Chief Lawrence Umezurike Okoye Aniekwu was born into the family of Late Chief Agabu and Mgbankwo Charity Aniekwu of Amoji Village, Agulu Anaocha Local Government Area in the year 1952. He was the first and the only son out of four children born by their parents. He had his primary school education at Central School, Agulu.
Young Chief Aniekwu began his business journey as a freelance laborer at the renowned Sokoto Road, Onitsha, where he loaded and on-loaded cartoons of confectionery and beverages. As a focused young man with eyes on the future, he made some savings and relocated to Awka where he got engaged with goat haulage from the North and sold at the popular goat market, Eke Awka.
After some years, he moved back to Onitsha and started welding business. He excelled and got married. Regrettably, after a fire incident that engulfed Onitsha bridgehead affected him, Chief Aniekwu joined a family friend, the late Chief Godwin Onwuka and his brother, Sunday Onwuka also from Amoji Village, Agulu in their scrap business in Aba, Abia State. He diligently trained under the two brothers for some years and was later given the freedom to start up his own business. God showed him mercy. He traded successfully in Aba and later moved to Lagos. In Lagos, his business recorded a massive progress. In 1993, he relocated to Ibadan where he rebranded his business to Lawsco Metal and Recycling Company.
Chief Lawrence Okoye Aniekwu, Ichie Odinammadu, got married to his beautiful and hardworking wife, Mrs Irene Nkemakonam Aniekwu (Nee Enemuo) in the year 1983. Their union was blessed with wonderful children, whom by the grace of God, are all graduates and doing greatly in their different areas of life.
Ichie Odinammadu also popularly called Achicha was a man with a special passion for service to God and humanity. Achicha was a member of Anglican Youth fellowship (AYF) in Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Agulu. He was a very strong gospel vocalist and a talented instrumentalist. His dutiful nature to youth fellowship in the church led to his election as the youth leader and he served for ten years. He was an active member of fathers’ fellowship in the Anglican Communion.
When Saint Mary’s Church, Nodu, Awka South Local Government Area was created from Saint John’s Parish Okpuno, he donated a befitting altar table and some chairs to enable the church kick off. For the past two years, with 2022 inclusive, Chief Lawrence Okoye Aniekwu facilitated the Holy Communion throughout the year for divine service to God in his home church in Agulu. His devotion and numerous contributions to the service of God earned him many awards and honors. He was honored by Saint Peter’s Youth Fellowship and Agulu Archdeaconry Youth fellowship as an ‘Ambassador of Christ’. Saint Mary’s Church Nodu-Okpuno honored him as a ‘Father of Faith’ for his enormous contribution to the growth of the church. Until his demise, he was the patron of Group Four at Saint Paul’s Church, Oke-Bola, Ibadan.
Chief Lawrence Okoye Aniekwu was a member of Njikoka Age Grade of Amoji Village Agulu. He was elected the chairman of Obunato Umuesioha kindred of Amoji Village, Agulu in 2009. He served for three tenures and successfully handed over to his successor in December 2021. Chief Aniekwu was inducted into the prestigious Otu Ndi Nze of Amoji Village, Agulu. His philanthropic works in his community earned him an additional title of ‘Ogbuefi Ichie Odinammadu One na Amoji’ conferred on him by Amoji people.
His wisdom in leadership, vocality and confidence made him an outstanding patron of different social clubs and unions. Before his demise he was the Patron, Solid International Club, Ibadan, Patron, Agulu Development Union, Ibadan Branch, Member, Agulu Peoples Union, Awka Branch, Executive Member, Awgbu Development Union, Ibadan Branch, Former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Igbo Traders’ Association, Ibadan, Chairman, Scrap Dealers Association, Ibadan, Oyo State.
On 20th of March, 2022 after serving humanity in all spheres of life, Chief Lawrence Okoye Aniekwu, Ogbuefi Odinammadu, triumphantly joined the Saints.
Adieu!!! Achicha Bekee! Jee Nke Oma!
Written by MR IKENNA ANIEKWU
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