Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo, the Achi nagbara Ora of Umuchu in Aguata, is a man whose  life epitomizes the statement of a former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill,  when he said, “we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give’’. Mr. Godwin Ezeemo was born on June 20, 1954 to Nze Umeaku Godwin Ezeemo and Lolo Ahusie Charity Ezeemo. He attended Saint Thomas’ Anglican Primary School, Umuchu and later, Saint Peter’s Secondary School, Achina.

Thereafter, the young Ezeemo gained admission to Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun state to study Marketing. He obtained his Higher National Diploma and went for his National Youth Service Corp programme at the Star-Pack Industries, Aba in Abia state.

 It was while at Aba that his business acumen began to acquire roots. He was later introduced to Freight Forwarding business. He gradually rose from being a sole proprietor to becoming one of Nigeria’s top Freight Forwarders. Ezeemo later ventured into real estate business and opened up several small and medium scale enterprises.

In 1993, Ezeemo’s quest for further exposure and the search for international business opportunities compelled him to move to the United Kingdom with his family. Before then, in 1991, Ezeemo married his heart-throb, Mrs. Nneka Winifred Ezeemo, who has been a wonderful pillar of support to him. The marriage is blessed with three children.

While at the United Kingdom, Ezeemo found new business opportunities with links to United States of America, China and Africa. After about two decades of academic and business sojourn in Europe, Ezeemo returned home in 2012 and moved the headquarters of his businesses to his hometown, Umuchu.

He has grown to become one of the pathfinders of the new generation of business moguls in the state who are in search of the best ways to consolidate on the gains of Anambra people in businesses and investments, while at the same time catering for the socio-economic well-being of the citizenry.

Ezeemo has been building bridges of development across various parts of Anambra state. He created the Orient Group of Companies and established the Honeywell Hotels at Umuchu; WebPress Machine Printing Press, publishers of Orient Daily Newspapers; Omega FM Radio Station; Orient Farms and Agro-allied projects, including a feed mill and assorted industries.

He has used these business outfits to create employment opportunities for many Anambra citizens. Ezeemo has become one of the leading lights of Akuluo Ulo philosophy, which enjoins Igbo business men and women to invest at home.

Godwin Ezeemo is better known for his monumental philanthropic gestures. He has piloted social entrepreneurship to great heights. He set up the Charity Organization Trust Fund, named after his mother, to provide several welfare programmes for the masses such as scholarships for over 2,000 indigent students in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Ezeemo established an ICT training school in 2011, built and donated the International Press Centre at Awka to the Anambra State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He has built several churches for many communities and sponsored Sports competitions among schools in the state.

In 2012, Godwin Ezeemo sponsored a 5-day Workshop on Value Re-orientation in the Igbo society and the event was attended by a galaxy of prominent personalities.  Then, on May 22, 2019, Prince Arthur Eze, Eze N’Ukpo, gave a most befitting testimonial to Godwin Ezeemo when he stated that “Ezeemo had devoted his time and money in creating good jobs in our state. He is of good character and God is with him and that is why he is with his people’’. Then, on July 8, 2019, the President of Alaigbo Development Foundation, Professor Uzodinma Nwala, commended Godwin Ezeemo for his painstaking effort in establishing several firms in Anambra state, despite the challenges of doing business in the South-East.

The ball is now in the court of the delegates to the party primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold this weekend. It is their responsibility to decide the future of the party in the forthcoming Governorship election. Achi nagbara Ora, we wish you the best.

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER OMEJE