Uruegbe village, Umuoji in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra state is blessed with many outstanding individuals who have contributed immensely to its development. One of them is the Late Chief Dr John Ekweoba Muoghalu. Chief Muoghalu left his footprints in the sands of time in his town, Umuoji, Anambra state and Nigeria at large.
Popularly called “John Millionaire”, Chief Muoghalu was a man of many parts who loved and served his people during his time. He was a member of the royal cabinet of Umuoji and was awarded one of the highest chieftaincy titles, “Onwanetiliora Umuoji”, in view of his numerous contributions to his community.
He was a symbol of hardwork, transparency, honesty, and resourcefulness. These contributed to his success in life and rapid growth in business. Onwa’s concept of life as peacefulness, good neighborliness, selflessness and love for everyone helped to mould his youth and guided his adult life.
According to Actor, Brendan Lee, immortality is to live your life doing good things and leaving your mark behind. Onwanetiliora Umuoji, in 1986, single handedly facilitated the electrification of Umuoji which they are still enjoying today. In 1995, he built a road with complete drainage system and continued to maintain it until his demise. He drilled the first borehole in the community where everyone was allowed to fetch water at no cost. His scholarship scheme benefited a lot of people in his community. He assisted in different developmental projects at Umuoji Boys Secondary now Community Secondary School, Umuoji, Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji, Benedictine Monastery, Umuoji, among others.
John Millionaire was a lover of sports thus his donation of a cup for football competition in Idemili Council Area.
After the demolition of the Old Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Umuoji, he single handedly financed the foundation and first stage of block work of the new church building. He also contributed to the building of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Umuoji. These are among other numerous donations he made to the church and other developmental projects in Umuoji.
Onwanetiliora was also reckoned with the industrialization of Umuoji and Anambra State. In the context of “Akulueuno a juo onye kpatara ya”, Chief Muoghalu after his sojourn in Cameroon where he had a flourishing business, set up Allied Steel Industry Nigeria Limited at Atani road, Onitsha which employed over three hundred and twenty staff members at inception. A staff strength that included eight expatriates. The industry was producing forty-eight metric tons of steel products yearly to cushion the shortage of building materials after the Nigerian-Civil War.
He also set up other factories as part of his contributions to the socio-economic development of the region and Nigeria. Most of these industries are still functional till date.
Onwanetiliora Umuoji gave faith and hope to Umuoji business men and women and became a model for Umuoji youths. His great achievements built a monument which shall endure until the sun grows old.
In view of these achievements, Uruegbe village, Umuoji, deemed it fit to immortalize him with the erection of a monument at Uruegbe Village Square, Umuoji. Therefore, tomorrow, 9th April, 2023, Easter Sunday, all roads will lead to Uruegbe Village Square, Umuoji ,where a magnificent monument will be unveiled.
Also, Uruegbe Village Unity Gate will be commissioned while certificate of approval of road names will be given to worthy sons and daughters of the community who built those roads.
It is expected that prominent sons and daughters of Umuoji Igwulube Okodu, Idemili and Anambra state will converge to honour the great man whose good deeds
and legacies have continued to reverberate across the land even after fourteen years since he left this earth.
The Late Chief Dr John Ekweoba Muoghalu, Onwanetiliora Umuoji, has gone the way of the stars but what he left behind is not what is engraved in a stone monument but what is woven into the lives and hearts of many.
Written by OGGORCHUKWU ORANU
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