Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed disappointment over the dying of the former President-General of the group, Prof. Joe Irukwu, describing his demise as a shock.
The Igbo socio-cultural group expressed its grief on Sunday in Enugu in a press release by the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Chiedozie Ogbonnia.
Recall that Irukwu’s dying was introduced by his kinsman, Prince Harrison Okorie, the President-General, Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, on Saturday in Enugu.
“Ohaneze received with rude shock the sad news of the passing of one of our brightest, an accomplished legal luminary, moral edifice, insurance and risk management wizard, erudite scholar of world renown, Igbo leader and former President General of Ohanaeze Prof. Joe Irukwu”, he mentioned.
He mentioned Irukwu was elected the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2003 and served meritoriously earlier than bowing out in 2007.
According to Ogbonnia, throughout his tenure, Irukwu added color, glamour, zest, strong mind and panache to the Igbo umbrella socio-cultural group.
“One of his works- Nation Building and Ethnic Organization: A Case Study of Ohanaeze in Nigeria, published by Spectrum, is an intellectual Magnus opus that fascinated the scholarly community in 2007 as one of the best sellers.
“Before the expiration of his tenure, Irukwu led other Igbo leaders to commission a multi-million naira complex comprising of a 1,500-seater auditorium, library and conference room which he built single-handedly.
“This was part of his own legacy to the Igbo man’s quest for equitable recognition and accommodation in the Nigerian polity,” he mentioned.
He mentioned Irukwu was referred to as to the English Bar in 1962 and enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the identical yr.
He mentioned that the late Irukwu held so many high positions in each non-public and public sectors of the Nigerian financial system throughout his lively days.
He additional said that though Irukwu was given to the service of mankind, he earlier resisted the lure by Dr Michael Okpara, the then Premier of the Eastern Region, to hitch partisan politics.
“Instead, he chose to pursue his dream of applying his knowledge in law to build an enviable insurance industry in Nigeria.
“Irukwu painstakingly achieved his set goals and became a foremost risk management expert.
“He was also a professor of Insurance, educationist, award winning author and holder of many distinguished fellowships and academic awards,” Ogbonnia mentioned.
The publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo additionally mentioned that Irukwu confirmed outstanding patriotism as a delegate on the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.
Ogbonnia quoted the present President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as saying that by means of his dying, Ndigbo misplaced a person with a big coronary heart.
