Tribute to Our Father, Enoch Onyenweama

“There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child.” – Henry Ward Beecher 1813 -1887.

Our father, Chief Enoch Nwakwuribe Onyenweama (Akuoma Isingwu) was born on December 24, 1929 in Umuda Okpuala community in the Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State.

He was the second of two brothers. He had four surviving half siblings.

Onyenweama attended elementary and secondary school in Umuahia and worked briefly after leaving school at a bookshop in Umuahia. He later proceeded to Lagos where he got employment at Costain West Africa Limited, a construction company in Ebute Metta on the Lagos Mainland.

In 1961, he met, courted and married our mother, Mrs. Regina Ojukwu from Awka-Etiti, a town in the Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.

Shortly after their marriage, they were blessed with four children: Sir Collins Chukwudi Onyenweama, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, Mrs. Victoria Onyinye Nnaji and Mr. Tony Obinna Onyenweama.

As mum and dad started making strides in their new marriage, the civil war broke out, altering their hopes and plans, resulting in an abrupt relocation to the village.

Shortly after the end of the civil war in 1969 and uncertain about the future, our father returned to Lagos in 1971 in search of greener pastures.

He later got employment at Shell Nigeria Limited. However, our father had an inner desire to become a businessman, to take after his parents – Chief Onyenweama Agbanyim and Mrs. Ikpeghioma Agbanyim, who were both successful in business in their time.

Our father was later to resign his Shell job - to take his destiny in his hands in the uncertain and murky waters of business.

His Shell experience and ambition to succeed counted so much in his foray into business. Our father was later to become a successful businessman, philanthropist and an outstanding community leader.

It should be noted that he never at any time craved adulation, praise or compliments in his numerous community initiatives.

He preferred and insisted on impacting positively and empowering his people in any way he could without bragging about it. Interestingly, these are some of the values he impacted on his children: To always demonstrate humility, compassion, discipline, charity and honesty in whatever we do.

Our father upheld wholeheartedly the principle that when you’re materially privileged, it becomes an obligation to give to charity and to humanity. He was an embodiment of lessons in brotherhood and family.

He might not have been able to build a Taj Mahal or to move the Kilimanjaro, but he certainly succeeded in raising children who radiated love, energy and empathy.

For over 60 years of marriage with our mother, who is fondly called, “Mama Anambra”, our parents shared everything

life offered them.

They were a tag team, supporting each other in every conceivable way until the very end of our dad as a mortal.

I hail my mum for her unwavering support and the care she had given to our dad over the years. Our dad had contended with diabetes at an early age. I am particularly humbled by our mother’s strength, tenacity, drive and resilience over the years as well as her ability to focus on the life she shared with our dad.

We are not unaware of what our mum has lost as age- related difficulties began to take a toll on our father, especially as he began a gradual decline like every mortal.

But we thank God and affirm that he deserved the successes and the rich life that his maker granted him to enjoy in his earthly journey.

I hope that through this lens, we, his children, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren can find strength from the life he lived and the experiences he shared, and therefore, be there for each other at all times.

We continue to cherish the memories we had.

Mrs. Obi is the Group Managing Director/ CEO of Techno Oil Limited.