By Abiola Olawale
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has passed away at the age of 82 years.
Iwuanyanwu breathed his last on Thursday after suffering a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by the deceased’s son, Jide Iwuanyanwu.
The statement reads in part: “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Engr Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82. Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.”
Iwuanyanwu is survived by his wife, Lady Princess Frances Iwuanyanwu, many children and grandchildren.
The statement stated that the burial details would be announced later by the family after due consultations.
The New Diplomat reports that Iwuanyanwu was born on September 4th, 1942 in Atta, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State, Nigeria. He is a civil engineer, industrialist, politician and philanthropist.
Iwuanyanwu attended St. Patrick’s School, Rukpoku, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from 1948 to 1954. He thereafter, enrolled at New Bethel College in Onitsha, Anambra State. He had his undergraduate studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied civil engineering between 1963 and 1970. Other academic exploits include; a D.Sc. Engineering Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland, USA; L.Ld (Hon) Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; DBA Hon University of Nigeria Nsukka; D.Sc Hon University of Jos; D.Sc Hon University of Calabar; D.Tech Federal University of Technology Owerri; DBA Hon Edo State University and D.Sc (Hon) Engineering, Imo State University.
Iwuanyanwu was one of the few Nigerians who blazed the trail in the elusive search for making the private sector the engine of the national economy.
His pioneering traits took him into newspaper publishing and that move saw the birth of the Champion newspapers.
Iwuanyanwu is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He is a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.
He has served as Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo State Creation Committee, Chairman Ohanaeze Ndigbo Planning and Strategy Committee, Chairman Ohaneze Political Committee, Board Chairman of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Board Chairman of Nigerian Investment Promotion, Founding Chairman of Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, Chairman National Productivity Merit Award, Chairman Nigerian Sports Development Council, Founding Chairman Nigerian National Lottery, Chairman National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos and presently Pro-Chancellor University of Calabar.
He also founded the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club of Owerri (now Heartland F.C.), which won several national and international championships.
