Commentary: Biography Of Chief Dr. (Sir) Godwin Ubaka Okeke

Sir (Dr.) Godwin Ubaka Okeke, popularly known as GUO, was born on Monday, June 6, 1949 at Iyi-Enu Hospital, Ogidi. He is the sixth of eight children of his parents made up of seven males and one female.

His father, Chief Joseph Ikeokwu Okeke, who started as a carpenter, ended up as a textile merchant in the sixties with branches at Main Market and on Bright Street, Onitsha. His mother, Christiana Nwaoye Okeke, nee Ezenwa, (Ocheze), was a merchant of wholesale foodstuff with stalls at Ose and Onitsha Main Markets.

GUO attended Central School, Onitsha and Community Grammar School, Nnobi.

In 1976, he got married to his heartthrob, now Lady (Dr.) Patricia Obiageli Okeke (nee Ozoh) of Umuru, Adazi-Ani. The marriage is blessed with six boys with their wives, two daughters with their husbands and twenty-four grandchildren.

A day after the Nigerian Civil War ended on January15, 1970, GUO, with some of his brothers, trekked from Adazi-Ani to Nnewi and came home safely. This was a confirmation that the Civil War had ended. Later, he told his parents that he would be going to Onitsha and they released their Peugeot 404 saloon car to him.

He travelled to Onitsha and visited his parents’ property which were all intact. On his way back to the car to return to Adazi-Ani, passengers were milling around the car, asking if he was going to Enugu. He picked eight passengers, charging each one pound then. Immediately the passengers alighted at Enugu, those going to Onitsha rushed to his car and he carried them back to Onitsha. At Onitsha again, people wanted him to go back to Enugu but he refused because it was late.

The next day, GUO arrived Onitsha from Adazi-Ani as early as 5am and resumed conveying passengers between Onitsha and Enugu as vehicles were scarce. While on the transport business, he combined it with trading, which he has been doing during weekends from school, helping his parents at the various markets.

In the course of running the transport and trading businesses, the Federal Government announced that all Biafran currency then should be deposited in banks. He went to the bank to make enquiries on the modalities of the pronouncement and found out that, irrespective of the amount of money deposited, a uniform receipt was issued. Therefore, he suggested to the family that they should split whatever amount they had and take to bank separately. This was to increase the number of receipts that would be issued. This idea helped the family as each member of the family had receipts in their respective names.

On redemption of the receipts issued earlier, the Federal Government paid twenty pounds for each receipt. With the proceeds, GUO started a poultry farm with his parents at Adazi-Ani, complemented with a shop operated from Ogbete, Enugu.

Today,Sir (Dr.) Godwin Ubaka Okeke is the Chairman, Board of Directors, G. U. OKEKE & SONS LTD; Chairman, Board of Directors, G. U. OKEKE TRANSPORT SERVICES COMPANY LTD; Chairman, Board of Directors, ANAMMCO LTD; Chairman, Board of Directors, VARAMAN INDUSTRIES LTD; Member, Board of Directors, BOHJSONS LTD, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Godwin & Patricia Okeke Foundation and Member, Anambra State Security Advisory Council.

Sir (Dr.) Godwin Ubaka Okeke has received manyawards, titles and decorations, includingHonorary Doctor of Business Administration (D.BA) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Member of the Order of the Niger (M.O.N.). GUO was Knighted by the Diocese on the Niger (Anglican Communion), admitted into the Order of Gideon on the Niger and received Certificate of Honour from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He is a Life Vice President, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce and President, Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) from 1988 to 1991; President-General, Onitsha Main Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA) from 1991 to 1993 and many others. Anaocha Local Government and Ndi Adazi-Ani conferred on him the title, ONWA.

VhThe Philanthropic gestures of Sir (Dr.) Godwin Ubaka Okeke are enormous. He gave scholarships to students in all tiers of education. He built the English Language department building, which was converted to Chinese Language department at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka as well as three-storey building, accommodating 400 students at Paul’s University, Awka. GUO is the Patron, Anambra Blind Students Association; Patron, Central School for the Deaf and Dumb. As patron, blind students travel free to any part of Nigeria on GUO vehicles.