gave me $8,000 to start my career, Charly Boy mourns Ohanaeze President-General

Veteran singer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has mourned the death of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

In a post on Facebook on Thursday, Charly Boy described the businessman and politician as the first Nigerian to support and believe in him.

His post read, “When I returned from the USA in 1981, all I had was a dream as a broke ass Charly Boy wanna be.

“It was Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu who accidentally met me in my village, Oguta, after I disowned my parents for not buying into my dreams. He dashed me $8,000 at the time.

“I almost fainted. That gave me the impetus to build the brand as I started my Jankara studio in my village. He was the very first Nigerian who supported and believed in my dream.”

As he expressed gratitude for Iwuanyanwu’s role in shaping his life and career, Charly Boy also emphasised the importance of legacy, noting that it is defined by the impact one makes on others.

He added, “My people, legacy is really about the lives we touched, the inspiration we gave, altering someone’s plan—if even for a moment—and getting them to think, cry, laugh, argue.

“More than anything, we are remembered for our smiles—the ones we share with our closest and dearest, and the ones we bestow on total strangers who needed them right then, and God put us there to deliver.

“Chief, I can never forget how, out of the blues, you jump-started my career. I know many will share similar stories of how you touched their lives. I remain ever so grateful. Rest in peace, biggest bros/father.”

PUNCH reports that President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, and others have mourned iwuanyanwu, who died on Thursday at the age of 82 after a brief illness.