OGBONNA AMADI --- BIOGRAPHY

 

Ogbonna Amadi was born on December 5, 1962 in Lagos to Late Chief Agwu Nkwa Kalu Amadi of Ndia Okoro Chukwu, Ndia Nnachi Compound and Grace Inyang Amadi (nee Uka Okorie) of Abonta, both in Okagwe, Ohafia. He was the third child but second son of the family.    

 

He started his primary school after the civil war. Between 1971 and 1974 he attended Surulere Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Lagos. 1974- 1975 he moved to Constitution Crescent Primary School, Aba in the then East Central State where he completed his primary school education. In 1975 after a very brief stay at Ohafia High School, he entered Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogbor-Hill (the first Comprehensive Secondary School east of the Niger), now Wilcox Memorial School, Aba. He graduated with “School Cert” in 1980. In 1982 he entered Federal School of Arts and Science (FEDSAS), Sokoto for his A’Levels. The following year when the school was shut down by the Federal Government, he was one of those sent to FEDSAS Mubi to complete their program. He left FEDSAS, Mubi with his A’Levels in 1983. Thereafter he enrolled in the Daily Times Institute of Journalism, Eric Moore, Surulere, Lagos where he obtained a Diploma in Journalism.

 

On April 13, 1996, he travelled to Ikole, Ekiti with his family and friends for his traditional marriage to Oluwatoyin Mary Adisa. On June 25, 1996 they had a civil law wedding at the Agege Registry. That very same day, Ogbonna and Toyin Amadi were blessed with their first child, Jude Ogbonna Amadi. The other surviving children are Samuel Onyedikachi (April 3, 2000) and Benedict Onyinyechi (May 26, 2006). Ogbonna was a very loving and caring husband. He was a doting father. He ensured that his family did not lack.

 

Amadi, as he preferred to introduce himself, joined Vanguard Newspapers in 1986 as a reporter starting initially at the Transport Desk. He final moved to Entertainment where he went through tutelgage under the Late Entertainment Guru, Hakeen Ikandu. In 1991, he was made Head, Entertainment Desk. He became Assistant Entertainment Editor in 1996 and was elevated to the position of substantive Entertainment Editor in 2006. Ogbonna spent 26 years (his entire productive live) with Vanguard Newspapers. He crawled Lagos Clubs for stories and he got them. He interviewed local and international music stars. At a time when it was fashionable to move from one job to the other or from one newspaper to the other, he stuck it out with Vanguard. He was LOYAL and quoting ‘Toyin Amadi (Ogbonna’s wife) ---- “My Husband would have died for Vanguard”. He did.

 

Ogbonna was much sought after. His knowledge of the industry was uncanny and always spot on! Ask Nigerian Breweries --- he was deeply involved in their now rested “STAR MEGAJAMZ”. Silverbird Productions used him as their P.R Consultant. He helped turn some up and coming artistes into Stars. He even took in and accommodated some that had no home. It is doubtful if there is any recording Musician in Nigeria that did not come across and benefit from Ogbonna Amadi. And he did it for the love of the Industry, never for money! He would help some artists make huge sums of money with which they then bought luxury cars, Amadi would just quietly and diminutively leave to take a cab! 

In recognition of his immense contribution to the Entertainment Industry, Ogbonna Amadi won several awards from both organizations and groups. These include but not limited to

Klass Special Award  -- for invaluable contribution to the Entertainment Industry – 1990 Amen Award – Best Music Reporter of the year – 2000  CISAC/BIEM Lagos Chamber Award – for professionalism and Advocacy for the protection of Intellectual Property in Nigeria – 2003 Wazobia Award – Special Media of the Year – 2004 SES-Society Entertainment & Style Award – Best Entertainment Editor/Page of the Year – 2010 & 2011.

Ogbonna was full of ideas. It is our collective loss that some of those ideas will never see the light of day. Those that had taken off, it now our collective responsibility to ensure that they are kept alive.

By share dint of hard work he gradually lived up to the “Guy name” he gave himself in 1981 “DON” Dusty. He was indeed a Don!

His family will miss him

His Colleagues will miss him

His friends will miss him

The Print Media will miss him

The Entertainment Industry will miss him

THE ANGELS WILL WELCOME HIM

MAY WE ALL STAND TO HAIL THE DON!!!!!!!!!