It was on Monday the 29th day of August 1955 , in Lagos that the seed of an oak germinated in the Ogbunamili sub- family of Oliobi family , in the larger Udezuga family of Ire village, Obosi to late Engr SPC Ugona and Mrs Grace Ego Ugona nee Ufoeze.
No one knew that the little child would one day grow up to be the hero of faith known today as Engr Chukwuemeka Herbert UGONA , widely known by all and sundry as "The Pillar".
He started his blissful academic life at St Theresa's Primary School Apapa, Lagos in 1962.
The coup and counter coup of January and July of 1966 respectively that culminated in the Nigerian- Biafran Civil War (1967-1970) truncated his early education.
When the war ended, he gained admission into the prestigious Government Secondary School, Afikpo which was then in Enugu because a battalion of the Nigerian Army was then occupying the School premises in Afikpo.
He excelled in both sports and academics representing his school in table tennis, football, volleyball and Quiz competitions receiving several accolades and commendations.
He finished his secondary education in flying colours making Aggregate 8 Distinction in just one sitting in the 1974 West African School Certificate Examinations ( WASCE).
He was a very special person not only to the school in general but to his classmates in particular. He had a sharp, incisive and clear intellect and whenever an advice was needed, Emeka would effortlessly marshal the relevant points and counter points with disarming casualness and gentle humour.
He represented the then East Central State in several volleyball competitions and was a member of the Intermediate team that won medals in the 1973,1975 and 1977 Sports Festivals in Lagos and Kano States.
Due to his technical qualities and organisational brilliance, Emeka did not end at secondary school level as he gained admission into the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka UNN in 1974 to study Civil engineering, following in the footsteps of his father, Engr SPC Ugona.
He was also an ardent Sports man in the University as he represented UNN in Volleyball during the University Games NUGA in addition to representing the state as earlier stated in Sports Festivals.
In 1978, he was in the executive board of Civil Engineering Students Association of UNN.
He was responsible for Public Relations and Organisation of Industrial tours. As usual, his performance stood out. He graduated from UNN with honours in June 1979.
He proceeded to Ilorin, Kwara State where he worked with the Kwara State Housing Corporation for his mandatory One Year National Youths Service, finishing in 1980 with a National Award.
Emeka's career in the Oil industry is a song worth singing loudly, it started when he became one of the vibrant, young engineers to join Total Exploration and Production Nigeria( then known as Elf Petroleum). Like his colleagues, He went to France for one year of French Language/ Technical Studies.
On his return in 1982, his career which had been as challenging as anyone could think of took the following trajectory:
1982-1984 Production Field Engineer in charge of Process and Well Activation for Obagi/Erema Field .
1985-1987 Site Field Engineer in charge of all Production Operations and Safety Activities in Obagi/ Erema Fields.
1987-1989 Site Field Engineer in charge of Production and Safety Activities in Upomami Fields.
1989-1991 Senior Fields Engineer, followed by Two years attachments to Elf Cameroon, Elf Italia and Elf Angola
1993-1996 , he was Site Manager responsible for Management of Safety, Production, Maintenance, Personnel and Administration of OML 100 Offshore.
1996-1998, he was Production Rep Obite Gas Project based in Paris, France .
1999-2001, he was Site Manager/RSES OML 58.
2001-2002 Production Fields Services Manager
2002-2004 Onshore Production Manager
2005-2009 Akpo Project, Head of Fields Operations .
2009-2010 Nigerian Content Manager
2010 till he retired in 2014, he was General Manager JV Onshore Production .
His 1979 Graduation Class of the Faculty of Engineering UNN trusted him ( as the Project Manager) with the management of the building they are erecting for the Faculty in Nsukka- a project he co- initiated after a visit to the University to find out how the class could give back to their Alma Mater.
He worked assiduously on the project up till his last few hours on earth- discussing with colleagues, posting reports on progress on the class communication platform against a meeting scheduled for the day he transmitted!What a hero.
As busy as he was, he had time for his beloved Obosi. He loved and supported Obosi Development Union ODU Port Harcourt branch. He stood like a colossus in all affairs of ODU Port Harcourt. He notably attended almost all monthly/ executive meetings and other functions of ODU PH, whenever he was in town. He voluntarily hosted ODU PH monthly meeting in December, every year. The development of Obosi Town Hall in Port Harcourt was one project dear to his heart, and he spared no effort in supporting every stage of the work, financially and otherwise. His selfless financial and moral support to all projects/ activities of ODU PH motivated others. These attributes endeared him to the people that he was unanimously and meritoriously appointed Patron of ODU Port Harcourt in 2016.
Again in 2019, he was honoured with the Distinguished Community Service Award of Obosi Development Union ODU ( Home and Abroad) in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of ODU Port Harcourt and Obosi in general.
Closer home he was honoured as a " Stakeholder" by the Oliobi family and was given the title of the Pillar( Ide) by his Ogbunamili sub-family who he carried on his shoulders.
His philanthropic activities knew no bounds as he offered scholarships to many people and facilitated the employment of numerous Obosi young men and women. He paid rents for several people. He took care of several widows as a major sponsor of his sister's NGO, the Joyful Widows.
Emeka was of the Ofuobi Age Grade in Obosi and had impacted them positively.
He was a fervent Catholic , he wedded and worshipped at the Mater Misericordiae Church Port Harcourt.
He was also a prominent member of his home Church, St Theresa's Catholic Church Obosi where he also positively impacted both the clergy and the laity.
He married his heartthrob Chinwe Veronica nee Okafor in 1985 and they are blessed with Four beautiful children, Ifunanya, Emeka Junior, Kenechukwu and Chinwe .
He is survived by three grandchildren, Izzy, Gabby and Arabella.
Emeka came like a Shooting Star, he saw and he conquered, affecting so many lives positively. He would be fondly remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren, mother, brothers, sister, relatives, in-laws, his friends and classmates as a fine gentleman who by God's Grace ran the good race in all fields of endeavour and created a positive energy on all he came across. He left an enduring and solid imprint in the sands of time.
