The remains of a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr. Ernest Madu Onyekwena, have been laid to rest in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

 

Born in 1946 into the family of Onyekwena of Umuenebu village, the late Onyekwena, with the traditional titles of “Omekannaya 1 of Ufuma” and “Enebu of Umuenebu village Ufuma”, would have missed opportunity for university education; but for the timely intervention of his brother-in-law and later; maternal uncle, according to his biography.

The University of Nigeria Nsukka, the late Ernest joined the Biafra Army when the Nigerian civil war broke out, rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and later completed his studies in Agricultural Engineering in 1972.

 

As Anambra second republic legislator in 1983, the deceased was said to have used his position as Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education, to influence the citing of the second campus of the then Anambra State Polytechnic, now Federal Polytechnic, Oko, at Ufuma.

In his sermon during church service at the late Engr. Onyekwena’s compound, Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Aguata Anglican Diocese, who spoke on “Plans and providence”, reminded all gathered that life on earth is brief and more fragile than one can think of, saying that it is foolishness for man to make plans in life without divine providence, as death is certain for all human beings.

 

Speaking after interment, the first son of the deceased, Dr. Obinna Onyekwena, described his father as one who dedicated his life in service to God and humanity, and with passion for education, food security and youth empowerment, adding that he has been greatly influenced by his father’s generosity, honesty and fairness.

On his part, an indigenous Anglican priest and retired Deputy Director in ABS, Reverend Canon Basil Orji, said that the deceased was a renowned Christian, philanthropist, educationist and a man down to earth, urging his children to keep the legacies of their father.

In their tributes read by a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly who represented Orumba North Constituency, Sir Uchenna Ogbonna, the Aguata Diocesan Council of Knights, described his late colleague as a gift of God to humanity, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.

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