Moses Arize Anaenugwu: 1932 to 2011

Polity

Beluchi Nwanisobi

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”
This statement encapsulates our memory of our dear father and patriarch, Engr. Moses Arize Anaenugwu (Ozonkpu Odumodu) of Enugwu-Ukwu na Umunri who passed on exactly 10 years ago, on July 1, 2011.

It has been 10 years of facing the realities of life without his guidance, direction and supervision, and also 10 years of reliving his life of dynamism, steadfastness, pursuit of excellence in all endeavours, charity, resourcefulness and of vivid illustration of the fact that with hard work, diligence and sense of equity and fair play, and above all the fear of Almighty God in all our undertakings, our lives on earth must be crowned with success. As we remember Ozonkpu today, we rededicate our lives to his ideals and life philosophy as a manifestation of the fact that “a man is not dead while his name is still spoken and his legacy endures for ages”.

Born on October 1, 1932 in Umuatulu Awovu Village, Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State, young Arize started his primary school at St. Anthony’s Primary School, Enugwu-Ukwu in 1942 and passed out in 1949 with distinction. He later passed the highly competitive entrance examination into the famous Government College, Umuahia but could not continue his studies there following the death of his father. After a stint as a pupil teacher in St. Patrick’s Primary School, Awka he left the teaching profession and opted for a life of technical education and vocation in which he believed his talents and full potentials would be realized. His burning desire for education resulted in his admission into Government Technical College, Enugu where he completed his post primary education in 1955. In 1956 he enrolled at the famous Ellis School of Building, London from where he graduated with First Class Honors degree in Building Technology and Engineering. Thus, in spite of his early setbacks, his resilience and dogged determination, along with his experience in wood work and engineering, a brilliant and focused building expert poised to make his mark in that profession had been produced.

As expected, he left his footprints in the building industry in his many employments. They include R.O Nkwocha and Co. Ltd, a major building contracting company in Old Eastern Region of Nigeria, the Old Anambra State Civil Service where he served for many years as Principal Technical Officer (1964 – 1974), Town Engineer, Nsukka Local Government (1974 – 1980), and Town Engineer, Onitsha Local Government (1980 – 1984). In these capacities he designed, developed and built networks of roads, bridges, culverts, government office buildings and residential quarters, and other infrastructures in many urban centres in Old Anambra State including Enugu, Onitsha, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Aba, Awka, etc. Many of his innovations and developments in these cities still endure till date, much longer than even those constructed recently. He retired from Public Service as Director of Works in the 1990s after over 30 years meritorious service to the state and nation. Thereafter, he established his private company, Anok Engineering Nig. Ltd with which he continued his engineering practice, to the satisfaction of his many clients.

A devout Catholic, he was instrumental to the formation of Enugwu-Ukwu Catholic League in 1958, and served as its Secretary for many years. He personally pegged and constructed the foundations of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Enugwu-Ukwu and Holy Spirit Catholic Church Omagba, Onitsha. He also designed and built the Parish Priest’s house at St. Anthony’s Church, Enugwu-Ukwu. He was Secretary General Enugwu-Ukwu Catholic Youth Association 1958 – 1974, Pioneer Secretary, St. Anthony’s Parish Enugwu-Ukwu, Pioneer Secretary, Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Onitsha and Secretary General, St. Jude’s Society, Onitsha Archdeaconry for a record 6 years. He also brought the wealth of his experience to bear on the development of his Umuatulu Awovu Village and Enugwu-Ukwu community. He played leading roles in the social and political development of Enugwu-Ukwu, serving severally as Administrative Secretary, Secretary General and later President General of the Town Union, Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU), from 1999 until his death in 2011. He was also founding member and Secretary of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Bank and served as the Chairman of the Enugwu-Ukwu Traditional Council for many years during the tenure of the late Igwe Osita Agwuna, Eze Enugwu-Ukwu na Igwe Umunri.

Ozonkpu was a longstanding executive member of the Rotary Club of Nigeria, through which he executed many charitable works, community development projects, and also empowered many people to be productive members of the society.

Ozonkpu was survived by his wife Iyom Justina Anaenugwu, a retired educationist who celebrated her 70th birthday three years ago, and eight children who, by the Grace of God are doing well in their various stations in life. They are Barr. (Mrs.) Nkechi Okafor, an Abuja based legal practitioner, Dr. (Mrs.) Beluchi Nwanisobi, a Deputy Director with a Federal Government Parastatal, Engr. Marcel Anaenugwu, an Assistant Director in an institution of the Federal Government in Port-Harcourt, Colonel Ifeanyi Anaenugwu of the Nigerian Army, Dr. (Mrs.) Adaeze Bradshaw, Consultant Psychiatrist in the United Kingdom, Superintendent Arinze Anaenugwu, a Pharmacist with the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Eloka Anaenugwu, a Behavioral Psychologist in Las Vegas, USA and Mrs. Obianuju Anaedu, a Senior Officer with a Federal Government Agency. We thank God that our spouses are not only graduates of various educational institutions in Nigeria and overseas but are also success stories in their various areas of employment. Ozonkpu is also survived by 24 grandchildren.

Ozonkpu left for us a legacy of love for mankind, forgiveness and ever ready assistance to the needy. One of his bitter life experiences has been remarkable. He mortgaged his house to purchase a brand new heavy duty vehicle with which he empowered one of his close relations. The said vehicle was alleged to have been stolen under very suspicious circumstances. He eventually lost the house he mortgaged due to this act of dishonesty and rejected all entreaties to arrest or punish the young man, leaving him to his conscience: “Our father did not tell us how to live, he lived and let us watch him do it”.

We have since established the Ozonkpu Moses Anaenugwu Foundation with which we keep his memory alive and to sustain his interest in education. The Foundation has been sponsoring 10 students annually at the Ide Secondary School, Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State on scholarship in the past 10 years, since his demise in 2011, and will continue to do so by the continued grace of God. We have so far witnessed the graduation of many Ozonkpu Scholars from the school over the years.

As we mark 10 years of Ozonkpu’s departure from us, we continue to commit his brilliant, peaceful and enterprising soul to the bosom of our Lord. “Ozonkpu, we pray that you continue to shine in heaven as you did here on earth.”
To live daily in the minds of those we leave behind, is not to die.