Chief Dr Sir Anthony Obiagboso Enukeme, Founder, Chairman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tonimas Nigeria Limited, has gone the way of all flesh. Dr. Enukeme was a corporate hero and an empire builder, who established massive investments cutting across oil, hospitality, transportation, manufacturing, property development and insurance brokerage, among others.

Born on January 21, 1944, to the family of late Chief and Mrs. Eyisi Enukeme Anyabolu, Dr Anthony Enukeme encountered many odds and went through various desert journeys before completing his elementary school in 1962. However, this difficult beginning did not deter him.

He branched out into business and became a filing station attendant at Total Nigeria Plc under the tutelage of Sir Raphael Ozoekwe Udezeh, at the then Enugu Motor Park. Later, he went to Lagos, where he was allocated a filling station to handle, after beating scores of pump attendants in a competition organized by French overlords. This forward leap in business was interrupted by the Nigerian Civil War.

When the war ended in 1970, Dr Enukeme went back to school. In 1985, he passed GCE, ordinary level and gained admission into Abia State University where he did a Bachelors Degree in political science and a Masters Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. He was a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, among other honours and awards.

Dr Enukeme later expanded his business empire. He was the President, Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria LUPAN. This was a man who rose from rags to riches; a man who was gathering fruits, cutting down trees, doing all types of menial jobs. As a hardworking, intelligent and courageous man, he was able to establish a burgeoning business empire that became a household name in Nigeria and beyond.

Today, Tonimas has other diverse ventures and industries which include petroleum and lubricant depots, White Castle Hotels, Aluminum Sheets factory, Lubricant Blending Plants, nail manufacturing industry, and a fleet of petrol service stations spread all over Nigeria.

Dr. Enukeme was a performer par excellence. Unlike some others who pile up riches when their relations and others living around them live in abject poverty, squalor, want hunger and starvation, Dr Enukeme has used his wealth in the service of God and humanity. He lived a purposeful life.

For instance, his rich bouquet of noble deeds cut across all walks of life – education, health, tradition and the church of God where he spent billions of naira in the service of his creator. He runs Neni Education Foundation and constructed network of asphalted roads at Neni.

As the Grand President of the Knight of Saint John International, Owerri Grand Commandary, Dr Enukeme made monumental contributions to churches. Dr Enukeme was a recipient of Papal Knight of Saint Gregory the Great (KSG). On the cultural arena, Dr Enukeme was the Founder and President, Anambra State Council of Traditional Prime Ministers (Ndionowu).

Dr Anthony Enukeme was happily married to Iyom Mary Uzoaku Enukeme (Mmiriaku) and they were richly blessed with six children – Azubike, Chike and Nkene (sons) as well as Ifeoma, Nkiru and Chinyere (daughters). Enukeme was a member of Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

So, as the remains of Dr Anthony Obiagboso Enukeme are laid to rest on Friday, August 14, 2020 after a funeral mass at Saint James’ Catholic Church Neni by 10am, his siblings, widow, business associates and compatriots will, no doubt, remember him as one man who has made countless philanthropic interventions that empowered and transformed lives of people, communities and the house of God. Vigil mass will hold on Thursday, August 13, 2020, by 5.00pm at Saint John’s Catholic Parish, Neni.

Dr Anthony Obiagboso Enukeme had, like Saint Paul, fought a good fight and finished the race of life, waiting on the Almighty God to give him the crown of victory in his kingdom to come. Adieu Onowu Neni, Rest in Peace Ezeani- Aku-uvom, fare thee well, till the resurrection day. Good night, Mentor, brother, father and father figure to many.

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