Some were born great and some have greatness bestowed on them, while some achieve greatness. Honourable Onyeanusi Ikechukwu Onyenwe a.k.a JOC was not born great. Born the last- born- son of the Onyenwe ancestry in Eziagulu Ekwuluobia, Aguata Council Area, he was at birth not privileged in any form or manner. Education was not popular during his early days but JOC as the Nostrademus of his days saw tomorrow and resolved to break away from the dangerous shackles of timidity, illiteracy, fetishism and blindness. Junior as he is widely known, got qualifications and enlightenment that stood him out in his days through correspondence education, a feat, many of better privileged nationalists could not achieve. With this he wrote books including ‘Life is War’, ‘Typing Text books’ and became a resounding teacher of repute. He thought about humanity and how to invest in human development through the most effective education.

Junior Onyenwe Commercial School was a stead of formation, training and development. Founded by late Honourable Onyenwe with the sole aim of equipping young Nigerians with the requisite and primary knowledge of business for entrepreneurship and survival, became the cradle for business development and secretarial studies in the then old Aguata Local Government Area and beyond. The school was a movement against illiteracy and superstition. This ‘commercial school’ became popular for inculcating the essential skills of typewriting, shorthand writing, basic knowledge of arts and later, science. It trained thousands of students especially women on effective communication skills even before the advent of internet and mobile phones within the Old Aguata LGA with branch in Ufuma in Orumba North Council Area.

Honourable Onyenwe focused on the development of female young students around Aguata vicinity and echoed the saying that to educate a woman is to educate the

 

whole nation because women are mothers of nations.’ He is an astute believer in Charity Begins at Home. Perhaps, most of the secretaries and typists that walked through the OLD AGUATA Council Area may have been trained under the tutelage of Honourable Onyenwe.

His indelible footprints were shown in every aspects of his life including religion. He was an Anglican and invested his life in the training of Children in the church. He taught and instructed many towards justice and will definitely shine like star in God’s kingdom.

There are many parts of this sage. He is like the proverbial elephant in the kingdom of the blind which is described in many ways according to different feelings. He was an educator, a disciplinarian, a formator and an achiever. Honourable Onyenwe may not pass as a conventional rich man in the standards of the world currently but he impacted and influenced the world positively. This is indeed a foremost trailblazer

Farewell, Junior in birth but senior in life as we take solace in Revelation 14:13 that says ‘Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, now and hereafter, says the Spirit, so that they may find rest from their labors. For their works follow them’ Naani Olu anyi!!!! Amen.

REV FR ANDREW NNOJE

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