Grand Honour for GreenLife Chairman’s Late Father
Immortalisation of his father, Pa Denis Chukwuka, brings to the fore the deep relationship between him and his only son, Dr. Obiorah Chukwuka who has grown to become a pride not only to his father but his community at large. Kasie Abone who witnessed the
It was a gathering of reverend gentlemen of the Catholic fate. The venue was St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in the sleepy town of Nnokwa in Idemmili South Local Government Area of Anambra State and the date was January 5, 2017. Except on a closer observation one would mistake the event to be an ordination ceremony or conference of Reverend Fathers given the array of reverend gentlemen serving in Gods’ vineyard who trooped out in their numbers to attend the service. The priests were led to the service by their spiritual head, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke. But it was neither of the two events. The solemn ceremony was indeed the 25th memorial service of late Pa Denis Chukwuka, alias Eziafakaego (good name is better than money) father of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GreenLife Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Obiorah Chukwuka.
Besides the memorial service, the day was particularly significant in that it served dual functions of dedication of Eziafakego Resorts and Hotel built in memory of his father. While the hotel was the third in his hospitality business chain the project brought to three such initiatives including a filling station built to honour his late father, a man whose pious life bear a shining light in the lives of not a few at his home town, Nnokwa. As an only son and the last one at that, his relationship with his father was described as very deep, special and personal hence such show of love and efforts to immortalise him. And in doing so, he spared no cost.
Who else could have drawn such stellar crowd of reverend gentlemen at that period of the year when the calendar was crowded with a lot of activities? Besides being a moment of rest when Ndi Igbo put aside businesses and travel home to visit with friends and families, the period also serves for occasions and events of different colour, purpose and magnitude. Weddings, traditional marriages, memorials, burials, house warming, cultural festivals, dedications among many other entertainments and fun events make the occasion memorable.
With the level of successes he has attained in business and corporate life and his humble disposition that gives people easy access to him, it was not surprising that even friends and well-wishers came out in large numbers to share that special day with his family.
Preaching the sermon at the memorial church service held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Valerian Okeke extolled the Christian life which Late Chukwuka lived and died for. Speaking on Late Chukwuma’s alias, Eziafakaego, Okeke who led 45 other Reverend Fathers said imbibing the virtue of good name is better than all the silver and gold money could buy. “While he laboured in Gods vine yard as teacher and catechist, little did Late David Chukwuka knew that his only son whose birth was by divine arrangement would one day honour him in this magnitude today. Chukwuka served his people meritoriously in the church and community. He lived a life of integrity, humility, service and patience, virtues of a true Christian that he was.”
Paying glowing tribute to late Chukwuka, Nnokwa Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Richard Chinemelu Okelue described late Chukwuka as a very hardworking person when he was alive. He was the pioneer Secretary of Nnokwa Progressive Union (NPU) and served for many years. He was a Secretary of Ubili community for many years. He was the Catechist of this particular church (St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa) and that time we looked up to him. He gave himself the alias “Eziafakaego”, that good name is far better than money. And that was why we called him ‘Eziafakaego1’ and his son has taken up “Eziafakaego 2.”
His 94-year-old wife, Madam Regina Chukwuka, describing her relationship with her late husband said the day he died was the worst for her. Over the years she had been able to cope with the absence of her husband by the love dotted on her by her loving children.
Speaking about the posthumous honour being given his father, Dr. Chukwuka said, “Actually my father died on the 2nd January, 1992. So, today we are remembering him. The legacy he left is by his name. His name is Eziafakaego which means integrity redefined. He left that legacy that we can loose anything in life but we can’t lose our good name. Once we protect our names to the highest level the blessings of God will always follow. So, we always want to let people know how important that legacy in his name is. I also built a hotel in his name. We want to let people know that you don’t have to struggle so much for money if you have Eziafa (good name), money is yours.”
Dr. Chukwuka was an only son and the last child. His birth was by divine intervention. Having hard six girls including a set of twins, his father was not moved by suggestions to bring in another wife but still held on to his Christian faith. Chukwuka had this to say about his special position in the family and relationship with his late father.
“Yes, we were seven. Six were before me including a set of twins and I was born out of prayer. They had stopped giving birth but my father had very strong faith in God that God would give him a successor. People were persuading him to marry another wife but he refused. And thank God at last God answered his prayer and I was born.”
On being an only son and the last child and the relationship with his father he said “He had no other son and I had no other father. So, we were very close to each other. When he thought about a son he only thought about me. So, we were so close to each other.”
On her own part, his only daughter in-law, Mrs. Oby Chuwuka described her father in-law as a very kind man who lived a life worthy of emulation. “He was a nice man. He was somebody you cannot forget easily because the legacy he left behind will linger forever. It’s good that while you are still living you do something that you will be remembered for. If the life he lived wasn’t such that he could be remembered, we won’t be here today but because he was a nice man we are all here celebrating him.”
Though he was newly married into the family not long before his demise, Mrs. Chukwuka said they were still able to bond together. I knew him as a Catechist. When I came in I didn’t stay with him for a long time because the tradition of the church was that you don’t live with your husband until after the wedding. So, I visited when my husband was around and went back to my father’s house. Apart from the fact that I knew him as a catechist he was an epitome of a Christian life. He was very honest. He always called me and gave me gifts. If he was eating, he would always give me a portion of meat. He treated me like his last child.”
Earlier while dedicating Eziafakaego Hotel and Resorts built in memory of the late Chukwuka, Archbishop Okeke extolled Dr. Chukwuka for honouring his father in such magnitude. He called on other diaspora successful businessmen to think home by emulating Dr. Chukwuka’s shining examples in bringing some of his businesses home. He also called on parents to lay good foundation for their children so that in times like such children would honour them just like Dr. Chukwuka did.
Speaking in the same vain Chief Okelue averred that Dr. Obiorah Chukwuka was one of the true sons of Nnokwa. “He is not thinking about himself alone but is thinking about everybody’s empowerment especially by citing projects both here at Nnokwa and in Lagos that help to reduce graduate unemployment by giving our youths jobs. He is an honest man too, he doesn’t tolerate lies and he doesn’t tolerate fraudulent behaviours. Even Nnokwa gave him chieftaincy title; he accepted it in principle. He is one of the illustrious sons of Nnokwa who was selected for the honour of chieftaincy titles. He accepted it in principle.”
After the church service and hotel dedication, guests moved to his spacious country home where they were lavishly entertained with sumptuous meals and choice drinks. The well-organised, well attended events which also attracted friends and well-wishers, captains of industry from far and wide had his amiable wife, Mrs. Oby Chukwuka ably in charge to ensure guests were well taken care of. Souvenirs and GreenLife products were generously handed out.