BIOGRAPHY OF LATE CHIEF EGWU, UKA UDE (NKE NKE ENYI RA-ACHU IGWE ENYI OSO)
PREAMBLE:
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die, Exodus 3.
Man who is born of women is of few days and full of trouble.
He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue, Job 14.
BIRTH: Chief Egwu Uka Ude was born on the 23rd day of May, 1952, to the family of Late Elder Moses Ude Egwu Mba Kama and Madam Nnenne Moses Ude Egwu (Nee Onu Ikpa) both of Ndi-Obia Compound in Amudu Autonomous Commiunty, Etitiama, Nkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area.
He was the first son of his father. His birth brought a great joy and happiness to his father who had waited for so long to have a child. The birth of Chief Egwu also brought favour because after him, many other children were born to his father both male and female. He showed signs of greatness, peace and love since birth and was the pride of the family till death.
EDUCATION: Late Elder Moses Ude Egwu (Chief Egwu’s father), was interested in education and wanted his children to be educated. At an early age, precisely, in 1959, Chief Egwu Uka Ude was enrolled in "Infant One" at Church of Scotland Mission School, at Amafor Village Square, latter, Presbyterian Central School, latter, Nkporo Central School which is at present, Nkporo Comprehensive Secondary School. In 1963, he proceeded to Nkporo Central School where he took his first School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1965.
In 1965 Chief Egwu Proceeded to Enuda College Abiriba for his Secondary School.
His Secondary School education was disrupted by the Nigerian Civil War which lasted for three years. In 1970, after the war, Chief Egwu went back to Enuda College and completed his secondary school education. And in 1973, he took and passed his West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in flying colours. In 1974, Chief got admission into Macgregor College, Afikpo in the present day Ebonyi State from where he obtained his Teachers Grade II Certificate (TC II) in 1975. In 1978, he proceeded to Alvan Ikoku college of Education, Owerri in Imo State from where he got his Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE). In 1981. Chief Egwu was not yet satisfied with his level of education and so in 1985 he gained admission into prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for his degree programme. He graduated with the Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Education in English Language in 1988.
WORK LIFE: in 1975 after his graduation from Macgregor College Afikpo, Chief Egwu was posted to teach at Arochukwu LGA.
He taught for three years at Ozu-Abam Central School and left in 1978 to Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, in pursuit of a higher teaching qualification. He did his National Youth Service between 1981 and 1982 at Sokoto State.
After his National Youth Service in 1982, Chief Egwu was reinstated and posted to Amurie Secondary Technical School in Nkporo as a teacher in English. He taught in all the secondary schools in Nkporo throughout his active teaching years.
Chief Egwu rose in his profession and became a principal in 2007 at Etitiama High School, Nkporo. He was later posted to Coronata Secondary School, thereafter, to Army Day Secondary School, Ohafia. Chief Egwu was a good administrator and a successful teacher. He was a teacher extra-ordinaire.
In 2012, Chief Egwu was transferred to the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) Ohafia Zonal office Ohafia. He retired meritoriously from service in 2013.
Retired but not tired, in 2013, Chief Egwu Uka Ude was appointed the Education Secretary of Ohafia Local Government Education Authority (OLGEA). He held the office as Education Secretary for two terms of Six Years. Chief Egwu was a member, Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, 2013-2015, where he held the Appointments, Promotions, Staff Training and Development Committee of the Governing Council. While there as a board member, he gave lecturing employments to three young graduates –two from Nkporo and one from Ohafia. Chief Egwu had at one point or the other been a member of numerous committees-Education, Social and political.
POLITICAL LIFE: Chief Egwu Uka Ude was a successful politician. Most of the present crop of political and community leaders in Nkporo passed through his academic tutelage. As a politician, Chief was an undisputed king maker and he has been associated with successful political office seekers in Nkporo, Ohafia and Abia North Senatorial Zone.
In Nkporo Ancient Kingdom, Chief Egwu was a trail-blazer, in the socio-political, in fact in all round development of Nkporo. That Nkporo is politically relevant today is a result of the indepth political achievement and sometimes, permutations of Chief Egwu Uka Ude and his group. Politically, Chief Egwu paid his dues. And it was the dues that he nearly paid the utmost price of his life in 1983 when he was stabbed near his heart area as an aftermath of the 1983 General election. It is important that Chief Egwu and his group were instrumental to the political success Nkporo has recorded so far. Today, Nkporo has produced a Deputy Governor of Abia State, a Chairman of Ohafia L.G.A, a member of the House of Representatives, many commissioners to mention but few, thanks to Chief Egwu’s foresight, tenacity of purpose and no die-spirit. In fact, Chief Egwu Uka Ude was that kingmaker who never made himself a king because of his love for community.
SOCIAL LIF:Late Chief Egwu Uka Ude was very sociable. He loved making friends. He loved all who came close to him, young or old; rich or poor.
Through this way, he affected so many lives positively both here in Nkporo and all across the diaspora. He cared deeply about the well being of his people and community.
Chief Egwu has been the Vice National President of Nkporo Development Union (NDU) and Later the President General of the same union. During his tenure as the National President of Nkporo Development Union, he successful organized the first conferment of chieftaincy titles to all the illustrious Nkporo sons. By this singular gesture, he brought an end to all the Ezeship tussles in Nkporo which culminated to the creation of eleven (II) Autonomous Communities that brought permanent peace in Nkporo. He participated actively in all matters affecting Nkporo.
Chief Egwu belonged to the Onyiri-Mba Age Grade of Etitiama Nkporo
He was one of the founding members of the Age Grade and was in the leadership since its inception. He died as a National President of Onyirimba Age Grade.
Chief Egwu was associated with all the developmental projects of the Age Grade from electricity project to the present project of NEPA office complex which he saw to its completion before he died.
Chief Egwu held several membership and chairmanship positions too numerous to mention throughout his life time. He also served in many important committees where he distinguished himself. He believed in the equality of men and that was why he was able to relate with everybody at his or her level. He contributed immensely to the good of humanity.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: Chief Egwu Uka Ude was born into a Christian family. He was a Presbyterian by birth and marriage and he remained in the faith till death. Chief Egwu loved God and delights in the things of God. He was a lover of God’s project, a cheerful giver who served God with his substances.
Chief Egwu bought a 14-seater Evangelism bus to his church St. Peter PCN, Ndi Elu Parish which is still in use today. He received many honourary Awards by many arms, parishes and presbyteries. The PCN, synod of the East honoured him with the meritorious Award of Diplomat of Christ in recongnition of his outstanding contributions and defending the Christian faith and moving the Church forward.
SICKNESS AND DEATH: Some years back, Chief Egwu was diagnosed of diabetes and high blood pressure which he was managing perfectly according to medical directions.
In Novermber 2019, chief was down in health and was hospitalized for a week for the same ailment. He recovered and came back home.
But in the months following his recovery, his health became unstable coupled with an eye problem and he was still going for routine check-ups.
On 6th July, 2020 Chief was admitted at Grace Touch Hospital Umuahia for the same ailment. From Grace Touch to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia where he passed onto glory on the 8th of July, 2020.
Adieu Nkenke Enyi
Adieu Dike Oha Nde Nkporo
Adieu Dike Ogu
Adieu Chief Ohamadike
Adieu Onye Uche ya Egbu Oha
May your gentle but brave soul rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord?