WRITTEN BY JOE ONWUCHEKWE
Eighty-two years ago when the late Honourable Chief Hyacinth Oguejiofor Onwuchekwe (Okwuluora one of Awgbu) was born,

his parents, late Chief and Mrs. Nwokafor Onwuchekwe, Awgbu community and indeed the Old Aguata geo-political zone did not know that a child of destiny, astute politician, renowned school administrator and above all, a source of inspiration, was born.
His journey into the academic world started in 1946 at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Awgbu where he passed out in 1954, obtaining the First School Leaving Certificate. After two years as an auxiliary teacher, he gained admission to Saint Anthony’s Teacher Training College, Agulu for a two-year course as a Grade Two Teacher. In 1963, he entered the famous Saint Charles’s College, Onitsha, referred to in those days as “Varsity on the Niger” and passed out in 1966. It was at Saint Charles that he sat and passed the University of London General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level which qualified him for Direct Entry admission to the University of Ibadan in 1972. He graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Education Degree in History.
Armed with these National and International Educational Qualifications, the Late Honourable Chief Hyacinth Onwuchekwe taught in many primary and secondary schools such as Awgbu, Agulu, Adazi-Ani, Afikpo, Umuawulu among others. He was later appointed Federal Education Officer and member, WAEC History Syllabus Review Panel. He retired meritoriously in 1994 as a secondary school principal and was appointed Chairman, Orumba North Local Government Education Authority, immediately after his retirement.
In political sphere, the late Honourable Chief Hyacinth Onwuchekwe was a good example of a selfless politician. In 1998, he contested and won the Peoples Democratic Party’s Primary election for the Chairmanship of Orumba North Local Government Area and was subsequently elected the Executive Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area in 1999. He served from 1999 to 2002. His tenure achieved a lot for the people. He transformed the council secretariat to a modern complex, fenced the entire secretariat, built the legislative building, established health centres in many communities, constructed many markets and above all paid great attention to workers’ salary and general welfare.
The late Chief Hyacinth Onwuchekwe’s religious life was impressive and inspiring. He was Chairman of different Catholic Church Organizations in his community, Awgbu. For instance, he was the Chairman of Saint Patrick’s Laity Council and Chairman, Awgbu Catholic History Committee among others. Evidently, he was a devout Christian, whose life recorded enormous development in his community and the church.
In community development, the late Chief Onwuchekwe was a force to reckon with in terms of the development of his town, Awgbu. He was Secretary-General, Awgbu Progress Union; Chairman, Awgbu Education Committee; Chairman, Awgbu Community Bank Building Committee, among other community services which earned him the title, “Okwuluora I of Awgbu”.
All these achievements were greatly rewarded through several awards and recognitions from different National and International Organizations. He was a recipient of a merit award from the All Nigeria Conference of Principals and also a merit award for Administrative Excellence from the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI). Chief Onwuchekwe married late Lady Kate Nwuka Onwuchekwe in 1969 and the marriage is blessed with children.
As the late Honourable Chief Hyacinth Onwuchekwe (Okwuluora I of Awgbu) will be buried tomorrow, June 1, 2018 in his home town Awgbu in Orumba North Local Government Area after a burial mass at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, Awgbu, we pray God to grant him eternal rest, having served both God and humanity creditably.

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