ForeverMissed
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Tributes
May 18, 2021
May 18, 2021
I have followed Engr Izuwa and his visionary leadership at ICRC. His dedication and resolve to make a difference in the public sector partly informed my decision to embrace public service. Unfortunately I didn't met my idol in person and I received the news of his passing with a deep sense of loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family in these times and may His soul find rest with His Maker.
May 17, 2021
May 17, 2021
*CHIDI - THE MAN BORN TO LEAD!*
Dear Chidi Izuwa. When our paths first crossed at Shell PDC Ltd. in the early nineties, I ascribed far a higher age to you simply because of the enormous tasks and leadership role entrusted to you, which saw you managing massive business volumes and consequently also, a large number of people working for the company. I was much later to realise my wrong assumption and that the reason you were entrusted with so much was because you had demonstrated the capacity and reliability for the trust.

I recall your action and precepts on significant occassions that portrayed your nobility of heart and sterling Christian qualities of charity, love and humility, which I find both inspiring and reinforcing. Your charitable nature and humility were highly at play when I saw you rejoicing with the joyful man of the moment - something rare among competitors in the office. You genuinely shared your colleague's joy despite the seeming edge his success entailed. Not surprisingly therefore, God also gave you many occasions to be very well celebrated in your life. Your clear stance on the virtues of charity and care, particularly towards the elderly, from way back in time, provided me encouragement as well as endorsement for similar strives undertaken. Thanks for the cheerfulness and high spirits with which you delivered on these scores.

Thankfully, after a long while apart, I had the opportunity to catch up with you once again about two years ago at a social event in Anambra State, but sadly, I never knew that would be our last together... I thank God for our paths that crossed in this life and for your impacts. May Heaven receive and nurture your beautiful and noble soul. I pray that God will console your family, friends and everyone touched by your demise. May all draw strength and inspiration from the high quality and exemplary life you lived. Amen. Adieu!

Dominic Ozoude
14th May 2021
May 2, 2021
May 2, 2021
A TRIBUTE TO MY DEPENDABLE FRIEND:  ENGR. CHIDI K.C.  IZUWAH - A   DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL-AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA AND AFRICA.

 "And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in YOU, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).

The 16th of March 2021 now remains a day to be remembered when history recounts those who have distinguished themselves in the service of God and humanity. This was the day destined for Chidi to conclude his good-works whilst leaving a legacy of profound faith in his creator and plans for a more-sustainable future for our country and continent.

Chidi nwokem!
Otu onye ana ekele unu abiala!! (a single being who is greeted as a multitude!!).

You always stood-out like the “Iroko tree-in-the-forest “. There is a litany of life-lessons you exhibited but I am constrained for space to summarise them in a trinity of inter-related attributes:

1.SPIRITUAL RESILIENCE
- You were DEEPLY prayerful and faithful in small things (fidelis in minimis) and so you were rewarded with “big things”.  I recall one of such occasions when you were the “regent” of Amaede, Amaitolu Ovungwu Autonomous Community (as Eze Udo 1 after your late Father).  One of your early challenges was to resolve a sudden dispute among the elders who placed a phone call to you late in the evening requesting you urgently travel back home from Port-Harcourt. Travelling home the next morning was also going to adversely impact on of your key deliverables as an Asset Manager in the oil/gas industry. In your wisdom, you committed the issues to prayers for DIVINE MERCY and kept vigil from 3am in the morning. You testified that you received a phone call early in the morning to inform you that the “sticking points” of the issues were resolved and you no longer were required at home! What a relief it was!!

It’s no wonder that I have kept up-to-this day one of your “relics” – a Divine Mercy Prayer “book-divider” you gave me in remembrance of your late father.   

2.PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
- Chidi, you “cut your professional teeth” as a project engineer in the oil/gas industry in the late eighties and went ahead to participate in one of the biggest and complex deep offshore developments in Nigeria.  I recall your giant strides while working in Monaco, South of France, with other project teams around the globe to deliver one of the largest and complex Offshore Floating Production, Storage & Offloading (FPSO) Vessels in Nigeria. You left a legacy of excellent professional competence and commanded deep respect from your Nigerian and Overseas colleagues. Subsequently, you did maintain critical oil/gas product flow assets amidst the continuous threats of vandalization.

3.  MORAL INTEGRITY
- Your exemplary moral and high ethical standards propelled you from your early days as a student all the way to the top job as Director-General of the Infrastructure Concessions & Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in the Office of The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to your formal confirmation for the job, I recall vividly the day you called to inform me that I was one of your references and that I could be called up as part of the usual “due-diligence” check by the relevant authorities. That was all you told me without going further to tell me “what to say or not to say” just in case I were asked. This is a worthy testimony of your high ethical and moral standard.

 You entrusted to my wife, Karin & I the spiritual care of your first daughter, Angelica, from the moment of her baptism. Quite recently, you shared with us the picture she took in the airport in Dallas (Texas) en-route to commence her undergraduate studies. As godparents, we will fulfill our responsibilities to her following the formidable foundation you have laid.

Exemplary family-man! A dependable friend!! Engineer par excellence!!!  Worthy Professional Ambassador of Africa!!!  

You fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Just Judge will reward you on that day (cf 2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Chidi nwokem!  “Otu onye ana ekele unu abiala”…now, on your final journey to join the Church-Triumphant.

FAREWELL!

Cyril Eziefule Ekpe (II)

2nd May 2021

 
May 1, 2021
Lovely gentleman.

Cheerful and friendly. Chidiiii as I always call him and will always return with a cheerful smile and answer Uncle Sam followed by a very hearty conversation and a very heartfull laughter as called for.

Very analytic. Raise any matter with him and he will churn it over many times.

A great hater of injustice of any kind.
He fights hard for his ground.

Must be a very grave loss for all the love he generated for his family. May God comfort you all.
We will be praying for you that he has left behind.

He was a very good colleague and friend I will ever remember.

Efeturi Sam & Ann family

April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021
Chidi was a dear friend. Full of life and passionate about excellence in all that he did. His presence always brought sunshine and smiles to every occasion and it was hard to remain down whenever he was around.
May his soul rest in perfect peace and may God strengthen his family now and in the days and years to come.
April 12, 2021
April 12, 2021
May his gentle soul Rest In Peace. A very friendly and jovial person, you will be greatly miss by anybody that has met you.
April 8, 2021
April 8, 2021
TRIBUTE TO ENGR. CHIDI K. C. IZUWAH
Uncommon patriot! Believer in Better Nigeria! Man of All Seasons! Man without Enemy Borders! Death the sage says is a universal destiny; which spares neither the rich nor the poor, neither black nor white, neither old nor young and neither male or female. Otherwise, our dear brother, Engr Chidi K. C. Izuwah, hardwork impresario was not at his ripe age, when providence called him to journey beyond. Though in a short span, he lived a successful and eventful life; for this we proclaim - To God be the Glory.
The legendary Izuwah family cannot easily forget their kind hearted son, humane father, the loving father of the fatherless and the charitable persona. There is no doubt about missing him, for the long hand of death has done its worst but the truism is that he will be forever in our hearts

As usual the bereaved no matter how old or how well C.K.C. Izuwah lived, it will seem a long and torturous journey for his family; but we still thank Almighty God and take solace on the truism that he spent his better life serving diligently humanity and our dear fatherland in various capacities too numerous to mention here.

The great legacy Engr.C.K.C. Izuwah left behind is a metaphor that yesterday is the forerunner of today and the sage re-echoes that life is forever, that’s why we cannot easily forget the remarkable strides and indelible marks C.K.C. made not only in the academia, but in Infrastructure Concessionary Regulatory Commission (ICPC).

One can quip, whom we have appreciated, we can never lose; for with heavy heart and nostalgia one is compelled to share excerpts of his last confidential WhaApp he texted to me from South Africa on Wednesday January 20, 2021, “Sorry I was unable to inform u in a timely manner. I had a life threatening medical emergency and was rushed to South Africa in December. .... am getting better, my wife a doctor and my Jnr sister ....Gynecologist in the UK rushed to help. Please kindly pray for me.”

Engr. C.K.C. Izuwah reminds us the famous inspirational quote of Irving Berlin, an American composer and lyricist that - the Song is ended but the Melody lingers on. One continues to pray for the repose of his soul and God’s guidance to his lovely family.
Adieu! Adieu! Adieu! Engr. C.K.C. Izuwah!

Osita Okechukwu
Director-General


Sent from my iPad
April 7, 2021
April 7, 2021
I am so saddened to learn of the passing on of my dear friend, Chidi. A true professional, and an accomplished Engineer and public servant. Latterly, a great champion of Public Private Partnership procurement models as a means of building and increasing infrastructure projects in Nigeria. A true patriot. Above all, he was a decent human being - selfless to a fault. Ever ready to support and help out. I miss him so dearly. May the good Lord give his family and friends the fortitude to bear this great and irreplaceable loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace with the Lord.

Prof. Charles Egbu ( UK).
April 7, 2021
April 7, 2021
Oh Chidi, what a great friend, you worked your way up to the Presidency, Our Shining Star, our Exemplary leader, A Personal Motivator and Comrade on Bonny Island.

Your Death really really grieves my heart, this is another one too many deaths. The last time I saw you at a conference in Lagos, you were so full of life eh, what happened??, what went wrong??

Lord have mercy on us, Mazi Chidi Izuwah, May your Soul Rest In Perfect Peace. I pray for strength for your Wife, Family and other Colleagues.

I’m still Shocked....you will be really missed Adieu....
April 6, 2021
April 6, 2021
Chidi news of your passage to glory came to my family as a great shock. We met last in June 2019 at the New PortHarcourt International Airport on your return from an Foreign official assignment. On that day, even as a Director General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, broke all protocol of your exlated office to exchange pleasantries with old friend and colleague. My family found in you a very reliable friend, one who valued relationship a great deal, works heard to sustain it. You were very sound technically and very well grounded and undoubtedly versatile but remains very respectful. You were a sound communicator and constantly appreciated investment your parents of blessed memory made in your education particularly in sponsorship of your Postgraduate Masters Degree programme in Hydraulics Engineering at the Prestigious University of Newcastle in Newcastle Upon Tyne even at time of scarcity of foreign exchange.That was after sponsorship at the Prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka for First Degree in Civil Engineering. In Shell SPDC, where we met, you distinguished yourself as a thorough professional rising sharply within a relatively short period of time to Senior Management Position of Pipelines Operations Manager. During the heat of Militancy, you by dint of hardwork and strong commitment led your team to restore crude oil production through prompt repairs of damaged Pipelines by Niger Delta Militants despite the attendant huge risk. You were part of the foundation members of Shell Personnel seconded from Shell SPDC to start up Shell Exploration and Production Company SNEPCO and your collective efforts resulted in SNEPCO today, being a viable Company and contributing immensely to National economy. In Government you elevated the status of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission to enviable level. We wished you lived longer but The Almighty God in his infinite mercies called you back home at a young age of 55years. We pray The Almighty who is the husband of widows consoles your Wife and Children you left behind, and to divinely fill the huge gaps your early exit has created and find solace in that you lived a short but eventful life full of impactful achievements and contribution to mankind. 
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
Dear family and friends of ICRC and the PPP family at large, please accept my condolences. This is a huge loss. May Chidi's rest in peace. I will miss his brilliant analysis of PPP issues and his warm camaraderie. He embraced life fully and made friends from all tongues and nations. May the Holy Spirit comfort the family and all of us. – Barr. Moremi Onijala (Interior)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
Engr Chidi’s dream was to play a key role in collaborating with others to create an infrastructure-sufficient Nigeria, where infrastructure delivery is powered by effective, world-class PPPs. May God comfort his family , ICRC, PPP stakeholders, the Nation and grant us all the fortitude to bear the loss. He will surely be missed and will for ever be remembered. Adieu Engr Chidi, RIP. May your dream and legacy live on
Rakiya (NIMASA)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
May God comfort his family and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. A great loss to our country and the infrastructure space. A great leader per excellence,May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
Ibrahim Sadiq (NERDC)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
I met with him only once in one of our meetings. Very impressionable and sound character. My condolence and prayers to his family and friends on this irreplaceable loss.
Jibrilla Mohammed (Kano)
(MEMBER OF THE NIGERIA PPP NETWORK (NPPPN): THE STATES’ PLATFORM OF PPP UNIT HEADS, WITH ICRC AS THE SECRETARIAT)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
On behalf of the PPP Lagos, please accept our sincere condolences. Our dear brother Chidi was an absolutely fantastic gentleman. Always offering advise and anyways ready to lend a listening ear. We pray the Good Lord grants him eternal rest. 
By Ope George (Lagos)
(MEMBER OF THE NIGERIA PPP NETWORK (NPPPN): THE STATES’ PLATFORM OF PPP UNIT HEADS, WITH ICRC AS THE SECRETARIAT)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
@ICRC D-G, Engr. Chidi Izuwah...core professional, enigmatic, innovative, amiable and very effective. We shall miss him sorely. My sincere condolences to his nuclear family, ICRC, all of us in this plarform and indeed Nigeria. May God bless his gentle soul. Olorogun Lucky Oghene-Omoru. Director General, Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
This is the saddest news i have heard in a long time. Mr Chidi was a special person. He was always jovial and very helpful. May his soul rest in peace. On behalf of the people and government of Jigawa State. I wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and the entire ICRC staff. – Jamila Farouk (Jigawa)
(MEMBER OF THE NIGERIA PPP NETWORK (NPPPN): THE STATES’ PLATFORM OF PPP UNIT HEADS, WITH ICRC AS THE SECRETARIAT)
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
Its indeed sunset at dawn!!!
Nigeria has lost one of its very brilliant and passionate development drivers. Engr Chidi Izuwah was a global authority on Public Private Partnership(PPP)striving so hard to stimulate the sector back home while representing Nigeria with class at every international fora on PPP.
I recall with pride how the Direcror of the PPP centre of Excellence in Instanbul, Turkey had to bring their emerging PPP experts numbering about 20 to the DG for some hours of pep talk and drills on sectoral expertise when we attended the PPP week in 2019. For hours, he spoke brilliantly on the critical success factors of the PPP space to the delight of all.
He was always ready to offer help, insights, support and hand-holding to sub-nationals and other players in a bid to enhance the success of PPPs as a veritable source of engendering infrastructural development in the country.
We will sorely miss you our shining Star. We love you and appreciate your uncommon accomplishments in the sector. We are however consoled by the fact that you were able to witness the coming to light and fruition of some of the most critical projects you have strived hard to achieve in the sector last year. Adieu!!! May the almighty comfort his family and grant everyone of us the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. My condolences to the ICRC family.
By Abdoul (Kwara State)
(MEMBER OF THE NIGERIA PPP NETWORK (NPPPN): THE STATES’ PLATFORM OF PPP UNIT HEADS, WITH ICRC AS THE SECRETARIAT)
March 28, 2021
March 28, 2021
Brilliant, ebullient, friendly, energetic, always seeing the best in others,
Chidi was a reliable friend, who achieved much but remained humble.

Rest in peace, Chidi. You will be sorely missed. Continue to live on in the hearts and memories of your loved ones.

May God strengthen your family as they cope with your absence until that day when we shall meet to part no more
March 27, 2021
March 27, 2021
It was a tough one when I heard about the demise of Chidi. I have known Chidi for over 40 years as students of University of Nigeria and it was the same Chidi till the last time we saw! This is a big loss to Nigeria and humanity, that’s the simplest way I can capture the passing to glory of my dear Brother Knight. We love you Chidi but God loves you best and you are victorious now! May the soul of Bro Chidi and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercies of God Rest In Peace, amen!
March 27, 2021
March 27, 2021
TRIBUTE: Remembering CKC Izuwah (1965 – 2021)
ON MARCH 25, 202112:58 AMIN VIEWPOINT
By Zerry Ihekwaba
IT was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, that we first met over 40 years ago. We were part of the 1980 matriculating class of the Department of Civil Engineering of the Agbebi College of Engineering. He was young, conspicuous, and everywhere striking acquaintances.The round-faced, ebony black, chubby fellow would walk up to anyone, male and female alike, with confidence and good cheer to introduce himself as “Big Fish”. It was a special case of youthful novelty and genuine merriment.

In art and in life, persons often tend to assume a moniker for sundry reasons or to emphasize mission. I never got to find out why a medium sized lad and one not particularly gifted with the height of a basketballer would choose such an unforgettable and debonaire nickname.The round-faced, ebony black, chubby fellow would walk up to anyone, male and female alike, with confidence and good cheer to introduce himself as “Big Fish”. It was a special case of youthful novelty and genuine merriment.

.Not many in the freshman class, assembled from all parts of the country and elsewhere, would ever forget our friend. His boldness was memorable and stylish, with a voluptuous taste of urbane feel and charming disposition. Ever since that momentous beginning, his unique indefinability has remained his social vita and a subtle canvass to remember.

It took several months after that memorable introduction before many realized his natal name was Chidi Kennedy Chikezie Izuwah, or as he would prefer to write it simply as CKC Izuwah. He came from royalty and was the oldest scion of the now late Eze A.E.N. Izuwah, Eze Udo I of Amaitolu Ovungwu Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, and the late Ugoeze (Professor) Lucy Izuwah. Eze A.E.N Izuwah was a doyen of the civil service in the erstwhile East Central State and successfully retired as a Permanent Secretary in the old Imo State.While the family patriarch reigned as the traditional ruler of his community till death, our friend and classmate, Chidi Izuwah, kept to the rule book of his ecclesiastical suasion. This he did by mixing it with the unique social mores and cultural confines of his ancestry whilst maintaining the fraternity of his youth, just as he went on to achieve a glorious professional career in Nigeria’s public service sector.

Chidi Izuwah meant many things to many of his contemporaries and admirers. He effortlessly charted himself well into success in academia, his engineering career, and his subsequent foray into the national establishment.He was focused and determined to excel by challenging conventions through a determined effort to promote a homily of humanistic ideals. CKC Izuwah believed in sustaining lifelong friendships without abandoning the cultural demands of filial bonds. Comradeship and chivalry were key aspects of his social engagement even as he built harmony with folks.

He stubbornly refused to stray from those paths, and without remiss, insisted that icons of negative tribal accoutrements must be scrupulously redirected as he maintained his thought cues. Those were testimonial reminisces of a past era while we cavorted and perused the campus and throughout the over 40 years of association.CKC Izuwah served his NYSC year from 1985 through 1986 in Port Harcourt with Shell Petroleum Development Company. Serendipity meant that we must meet again at a recruitment session with University of Port Harcourt where three classmates competed for a position.

He secured the offer and proceeded to the University of New Castle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom for a Master’s degree in hydraulic engineering whilst Dr Emeka Agbasi went on to Imperial College in London for a Master’s and Doctoral programme in materials engineering, and myself to Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario, Canada for a similar Master’s and Doctoral programme.He was a recurring presence in kindling the bond of friendship amongst us and the other Agbebites, as we fondly call engineering graduates of UNN.

Several years after, during a visit from the United States, we met again and this time he had become a staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company after his brief stint with University of Port Harcourt. He promptly invited me over for lunch at his home on Faith Avenue, Woji, in Port Harcourt where I met his wife, Doris, for the first time.I realised then that Chidi’s in-laws were from my old local government area in Imo State. It was a time of great nostalgia recounting our journey and the exuberances of youth and maturity as married men! Chidi was such a good fare to socialise with.

He was later to pay me a visit in my ancestral village of Nkwerre in Imo State in 2007 when I returned to pay my last respects to my departed dear mother. He was joined by Prof Okey Onyemelukwe during the Sunday outing service in the local church. They were preceded in the visit by several fellow Agbebites in the previous days, notably Paul Nwafor, Ike Egbogah, Ovoks Anyaegbunam, Chibuzor Njoku, Dozie Eze, Hazel Anele, as well as others who either visited or reached out through other means. Again, the bond of friendship was strongly aglow in that moment of loss and mourning. This much we owe Chidi’s family now.

Sometime in early 2009, he expressed his desire to join the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC, in Abuja. We talked and shared ideas of mutual interest. He successfully joined the ICRC as its pioneer executive director for Public Private Partnership Resource department.

He quickly settled into bringing international best practices to his ICRC work and went about it by engaging the right professionals in the right places. He reached out extensively and participated in several international forums and conferences on infrastructure finance and Public-Private Partnership, PPP, contracting process.

In 2013, he visited the United States and we met at a local manufacturer’s facility in Broward County, Florida while he inspected the process for fabricating and assembling modular buildings and tilt-up construction. Over lunch at a boutique restaurant along Las Olas Boulevard in the dainty part of downtown Fort Lauderdale, we reviewed and he requested for a copy of a paper I had delivered at the National Infrastructure Renewal Summit in Fort Lauderdale in 2012. He was persistent in seeking novel, tried and tested models for delivering excellent and fiscally prudent infrastructure assets. Chidi Izuwah was a leader extraordinaire and he rolled out reliability-based regulatory framework and guidelines for many of the ICRC initiatives. No wonder in 2016, he became its Executive Director for the cross-disciplinary Support Services department.

His trajectory included breaking grounds and charting new courses so much as to be recognised as a leader amongst peers when the ICRC under his purview was named by Africa Investor Magazine as the African Infrastructure Regulator of the Year in 2018. In 2019, he easily earned his promotion as the Director-General of the ICRC when Nigeria’s government under President Mohammadu Buhari announced his appointment and the Senate, Nigeria’s upper legislative body, easily concurred, to everyone’s admiration.

In all his assignments, he was hugely successful as he garnered laurels and recognition in the industry, and through his tireless work, ICRC was named as an African PPP Champion in 2020. Together with his wife, Dr Doris Izuwah, they promoted civic causes and community efforts, especially by committing personal resources.
They established and successfully operated the OLG Health Foundation and Autism Centre in Port Harcourt and Abuja as a vehicle for sensitising and promoting public awareness about autism. Their primary constituency was childhood autism, especially as a treatable ailment, while suing for corporate engagement, supportive environment and clinical intervention.

It was obvious in all our interactions that he was onto something big as he focused his many inquiries on transformative ideas not just about infrastructure and asset management protocols but also about the health and wellbeing of the community.
CKC Izuwah honed his skills through professional engagements, researches and in-person participation at programmatic short courses offered by Harvard University, Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and others.

We kept in touch until he recently suffered health challenges and needed time to attend to it. Then came that dreadful news early one Tuesday morning that we had lost him. It took a couple of our mutual friends to confirm the sad reality of this huge loss.
Our thoughts and prayers will remain for his young family and loved ones, as we ask God to provide succour and strength for them. As Chidi crosses the threshold of eternal realm, we wish the self-styled “Big Fish” a forever good sail with the foregone ones. Good night, Chidi.

Dr Ihekwaba wrote from Florida, USA
March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021
The loss is not yours only. We all feel the same pain that you feel today. May God Almighty give you peace and ease your pain soon. Nothing can be compared with your loss today. I am deeply saddened to hear this but I want you to know that you’re never alone. God Almighty is with you and He will ease your pain. My heartiest condolence to you ma'am.
Mr Fashe, OLG port Harcourt
March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021
The news of the death of my colleague and friend, Engr. Chidi Izuwa, has shocked and saddened me. Chidi was a man so full of life and passion that even those who knew him from afar would be pained by his death.

Chidi and I collaborated in several circles, including career (Shell), professional (Pipeline Professionals' Association of Nigeria), and faith (Catholic men fellowship). In all, he was the epitome of a brilliant and upbeat professional. He gave everything he had in everything he did. He had such high hopes for Nigeria, and he worked tirelessly to make those dreams a reality.

Chidi, gone too soon… Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let the perpetual light shine upon him.
March 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
Tribute to De Chidi
You embraced life and all its challenges with the dexterity of a wise craftsman. Zealous and full of ambition you traversed this terra firma like a colossus, leaving marks and milestones of great achievements in your trail. Your sojourn on this side of eternity was quite brief but eventful. De Chidi your sudden departure has left an irreplaceable vacuum. We take solace in the statement that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Only He, the Almighty, knows all things. You played your part, though brief, on this life’s stage and took a bow from the stage with your head held high. We will always remember you for good knowing that ‘The memory of the righteous is blessed,’ (Prov 10:7 NKJV)
De Chidi rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord.
Pastor Uche Chikwendu (From Otagburuagu’s Family)
March 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
My beloved brother Chidi, my heart is heavy! Your amiable and cheerful character will be remembered by all of us at Shell for a very long time to come. Little did I know that our happy hour last Christmas was going to be the last. But God knows best. Remain in perfect peace in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray God to comfort Doris and the entire family till we all meet on resurrection morning to part no more, Amen.
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
The little I was told about your husband is enough to say that He lived a good life here in Earth.

Be encourage with the fact that he touched lives positively before joining the saints above.

All the same, I know it's not easy, but be assured that it is well with you and yours kids and He will always watch over you and the kids.

May his soul rest in Lord Jesus Christ.

Divine Sir. Kelechi Nwosu's wife From Umuejije.

*It is well !!!!*
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Good morning. This is Bar Halita. I got your no from Mrs Liisa HR. I have tried to call you several times. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your husband. I didn't know him personally but I could see he was a good man that always loved to laugh and smile. May God console you and give you the fortitude to bear this loss. He would never depart from you and would be with you all through this trying time.
From Barrister Halita Nisa Premier Hospital.
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
NCHETA IGBO:      NDIGBO LOSE AN ILLUSTRIOUS SON,
ENGR. CHIDI IZUWAH,
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, INFRASTRUCTURE CONCESSION REGULATORY COMMISSION (ICRC)

On Saturday, January 23, 2021, the Centre for Memories (Ncheta Ndigbo) premiered a world-class documentary, MI Power: The Legend and The Legacy. The documentary, which has been screened twice globally, is a comprehensive account of the life and times of the legendary Late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the former Premier of the Eastern Region.

The production of this documentary by the Centre for Memories (CFM) and Alto Historical Media became possible through the insistence and financial contribution of one of the finest sons of Ndigbo, Engr. Chidi Izuwah (Odum Amaede). Chidi galvanized, motivated, and inspired others to contribute to the project and followed through until the work was delivered. He has acted in the same way on so many things concerning Ndigbo. He was a regular guest at CFM’s monthly Distinguished Speakers’ Series, Nkata Umu Ibe, and was scheduled to speak on the topic, ‘Ibu Anyi Danda, before the pandemic lockdown.

Today, the Centre for Memories (Ncheta Ndigbo) and, indeed, Ndigbo mourn the death of Engr. Chidi Izuwah. He was a great and illustrious Igbo son who was very proud of his identity and root and never hesitated to support and contribute to any good Igbo cause.

Chidi was an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Newcastle, Harvard, Wharton, Columbia University, and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Executive Education. He had a successful career of almost four decades in the private and public sector, straddling Civil Engineering, Hydraulic and Power Engineering, Oil and Gas Asset Management, Project Management, Contract Management, and Infrastructure Management.

Until his death, he was the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). He was a master of his craft, an astute engineer, and a public servant with a difference. He was one of the most-read public officials, which was reflected in his stewardship of the ICRC.

The Centre for Memories joins the Izuwah family and Ndigbo to mourn the death of Engr Chidi Izuwah. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who mourn this illustrious and worthy Igbo son.

Naa n’udo, Odum Amaede. Odogwu nwoke. May God rest your soul.

Signed,

The Board and Management.

#CentreForMemories
March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
NGWALAND, Abia State, SouthEast, and Nigeria have lost an illustrious son and highly resourceful personality in the person of Engr Chidi Izuwah (Omekannaya).
Of noble, yet humble Christian parentage, of Amaede Ovungwo, Isiala Ngwa South Abia State extraction, his father was HRH Eze Austin E N Izuwah, retired Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Service Commission, and Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria, Knights of St. John International, while his mother was a full Professor of Linguistics at the National Institute of Nigerian Languages, Aba, before their demise more than a decade ago.
Engr Chidi Izuwah, himself a traditional title holder , Knight of St.John,and a fully registered engineer in Nigeria, grew up under those disciplined, firm and guiding hands of parents, through high school at Government College Umuahia and later emerging with an honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985 at an enviable age of 20.He later obtained a functional Masters Degree in Engineering Hydraulics. Thus equipped, he worked for more than 20 years in Shell Petroleum Development Nigeria, attaining top Engineering and Management positions before disengaging for higher National service in the Federal Public Service, where he also excelled  to attain the position of DG of ICRC in acting capacity for a few years now until his confirmation some 19 months ago as the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission,ICRC,by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
A sociable and an avid conference man locally and internationally,those who have inter-faced with Chidi deliver conference papers,would find him cracking humourous jokes to keep you awake and attentive.Cultured and respectful ,Izuwah has faith in God and country.
In a condolence message conveyed to the bereaved Izuwah family , relations and friends, the President, regretted that Nigeria will miss the services of Engr Chidi Izuwah, a policy reforms conscious engineer and technocrat who has already brought improvements to the nation's infrastructural development. May his gentle soul rest in peace!
Engr Ezenwa EI Okite MNSE, KSJI
March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
My dear dear bro and friend Chidi Izuwah... it’s excruciatingly painful to comprehend your passing ...from our days as roommates at UNN in the 80s’ to date, we grew our relationship from friendship to brotherhood and maintained open, honest and constant communications, encouraging each other through the tough times as we built our careers in the private and public sectors ... you were a good man with a big heart, deeply religious, a family man and a man of strong values ... you were hard working, results focused and one who always wanted to positively impact lives ...selflessly, you always reached out to the needy as long as you were privy to their needs even if no requests were made of you ...we are consoled by the fact that you kept unshakeable faith in God through life, and even on your sick bed as we communicated, you trusted God to see you through as you praised God and confidently said “life is priceless and I will be back” ...you had great plans for the earthly future and though you did not achieve all your goals, you left indelible footprints on the sands of time ...a rare gem, there is so much to remember you for through these years... your brilliance through the school years, your outstanding achievements on the career front (your giant strides at ICRC not an exception), your immeasurable acts of charity, being a true Christian (Catholic) gentleman, a loving husband and a role model Dad ... we mourn you and can not question God so we accept this as the will of God ...we pray and ask God to grant you eternal rest in His bosom and to bless, protect and provide for Doris and the kids in your absence ...as the Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ...you have run your race and finished strong ...Rest In Perfect Peace bro! ....

Engr. Henry Ikem Obih
Abuja, Nigeria
March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
*Remembering CKC Izuwah (1965 – 2021)*

It was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) that we first met over forty years ago. We were part of the 1980 matriculating class of the Department of Civil Engineering of the Agbebi College of Engineering. He was young, conspicuous, and everywhere striking acquaintances. The round-faced, ebony black, chubby fellow would walk up to anyone, male and female alike, with confidence and good cheer to introduce himself as “Big Fish”. It was a special case of youthful novelty and genuine merriment.

In art and in life, persons often tend to assume a moniker for sundry reasons or to emphasize mission. I never got to find out why a medium sized lad and one not particularly gifted with the height of a basketballer would choose such an unforgettable and debonaire nickname. Not many in the freshman class, assembled from all parts of the country and eslewhere, would ever forget our friend. His boldness was memorable and stylish, with a voluptuous taste of urbane feel and charming disposition. Ever since that momentous beginning, his unique indefinability has remained his social vita and a subtle canvass to remember.

It took several months after that memorable introduction before many realized his natal name was Chidi Kennedy Chikezie Izuwah, or as he would prefer to write it simply as CKC Izuwah. He came from royalty and was the oldest scion of the now late Eze A.E.N. Izuwah, Eze Udo I of Amaitolu Ovungwu Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, and late Ugoeze (Professor) Lucy Izuwah. Eze A.E.N Izuwah was a doyen of the civil service in the erstwhile East Central State and successfully retired as a Permanent Secretary in the old Imo State. While the family patriarch reigned as the traditional ruler of his community till death, our friend and classmate, Chidi Izuwah, kept to the rule book of his ecclesiastical suasion. This he did by mixing it with the unique social mores and cultural confines of his ancestry whilst maintaining the fraternity of his youth, just as he went on to achieve a glorious professional career in Nigeria’s public service sector.

Chidi Izuwah meant many things to many of his contemporaries and admirers. He effortlessly charted himself well into success in academia, his engineering career, and his subsequent foray into the national establishment. He was focused and determined to excel by challenging conventions through a determined effort to promote a homily of humanistic ideals. CKC Izuwah believed in sustaining lifelong friendships without abandoning the cultural demands of filial bonds. Comradeship and chivalry were key aspects of his social engagement even as he built harmony with folks. He stubbornly refused to stray from those paths, and without remiss, insisted that icons of negative tribal accoutrements must be scrupulously redirected as he maintained his thought cues. Those were testimonial reminisces of a past era while we cavorted and perused the campus and throughout the over forty years of association.

CKC Izuwah served his NYSC year from 1985 through 1986 in Port Harcourt with Shell Petroleum Development Company. Serendipity meant that we must meet again at a recruitment session with University of Port Harcourt where three classmates competed for a position. He secured the offer and proceeded to the University of New Castle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom for a master’s degree in hydraulic engineering whilst Dr. Emeka Agbasi went on to Imperial College in London for a master’s and doctoral program in materials engineering, and myself to Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario, Canada for a similar master’s and doctoral program. He was a recurring presence in kindling the bond of friendship amongst us and the other Agbebites, as we fondly call engineering graduates of UNN.

Several years after, during a visit from the United States, we met again and this time he had become a staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company after his brief stint with University of Port Harcourt. He promptly invited me over for lunch at his home on Faith Avenue, Woji, in Port Harcourt where I met his wife, Doris, for the first time. I realized then that Chidi’s in-laws are from my old local government area in Imo State. It was a time of great nostalgia recounting our journey and the exuberances of youth and maturity as married men! Chidi was such a good fare to socialize with.

He was later to pay me a visit in my ancestral village of Nkwerre in Imo State in 2007 when I returned to pay my last respects to my departed dear mother. He was joined by Prof Okey Onyemelukwe during the Sunday outing service in the local church. They were preceded in the visit by several fellow Agbebites in the previous days, notably Engineers Paul Nwafor, Ike Egbogah, Ovoks Anyaegbunam, Chibuzor Njoku, Dozie Eze, Hazel Anele, as well as others who either visited or reached out through other means. Again, the bond of friendship was strongly aglow in that moment of loss and mourning. This much we owe Chidi’s family now.

Sometime in early 2009, he expressed his desire to join the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja. We talked and shared ideas of mutual interest. He successfully joined the ICRC as its pioneer executive director for Public Private Partnership Resource department. He quickly settled into bringing international best practices to his ICRC work and went about it by engaging the right professionals in the right places. He reached out extensively and participated in several international forums and conferences on infrastructure finance and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracting process.

In 2013, he visited the United States and we met at a local manufacturer’s facility in Broward County, Florida while he inspected the process for fabricating and assembling modular buildings and tilt-up construction. Over lunch at a boutique restaurant along Las Olas Boulevard in the dainty part of downtown Fort Lauderdale, we reviewed and he requested for a copy of a paper I had delivered at the National Infrastructure Renewal Summit in Fort Lauderdale in 2012. He was persistent in seeking novel, tried and tested models for delivering excellent and fiscally prudent infrastructure assets.

Chidi Izuwah was a leader extraordinaire and he rolled out reliability-based regulatory framework and guidelines for many of the ICRC initiatives. No wonder in 2016, he became its Executive Director for the cross-disciplinary Support Services department. His trajectory included breaking grounds and charting new courses so much as to be recognized as a leader amongst peers when the ICRC under his purview was named by Africa Investor Magazine as the African Infrastructure Regulator of the Year in 2018.

In 2019, he easily earned his promotion as the Director-General of the ICRC when Nigeria’s government under President Mohammadu Buhari announced his appointment and the Senate, Nigeria’s upper legislative body, easily concurred, to everyone’s admiration. In all his assignments, he was hugely successful as he garnered laurels and recognition in the industry, and through his tireless work, ICRC was named as an African PPP Champion in 2020.

Together with his wife, Dr. Doris Izuwah, they promoted civic causes and community efforts especially by committing personal resources. They established and successfully operated the OLG Health Foundation and Autism Center in Port Harcourt and Abuja as a vehicle for sensitizing and promoting public awareness about autism. Their primary constituency was childhood autism especially as a treatable ailment while suing for corporate engagement, supportive environment and clinical intervention.

It was obvious in all our interactions that he was onto something big as he focused his many inquiries on transformative ideas not just about infrastructure and asset management protocols but also about the health and wellbeing of the community. CKC Izuwah honed his skills through professional engagements, researches, and in-person participation at programmatic short courses offered by Harvard University, Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and others.

We kept in touch until he recently suffered health challenges and needed time to attend to it. Then came that dreadful news early one Tuesday morning that we had lost him. It took a couple of our mutual friends to confirm the sad reality of this huge loss. Our thoughts and prayers will remain for his young family and loved ones, as we ask God to provide succor and strength for them. As Chidi crosses the threshold of eternal realm, we wish the self-styled “Big Fish” a forever good sail with the foregone ones. Good night, Chidi.

- Zerry Ihekwaba, PhD, PE
Florida, USA
March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
A Colossus, gentle yet kind; passionate and compassionate; Christ lover and committed Catholic; a consummate professional and loving family man. The world has lost one of its best and heaven has gained an angel. It has pleased God to call you home at the time when Nigeria needs you most. May God comfort your dear wife, your children, your family and all whose lives you impacted, as only He can. Rest in peace great man.
March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
May God bless your soul and comfort your family. Rest In Peace, Chidi.
March 22, 2021
March 22, 2021
Particularly, today was hard and teary for us as the memories of the humble, gentle and generous Mr. Chidi Izuwah ran through our minds.

We were blessed (my children in particular whom he gave one a name "Jamima" ) to meet and know him for the months he was receiving treatment in South Africa. It was a great privilege knowing him and memories that we will live to cherish. It was a short yet impactful moment we experienced with him.

If only weeping could bring you back "Uncle Chidi "!

May you continue to rest in peace until we meet again.

We miss and love you and, thank you for being such a great person and blessing in our lives.

Blessing Anya Hutchinson
Rosebank, Johannesburg,
South Africa
March 22, 2021
March 22, 2021
When I read the post earlier, i did not believe it was the same Chidi Izuwa my friend that just died; but I remember we met last year at the business lounge in Dubai airport and we gisted for over two hours before our flight to Abuja was called. He confided in me that he travelled to India for a treatment. He felt well treated.

Before then, we meet during a Project Management course in Johannesburg where we spent two weeks together in the same hotel.

His humility knows no bound. On several occasions, as an ED then and even as Ag DG Chidi would come to First Bank, Coomassie House, Abuja and join the queue and then call me on phone to tell me that he was around. I would beg him to come upstairs to my office and he would decline politely. I most atimes had to rush down myself, collect the cheque, cash it and and handover the cash to him.

During every Sallah celebrations Chidi’s text message are always regular, consistent and very powerful.

The last time we spoke he called me from the US to complain about an issue he was having with his ATM. I reminded him that I was no longer with Firstbank and referred him to the Head payments and services. He called me back the following day to thank and inform me that the issue was resolved; that is Chidi for you.

Rest In Peace, Chidi. Till we meet to part no more!

Muntari Zubairu
Group Executive Director, Corporate Services
Oando plc
March 22, 2021
March 22, 2021
*Tribute*

*  Chidi*

My classmate in the University and a DG in a Fed Ministry just died today in Abuja. Not COVID.

Chidi Izuwah RIP

I just got to know 20 mins ago.

If you think of something, do something. He has not been reading my msgs since around Feb 28 but he sent me something on Feb 26.

I thought he travelled out of service area. I didn't know he was battling with his health.

It's so sad. Just in 2019, he led a delegation with me to Amawbia to bury one of our faculty members and his fellow ex Shell worker.

Nobody knew he was next.

Nobody knows who next.

And all I have is fond memories of him.

In 2020, we were raising money to reach out to our distressed classmates as *palliatives* for COVID-19.

I was scared to go to the Bank and he contributed N50k for me.

When I summoned courage to go to the Bank and repay him, I asked for his account details and he told me "Sam, give it to the poor".

Really?

I enlisted one of my Secondary school classmates from Enugu State and my wife. That N50k got to Enugu State, Kogi state, Lagos State in tiny bits and pieces.

So, beyond the glamour during the burial will be genuine mourning by those he really touched.

*Let's do what we can when we can*

He taught us about life in no small measure. He was just one of the few that could tell stories about family.

He told us his house in Shell Camp was opposite the Gold course. The scenery was fantastic. All the children knew were Shell Camp, London, Toronto, New York.

Then, one day and without notice, it was all over in Shell.

From opposite the Gold course, he moved into a flat.

The children were always startled to see people on the staircase because they never knew what it was to have neighbors not far off. Rain brought so much distress to the kids because of the noise on *gbam gbam* on the roof of the new abode. They would cuddle themselves because Shell Camp was noise proof. NEPA nko? - They would cry.

What of fetching water downstairs with bucket because the pumping machine malfunctioned - The children never understood all these.

But he was a lecturer at some point in UST with GEJ who then appointed him as Director in his parastatal and he became DG under PMB.

Life is full of ups and downs.

How prepared are our ajebutter children? Do they know that "mmili oku n'egbu mbe?" - that hot water dey kill tortoise? 

They need to know and *tabugbo*‍♂️

RIP Chidi Izuwah

Sam Okafor
March 16, 2021
March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
So sorry to hear about your loss Dr Izuwah, may 6ve your strength in this trying times and forever. May God grant you and the entire family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may His presence be with you and the children in the days ahead. Please take heart and stay strong
March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
Nwanne, no be like this we discuss am oh!!

My dearest childhood friend, the exceptional and cerebral Chidi Izuwah - my home boy par excellence!!

Everywhere you’ve been, you have touched lives so positively that Heaven wanted you to come look over us like the angels.

A devout Catholic, loving husband to Doris and father, and on top of this all, the most loyal and loving friend you could ever wish for.

God grants peaceful rest by His side for all His faithful servants and soldiers; so rest on brother, rest on.

May the lovely memories of you serve as a blessing to Doris, the children, family and the millions of friends who are still in shock!!

God be with you till we meet again, Great Umuahian!!

March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
P3 World Council joins in mourning the loss of Chidi Izuwah, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission of Nigeria.

Mr. Izuwah was one of the influential figures of the PPP ecosystem and was committed to its growth and development.

By P3 World Council
March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
It is really sad. Dr Doris, it is well. God will surely see you and the children through at this trying period and going forward. May the soul of Engr Chidi Izuwa and that of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen
March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family during this difficult period.
May you find the comfort and peace that you seek and may the soul of your husband rest in peace. Amen
With time and courage, you will sail through this rough waters.
ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO HIS SOUL O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON HIM. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.... AMEN
March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021
It so sad to hear the passing of great man who in very obvious ways affected lives positively, played a very strategic role as a DG in ICRC, a perfect gentleman and a good friend indeed.
We condole with his family, Doris and children he left behind and the rest of his extended family. May the good Lord provide his family and friends the fortitude to bear the loss.

May the soul of Chidi Izuwah rest in the bossom of the Lord.

Engr. Chinedu Ibegbulem
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
Chidi's transition once more reminds us just how transient life can be. Even though Chidi died young he had a huge positive impact on those he encountered, and will always be remembered.
Chidi and I have known each other since university days. He was among the first persons I met when I started out in Shell Port Harcourt. He was undertaking his NYSC assignment at the time. Our friendship continued until he joined the same department in Shell a couple of years after me. We again worked together in SNEPCo and later, on the Shell Bonga Main project. Chidi also played a very supportive and visible role during my traditional marriage at Ohafia, bringing both the funny but serious elements to the ceremony.
Chidi, your ebullient and kind-hearted character always stood out. You were deeply religious, a loving husband and family man. Those of us who got to know you were very lucky for having crossed paths with you; you now have God by your side. Travel well my brother.
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
So sad to hear of the passing of the DG of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Engr. Chidi Izuwah
He was a man of dilligence, who worked passionately to see that the huge infrastructure gap of Nigeria is closed with Public Private Partnership.
A huge loss!

By Seun Ogunbiyi
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
A true gentleman and an absolute professional - we will all feel this unimaginable loss. Eng Chidi Izuwah's contributions to the industry have been invaluable. On behalf of dmg events, we offer our sincerest condolences to Eng Chidi's family and his colleagues at the ICRC.

By Transport Evolution World
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
Its with heavy heart that I learnt of the demise of the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Engr Chidi Izuwah. He introduced me to the Rivers State government in 2011 which gave birth to Rivtaf golf estate. RIP my dear bro.

By Mustapha Njie
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
A very passionate and powerful speaker. May eternal rest be granted to him. Condolences to his family.

By Chibugo Okoli
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
We are saddened to learn about the passing of Engr Chidi Izuwah, DG of @icrcng. He was a friend of @nighealthwatch who spoke at a number of our events.

His work in promoting public-private partnership in the Nigerian health sector will not be easily forgotten.
May his soul RIP

By Nigeria Health Watch

March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
I'm grateful to know that in my lifetime a Nigerian will want the best for his country and give all that is required to see that the health and prosperity of the nation is put first even before his own. I'm also overwhelmed by the undiluted support you give your wife and how proudly you both speak of each other.
I pray that the prayers of all the souls you have touched by your PPPinitiative (nisaGarki hospital as an example) will speak in your favour before God.
Thank you for giving us hope.
March 20, 2021
March 20, 2021
This man was a genius! He was a delight to listen to. He practically influenced my interest in Infrastructure development and PPPs. He would be sorely missed. May God accept his soul.

By Chynelo
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