PROFILE OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL PERSONALITY
Pious, humble, humane, witty, compassionate, courageous, honest, urbane, open-minded, modest, gregarious, articulate, and friendly; these are some of the qualities of Chief Anthony Nwokejiezinnaya Ukachukwu, Ugochinyere of Omuma.
He was a scion of the notable Ukachukwu Royal family of Omuma. He was born on 1 April 1934. His parents were Chief Henry Ukachukwu and Madam Mary Ukachukwu. His father was among the few persons who the English administrators found worthy to engage their services in court administration. With that exposure and privilege, Chief Henry Ukachukwu ensured that Chief Anthony Ukachukwu and his younger siblings including Hon. Justice AOH Ukachukwu were given excellent upbringing.
Ugochinyere had his early education at Holy Trinity School, Omuma and Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu. On completion of college education, he was admitted into the Shell Davey Training School, where Shell British Petroleum trained its employees. He obtained the City and Guilds and later, a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
He subsequently joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) which position gave him the famous and fond sobriquet “VIO”.
One of the early challenges Chief Ukachukwu had in life was when he wanted to marry his wife, Ezinne Grace Eberechukwu Ukachukwu. Madam Grace Ukachukwu belongs to the unique class of people whose names define who they are and what they are. Madam Grace exudes grace, graciousness, and gracefulness.
She was born at Etiti Omuma and had her primary education at St. Thomas Anglican School, Omuma and St. Emmanuel’s Anglican School Mgbidi. On completion, she was admitted to Holy Rosary Teacher’s Training College, Okporo, Orlu. It was a Catholic Institution managed by Reverend Sisters. Her training in that institution, endeared her to the Catholic Church. It was in that College that she developed one of her outstanding qualities of broad-mindedness.
While nursing her 8th child Chioma, Madam Grace Ukachukwu got admitted into Bishop Lasbrey Teachers’ Training College, Irete, now in Owerri West L.G.A, Imo State. She was there from 1974-1975 for further education. Significantly, while she was in school, some of her children were in secondary school.
Her grandfather, Okoro Anyanwu, brought the Anglican Church to Omuma, and she hailed from a strong Anglican family. Chief Ukachukwu was from a strong Catholic family, and his grandfather brought the Catholic Church to Omuma.
Both families vehemently opposed the effort of Chief Ukachukwu and Madam Grace getting married. They based the opposition on doctrinal conflict. The conflict was adequately captured in the brochure which was published when the couple celebrated their silver jubilee wedding anniversary on 3 October 1987 as follows:
The marriage witnessed very stiff opposition at the outset. Though the jubilarians came from traditional Christian homes in Omuma, the rivalry latent in the Anglican/Roman Catholic denominations appeared to find ready material for an open combat in the proposed marriage. The Okoro family founded and constituted the pillars of the Anglican communion, while the Ukachukwu family brought the Catholic Church to Omuma. At the time of the proposed marriage, the father of Grace, late Chief Godfrey Okoro was a prominent member of the Synod and the mother Mrs Caroline Okoro, member of the mother’s Guild. The family could not therefore reconcile itself to any idea of giving out its first daughter to a Catholic!
From the stand of the Ukachukwu family, Anthony was entitled to an understanding wife, particularly in view of his role as the first son and head of family, his father Chief Henry Ukachukwu having died some years back in 1957. They could not understand why he should persist in a marriage to a non-Catholic, moreso when it appeared, he was not on the path to success.
While the politics of the marriage raged, the jubilarians fully determined on living together as husband and wife shut out both families. The marriage discussions went ahead in secret while reliable friends and influential people were brought in to bring the parents to give their blessing. The blessing came but not before assurances even of a mixed marriage.
The marriage celebration was equally not smooth sailing. The condition for the blessing was mixed marriage. While Anthony was prepared to pay any prize to get his bride, Grace continued the battle single handedly. To her, it was either a marriage of one couple, one Church and one celebrant or none. She delivered the message in no unmistakable language and her father very much known in the town and environs as large-heartedman, finally gave in. It must be stated here that this pioneer marriage did the greatest magic in promoting understanding between the adherents of both Churches in Omuma. Today there is hardly any function of the Catholic or Anglican that is not heavily patronized by the members of the Community from both Churches.
The jubilarians had been a permanent source of happiness to members of both families.
In bringing up their children, the couple adopted the carrot and stick approach. This is a combination of sanction and reward to induce desired behavior in a child without compromising unconditional love.
They trained their children to serve God, the Church and humanity with utmost dedication. The children have been doing so in diverse ways. Their son, Jude is currently, the Chairman, Catholic men Organization, Catholic Church of Transfiguration, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki. In memory of the 20th anniversary of the death of his father, Jude and his siblings built an auditorium for his home Parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Omuma.
As a police Vehicle Inspection Officer, Chief Ukachukwu refused to compromise honesty and professionalism. His reputation traversed the former Eastern Region. His rapid promotion in the police was a reward for his exemplary dedication to duties. By 1964 he was already an Assistant Superintendent of Police. His enviable career in the Nigeria Police was later truncated.
The Nigerian-Biafran civil war ended in January 1970. The Federal Government was not in a hurry to re-absorb Biafrans who were federal public/civil servants before the war. On 5 August 1970, General Yakubu Gowon signed a Decree that led to the dismissal or compulsory retirement of public officers of former Eastern Region, particularly Igbos, who fled to Biafra during the war without the payment of their benefits. The Decree callously prohibited the victim from seeking a legal remedy.
Contrary to General Yakubu Gowon’s trumpeted policy of “no victor, no vanquished”, all police officers in Onitsha who took part or were suspected to have taken part in the civil war were dismissed from service under the above Decree. One may ask, why Onitsha? The Nigerian army under Col Murtala Mohammed, later Head of State, sustained the heaviest human and material loses in the Onitsha axis/sector. Therefore, any person who was suspected to have contributed to the Biafran war effort in Onitsha, in whatever manner, directly or indirectly, was punished. It was a kind of collective punishment or punishment by association. Chief Ukachukwu was among the victims of that obnoxious policy.
At the time Ugochinyere prematurely lost his job, the first and second children were in elementary school. Ugochinyere accepted his fate without malice. He took the challenge of that injustice with equanimity and abiding faith in God.
The injustice persisted till 36 years later when President Olusegun Obasanjo reversed General Yakubu Gowon’s obnoxious and oppressive policy against the war affected police officers. He granted them Presidential Amnesty. By a letter No PSC/387/Vol 5/178, dated 2 March 2006, the Police Service Commission informed each of the affected officers that approval had been granted for each of them to retire from the Nigeria Police Force with effect from 29 May 2000, with full benefits. Although Chief Ukachukwu died on 19 November 2000 before the amnesty was granted, however, the effect of the amnesty pre-dated his death. Hence, he was a beneficiary of the amnesty.
Ugochinyere started business in 1970. He started very early to invest in the stock market particularly in blue chip companies. He reaped huge benefits from the investment. When the stock market crashed in Nigeria in 2008, 8 years after his death, it affected the value of his shareholding in many companies. He also successfully invested in real estates and filling station business.
He and the wife dedicated themselves to God and hard work. God infinitely rewarded them. In 1970, their first two children were in Santana Primary School, Awo Omamma a private school reputed to be the best primary school not only in the then East Central State but Eastern States at the time. The third child later attended the school too.
Ugochinyere’s generosity was uncommon and astounding. As long as the resources were available, whoever sought his financial aid got it. It did not matter to him that few abused that generosity.
Chief Ukachukwu was highly active in the religious sphere. He was Chairman of Amiri Parish Council (Omuma was under the Parish at that time). He was the Vice Chairman and later, Chairman, Orlu Diocesan Laity Council. He was also elected the National Deputy Chairman of the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria. He was the Chairman, St. Anthony’s Society. St Anthony was his Patron Saint. Upon the creation of Omuma Parish on 8 April 1983, he became the first Chairman of the Parish Council.
He was a Knight of St. John International. He is survived by his dear wife Ezinne Grace Ebere Ukachukwu, Lady Auxiliary Knights of St. John International. The marriage is blessed with 12 children. One of them, Olivia, who was an undergraduate of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, died on 3 September 1989. The surviving children are as follows:
- Chinyere Udenze- B.Sc, Dip. West African Insurance Institute (WAII); ACII (London).
- Lady Frances Iweha-Onukwu BA, MA.
- Angela Agwunobi, B.Sc, PQSW, BIA.
- Njide Alakweonye, B.Sc, M.Sc, MBA.
- Dr. Tonia Uzoukwu, B.Tech. M.Sc, MBA, Ph.D (Management) (IMSU), Ph.D (Food Technology) FUTO.
- Jude Ukachukwu, M.Sc International Affairs & Diplomacy, MBA (Management), Alumnus London Business School and Harvard.
- Chioma Onwuharonye, B.Sc, M.Sc, Doctoral student.
- Sr Rose Udoka Ukachukwu, HHCJ, B.ED, M.ED.
- Adamaka Ukachukwu, B.Sc, MBA (Business School Netherlands).
- Marachi Uba, BA.
- Uchechi Nwachukwu, B.Sc.
Daughter in law
Gozie Ukachukwu, B.Ed, MBA
Sons in Law
- Chief Benji Agwunobi, BA, MA, Cert PFS, SMP, CeMAP (Principal Equity Independent Finance).
- Ogbueshi Ngozi Iweha-Onukwu, FCA, HND, MBA.
- Tony Ifeanyi Udenze, B.Sc, M.Sc.
- Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, OON, SAN, LLD, FCArb.
- Emeka Onwuharonye, B.Sc, MBA.
- Barrister Chikezie Uba, LLB, BL.
- Noble Nwachukwu, B.Sc.
Grand Children are as follows:
- Obinna Agwunobi.
- Chikezie Agwunobi.
- Kanayo Agwunobi, BA
- Ugonma Agwunobi, undergrad.
- Medua Alozieuwa (Nee Iweha), B.Pharm.
- Somtoo Iweha, B.Sc Economics.
- Kaosi Iweha, undergrad Mass Comm.
- Nodebe Udenze B.Sc, Electrical/Electronic Engineering.
- Barrister Adanna Udenze, LLB, BL.
- Chialuka Udenze, undergrad, Biomedical Engineering (finalist).
- Kelechi Uzoukwu, B.Sc, M.Sc Economics.
- Nkechi Uzoukwu, B.Sc, M.Sc, Medical Student.
- Chiamaka Uzoukwu, LLB, Student Nigerian Law School.
- Ugochinyere Uzoukwu, undergrad Business Info Tech.
- Ogonna Uzoukwu, Foundation Student, Law.
- Livy Ifeanyi Uzoukwu, Jr., Foundation Student, Business Info Tech.
- Dr. Crystal Onwuharonye, D.Pharm.
- Ashley Onwuharonye, B.Sc, Doctor of Dental Surgery (Student).
- Nomso Ukachukwu.
- Tobechukwu Ukachukwu.
- Ugonna Ukachukwu.
- Chidubem Joy Alakweonye.
- Kaodichinma Uba.
- Kamsiyochukwu Uba.
- Kachimdi Uba.
- Kene Ukachukwu
- Adaora Nwachukwu.
- Ebubechukwu Nwachukwu.
- Ihechukwu Nwachukwu.
Grand Son in-law
Great Grand Daughter
Brother
- Hon. Justice AOH Ukachukwu (Rtd)
Sisters
- Mrs. Charity Ejiogu
- Mrs. Adamma Mbaekube
Half-brothers
- Chief Augustine Ukachukwu
- Chief Basil Ukachukwu
Half sisters
- Mrs. Betsy Nnamuka
- Mrs. Ukachi Onyeme
