WRITTEN BY EMEKA UMEH
High Chief Maja Emeka Umeh was born on October 7, 1960. He started his primary school at Saint Mary’s Primary School,
Uwani Enugu and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate at Saint Eugenia Primary School, Amichi. Maja went to the prestigious Christ the King College, Onitsha and came out in 1978. He secured admission into another prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka.
On graduation in 1984, Umeh took up appointment with the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) Kaduna as a lecturer from whence he moved over to Luksim and Company, Kaduna as the General Manager. In 1995, he assumed office as Executive Director of Aldove Limited, Kaduna till his appointment in 2008 as the Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra state on political matters. He was later appointed as the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.
As a student, Chief Umeh held various positions, first as a two-term chief whip of the student’s union parliament, UNN. He was President, Student Wing of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He is the President and founder, Supreme Council of Nigerian Students and Youth. He is a Member, Anambra state coordinating committee, National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP). He is also the political adviser to Igwe Amichi in council.
Chief Maja Umeh (Okwoaka N’anya Amichi) is one who has won the garment of humility, despite enviable heights attained. He would walk down to the market place, exchange pleasantries and share hugs with market women as they sing and dance together. He will share a drink with youths, while speaking wisdom into them as he guides them through life.
As a party man, Chief Maja Umeh is a committed chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He served as the Chairman, Peace and Reconciliatory Committee of the party; set up by Governor Willie Obiano, to restore peace among the differing views and misunderstanding in the party.
After he has been honored with Okwoaka and Anya Amichi Ji Afu Uzo chieftaincy titles for his commitment to the growth and development of his home town, Amichi, and by extension his Local government, his achievements as Commissioner for Information, where he rolled out reforms that repositioned the state’s ministry, earned him the chieftaincy title “Ubom Aguleri”.
Interestingly, five years later, the entire state will be on stand still as the traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, Eze Uzu the second of Awka, today, on the occasion of his Egwu Uzu festival, confer on High Chief Maja Umeh, the chieftaincy title of “ICHOKU AWKA” (The Parrot).
This is one of many honors deserving of a man, who has continued to live a life of selfless service, a life worthy of emulation. “ICHOKU AWKA” is the friend of the youths, a companion and listening ear to the elderly and the vehicle of social engineering and development to his community.
Congratulations once more to humility personified and a quintessential gentleman, High Chief Maja Umeh (Okwoaka Na Anya Amichi, Ubom Aguleri, ICHOKU AWKA).
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