DOUBLE  HONOUR : As Igbo Speaking Community Inducts Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island, Eze Dr. Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu, Into Their Forum. Watch Videos Below.

By Emmanuel Edom

It was glamour and glitz as Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island , Eze Dr. Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu, was recently inducted into the Igbo Speaking Community Association in Lagos State.

To some, it was double honours to the rich young Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State born Business Mogul, while many attributed it to his exceptional versatility.

 His journey into Eze Ndigbo title started in Lagos Island, where due to his large heart and Philanthropy , Oba of Lagos, traders and Igbo residents there gave him the title.

This title was officially cemented by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter under Chief Solomon Aguene, where he was crowned by  king Makers led by first president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ,Chief John Uche, popularly known as “Akpatinsiegbe “.

However, as an avowed man of Culture, Tradition, dignity ,and to avoid the usual integrity and authenticity issues surrounding Eze Ndigbo titles in diaspora, Eze Dr. Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu, who is also the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,  CEO Of Mac-Akudiufu Nigeria Ltd , Capin Parin Bureau De Change Ltd and Park Bureau De Change Ltd, decided to have himself inducted by the Igbo Speaking Community as their Eze Ndigbo.

 It would be recalled that Eze Ifekandu is not new to honours and titles, as he has in the past been decorated with titles such as :  His Highness,HH Ezeanakiliekili 1 of Lagos Island; Ozo Wire-Wire ; Omechaluili Ofumbosi; Akuoma Di Ufu; Mkpata Enugwu-Ukwu Na Umunri and Ozonkpu.

 His humble background, rare achievements, including Ozonkpu title ,as he is fondly called by his peers, Propelled his love for the poor and Indigent People in the society.

Indeed he has been campaigning and advocating that wealthy business Men and women should devote zero point one percent of their yearly incomes to the cause of the indigent and less privileged in the society.

 Little wonder he founded the Corporate Work of Mercy Initiative, which he called “Ezendigbo Welfare Foundation “

An accomplished and Acknowledged Giver,  lover of the poor and wretched of the society , who despite commiting hundreds of millions in uplifting the less privileged and down trodden in the society, plans that in five years time, he would triple his poverty alleviation and empowerment budget, as well as increase the number of indigent federal university students on his scholarship program, from 30 federal university students to over 100 students.

 Infact this amiable, humble and unassuming rich young ruler’s generosity, has garnered to him,seven exclusive prominent Igbo titles bestowed on him at a tender age of 37 years, which many of his contemporaries,who are older and richer than him ,could not attain such rare titles and height which are respected so much in Nri, his home land. 

It is on record that his “Eze Ndigbo Welfare Foundation”, has spent some significant multi millions of naira on scholarships awarded to over 30 brilliant indigent students,who had gained admission into their choice federal university, polytechnic or tertiary institutions of higher learning before they accessed the scholarship portal.

Surprisingly, the scholarship program of his Foundation is far from being the reason his beneficiaries have nicknamed him ” Mayor Of Empowerment

This is simply because Ozonkpu, the calm headed Philanthropist has many other empowerment programs  for the poorest of the poor, such as the ‘Apprenticeship Support Aide ‘  for freed apprentice, who their bosses refused to settle or were given insignificant settlement Fund.

As a major business mogul in the importation and sales of tailoring materials, in partnership with the Chinese manufacturers, Eze Ifekandu, had initiated a special “goods on credit initiative” to assist poor, average and upcoming traders in his line of business.

 Besides renting and paying shops rents for poor traders, who are dynamic and business conscious, focused individuals in Lagos Island, Ozonkpu equally supplies them with goods on credit or what he usually calls, “return after sales  basis” empowerment. 

It is also on record that Ozonkpu’s unlimited philanthropic gestures and empowerment foundation, have donated three brand new Camry luxury cars and built houses and apartments for many young beneficiaries within his Enugwu -Ukwu, Umunri community in Anambra State and beyond.

As an acknowledged bridge builder and a philanthropist without borders,which many said , have endeared him to the popular and respected Traditional Ruler, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, the Oba of Lagos, who considering Ozonkpu’s large heart, kindness, spirit of giving,generosity,milk of human kindness and selfless empowerment programs, conferred on him the title of Eze Ndigbo in Lagos Island, ever before he was crowned by his Igbo community.

 That is why many non Igbo people, especially Yoruba, Hausa and other ethnic groups, bestowed on him the title of the ” De-tribalized Man of the people ” .

For Six years running since the inception of his Foundation, Ozonkpu ,has been empowering Jobless Indigene in Lagos Island and Anambra States, through his poverty alleviation projects, as well as provision of job opportunities for the less privileged, especially the potentially crime prone street urchins, Miscreants and Hoodlums, who his philanthropy  have helped in no small measures in taking them away from Crimes and criminality.

It will shock Purveyors of tribalism and ethnicity to know that majority of his internal staff are Yorubas, including personal assistants and private security, who are seen freely executing their duties even in his wife, Lolo Nkechi’s kitchen.

 Enquires by our Correspondent at his business district around Docemo street area of Lagos Island and beyond, revealed the enormous love that traders, non- traders and “Area Boys” have on the kind hearted Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island, who they testified the fact, that he weekly and periodically sponsor market feeding program in an atmosphere of funfair in the market area, where even lucky customers are not hindered from partaking. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent in his Palace at the Green Field Estate, Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island ,explained that his humble beginning was very difficult, not Rosy, full of early stage hardship , hence his early poor background now motivates him to help the poor .