Commentary: The Exploits Of Sir John Nnebe Oguguo, Nnebe Tanus

^{WRITTEN BY KENECHUKWU OGUGUO}
Great men do not die; they live on in the lives of those that came across them. Sir John Ezenwa Nnebe Oguguo was, by all standards,

a great man. Born on November 8, 1942 in Awka to the family of Mr. Nwaguba Oguguo and Mrs. Nwinyinya (Nee Analokwu) Oguguo of Umubelle village, Awka, Nnebe was enrolled into Practicing School, Awka. Unfortunately, early death of his parents caused his early withdrawal from school. But that did not affect his academic brilliance and zeal for education. He lived with his uncle, late Mr. Anaeze Analokwu, who trained and nurtured him.
He ventured into many legitimate activities such as basket making. He was later apprenticed to a motor mechanic at Onitsha. John graduated as a motor mechanic in the fifties, which became a turning point in his life. His brilliance and ingenuity attracted the attention of the expatriate General Manager of J. Allens, Mr. John Peak, who lured him into the company. 
However, the overwhelming public demand for his uncanny expertise soon compelled the young Nnebe to quit J. Allens and set up a private facility. He made fame and fortune, turning around major defects in cars. His exploits with the Ford Tanus brands culminated in Mr. John Peak nicknaming him “John Tanus”. The nickname was indigenized and modified by his people, who preferred his native name, “Nnebe Tanus” a name he was known till date.
His fabulous gains from the enterprise became a source of sustenance for him and his extended family. It also facilitated the purchase of the land on which today stands his magnificent country home. John Nnebe’s steady rise was interrupted by the Nigeria Civil War. At the end of the war, Sir John Nnebe Oguguo returned to Awka and continued his exploits in Mechanical business. He later established a transport company, “Eastern Yellow Top Motors”.
His honest and trustworthy nature attracted him to partner with Lever Brothers, now Unilever. His transport company was the sole haulage for Lever Brother’s products. Sir John Nnebe Oguguo went into Real Estate business with the same dexterity and penchant for success and extravagant dividends.
Sir John was also devoted to the service of the church. His services were highly recognized; hence, he was conferred with knight of Saint Christopher in 2005. He single handedly built Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church, Umubele, Awka.
Ezenwa was a patriotic “son of the soil” in Awka community. His zealousness to the development of people led in helping the people of “Ifite-Awka” to secure back their land, forcefully taken over by the government in the nineties. As a philanthropist and his love education led him to donate huge hectares of his land to support the development of ASUTECH (now Nnamdi Azikiwe University). Ezenwa also facilitated the citing of Community Secondary Schools in Awka.
Ezenwa, a self-made man, showed concern and commitment to the under-privileged in the society. He provided homes for the homeless; land for the deprived, financial support for small business operators, roads and boreholes for communities. He provided monthly subventions to widows, orphans and sundry destitute in his community and beyond.
He was a Director and Co-founder of Awka Community Bank (now Awka Micro Finance Bank). Through his instrumentality, loan facilities of the bank were extended to small business men and women whose businesses were on the verge of collapse. Sir John Nnebe Oguguo was happily married to Lady Justina Nwakaego Oguguo (Nee Modozie), who was, to him, a mother, sister, friend and an exemplary virtuous wife. The union was blessed with six wonderful children.
He is survived by: Lady Justina Oguguo, Wife; Mrs. Chinyere Elema, Mrs. Ifeoma Maxwell, Mrs. Ngozi Dike, Mrs. Amara Nnebe and Mrs. Onyinye Nwankwo, daughters as well as Ekenechukwu Oguguo – son.
Service of songs holds today in his residence, while church service takes place by 10am tomorrow at Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church, Awka; thereafter interment. There will be reception of guests on Friday, 3rd and Saturday 4th August, 2018. Adieu Daddy, Adieu Ezenwa Awka, Adieu Nnebe Tanus.