Dr. Obioha MacKenna Obioha was born to Chief Clement Moore Obioha and Evelyn Mgbeke Obioha (nee Okeke) on the 9th day of March 1959 in Aba, Abia State.  He attended Santa Maria Primary School as a child and went on to pursue his secondary school education at Methodist College, Uzuakoli. At the age of 16, after high school Dr. Obioha got admission to study in the United States of America at Michigan Tech University. He later on transferred to the University of Tulsa in Tulsa Oklahoma where he completed his first degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1979. Before his graduation from college, he made a trip home to Nigeria. It was on this trip that he met his wife, Mrs. Edith Obioha (nee Okoro) and in 1981, they wed in Houston Texas. In 1982, He earned his Master of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering in 1984, from Texas A&M University in College Station. In 1987, Dr. Obioha completed his education by earning his Doctorate in Petroleum Engineering also from Texas A&M University.

Upon graduation, He accepted an offer to work with Shell Oil Company, U.S.A as a Reservoir Petroleum Engineer. He served in this capacity until he accepted a position as an assistant professor of Engineering at Prairie View A& M University. In 1991, he left his position with Prairie View A &M University to move to Nigeria with his family where he was invited to manage his father’s business.  During his time in Nigeria, he served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the C. Moore Obioha Group. In 1996, he left his position as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to pursue his own entrepreneurial goals and started Kena Energy International Limited.

  Dr. Obioha was a family man and a successful business man. He was also a man committed to serving the Lord and community.  Dr. Obioha started attending Assemblies of God in the late 80’s and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal savior in the year 1989 at Braeswood Assemblies of God Church in Houston, Texas. He was baptized that same year and served the Lord faithfully. On his return to Nigeria, he joined the Assemblies of God church Umungasi Aba.  He served as a Deacon for several years and created solid relationships with his pastors and fellow church members. He used his resources to help others in time of need and to accomplish their academic goals.

In 2007, Dr. Obioha returned back to the United States to join his family in Texas. He served as a professor of Chemical Engineering with Prairie View A&M University.  Dr. Obioha continued to manage Kena Energy  until his untimely death on June 8th 2016.

Dr. and Mrs. Obioha were happily married for many years and are blessed with four wonderful children: Vivian, Grant, Nicholas and Amauche.

 Dr. Obi Obioha was a man of strong faith, with a loving, caring and compassionate heart, and   lived his life everyday as a witness of God’s grace and glory.

 

May his gentile soul rest peacefully in the Lord.