The Late Chief Gordian Okoye Egwuagu was born in the year 1929 in Uruekwo village, Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. His father was the Late Chief lyiegbu Egwuagu -the legendary hunter and marksman of the Egbenu-Oba fame. His mother was the Late Madam Maria Nwaku Egwuagu (Nee Okoye-lmegwu), an influential community leader. Despite his parents’ influence in the community, their inability to bear a child until they had Gordian continued to bring them to mockery.
However, Gordian would assume the mantle of leadership of the family after the premature demise of his father. With the guidance and support of benefactors like the late Michael Okafor Nwikelugo, the late Sydney Okoye Eze and others, the family was able to navigate difficult times for decades. Gordian was blessed with wisdom, knowledge and sense of justice which helped him to shine the light for his younger siblings.
Gordian would later become a teacher. He taught at St. Anthony’s Catholic School Enugwu-ukwu and St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Umuawulu. During this time, Gordian and the likes of Jonathan Akabike, Samuel Akametalu, Emmanuel Okonkwo and others mobilized the youths of the village under the umbrella of Anadimma Youths Movement, an offshoot of Uruekwo Youth Movement of 1940. They were charged with the responsibility of providing vigilante services in the village particularly at Okpuana village stream. It was the movement that organized the famous ‘Dodokido’ Dance Troupe that won star prize during the Enugwu-Ukwu General return competition of 1950. Gordian was the Provost Marshall of the Dance Troupe and performed his role with great deal of admiration from spectators and respect from members.
He left the teaching profession to join the Nigeria Police Force where he was for nine years. It was during this time that he met and married his first love, Josephine Mgbugo Okoroafor Onyema of Arochukwu in Abia State. The marriage was blessed with seven
children. Later in 1966, He marriedConstance Nwogo Onyeso of Agukwu-Nri. The marriage was blessed with four children.
After his stint in the police force, he joined Leventis Group of Companies where he rose to the position of Store Manager and would later found his own company, Enterprise-Benz Brothers Limited, Aba. The company grew to become a household name in the sales of motor spare parts and distribution of Fiat model of vehicles with International connections before the Civil War.
The Late Chief Egwuagu was not just an accomplished community leader and philanthropist but also an indefatigable ‘Ochiliozuo’ who impacted positively on the lives of many successful young men from his village Uruekwo, Enugwu-Ukwu, nearby communities and beyond. He led Uruekwo Development Union for many years and enjoyed the recognition of premier institutions and authorities in Enugwu-Ukwu including the cabinet of the Late Igwe Osita Agwuna of Enugwu-Ukwu. He was installed the Life Patron of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU) in 1997.
Chief Egwuagu was one of the pioneers of the Catholic Church in Enugwu-Ukwu but later in life found fellowship with some other Christian denominations. He would later return to the Catholic church in the twilight of his life on earth.
Enenebeaku Enugwu-Ukwu Na Umunri as Chief Egwuagu was also known left many indelible footprints in the sands of his time. In his memory, his family built and fully furnished Obu Obionwu – a massive edifice donated to Umu Obionwu Kindred Uruekwo village Enugwu-Ukwu. The project which was financed by Iyom Dr (Mrs) Chinwe Egwuagu-Ndubisi (Adakibie Enugwu-Ukwu Na Umunri) will be commissioned tomorrow, Friday, 29th December, 2023, as part of activities to mark the 20th year remembrance of the Late Chief Gordian Okoye Egwuagu.
His family, friends, associates and mentees remember him and take solace in the saying that: “To live in the minds of those we leave behind is not to die”.
Written by CHIEF CHARLIE EGWUAGU
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