Ohanaeze presidency, nine other facts about Iwuanyanwu

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is dead.

His death was confirmed in a statement on Thursday by his son, Jide.

The statement read, “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.”

In this report, The PUNCH highlights 10 things to know about the late Ohanaeze chief, including how he led the Igbo group.

1. Iwuanyanwu was born on Friday, September 4, 1942 to Pa Bernard Iwuanyanwu and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu of in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.

2. The businessman believed to be one of the richest Igbo men 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). In 1963, he was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied civil engineering.

3. Iwuanyanwu assumed office on April 30, 2023, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide shortly after the Imeobi Ohanaeze ratified his nomination.

4. He was the founder of the defunct Champion Newspaper.

5. Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club, now Heartland FC, was named after him because of his love for sports and his contribution to the club.

6. He had his businesses: Hardel & Enic Construction Company, Enic Advertising Ltd, and Magil Industries Limited, in Owerri, Imo State capital.

7. The activities of his signature philanthropic act birthed the duo of Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance and Iwuanyanwu Foundation, both non-profit organisations that cut across the nook and cranny of Nigeria.

8. He contested for the presidency three times under the Nigeria National Congress, which later became the National Republican Convention, the All People’s Party, and the United Nigeria Congress Party.

9. Iwuanyanwu once said in an interview that his saddest moment in life was when he lost his wife, Uduora Iwuanyanwu, who he dated at the university for six years and married for over 40 years. In 2013, he married Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem.

10. Imo airport was reportedly conceived by him and presented to then-military administrator General Ike Nwachukwu.