An Empowerment Catalyst, Kelly Azuike, at 70
Chido Nwangwu pays tribute to Nigerian-born pharmacist and empowerment catalyst, Sir Kelly Azuike, who recently marked his 70th birthday in Houston, the United States.
For many persons, at different times and circumstances, in Nigeria and in the diaspora, Sir Kelechi ‘Kelly’ Azuike, has been and remains an empowerment catalyst, a source of inspiration, a fountain of reasonable mentorship, a supportive sibling to his folks, a reliable friend….
Practically, he is all those things and more.
Above all those, he cherishes his faith, his blessed family and his heritage!
I have known him since 1986, and closer over the past 28 years. Socially, I have observed that Sir Kelly has the engaging mannerisms of a gentle giant, the savvy skills of a successful businessman and the consummate deliberateness of a power player.
There is no doubt that the diversity and scale of his relationships are wide and run deep. Accordingly, the Azuike family invited such friends and well-wishers to the upscale Hotel Derek in the Houston galleria for the December 16, 2023 event regarding the 70th birthday (December 23, 2023) in deserving honor of the man and what he represents.
It was a worthy gathering of familiar folks, heavy hitters, new generation of the Azuikes and a number of grand-children.
Understandably, this man’s blessed journey of life and humble beginnings hold very valuable life lessons for so many people!
First, to his beautiful, gracefilled and affable wife, Mary Ebehi Azuike (nee Ibazebo), he’s a very good husband, a very good father. He inspires and uplifts people around him and is a reliable source of support for many. They’ve been married for almost 44 years.
One of the most memorable aspects of the birthday event on December 16, 2023, was the walk back into the memory banks of history by his bosom friend, Mazi Steve Ndukwe who recalled almost 50 years of their friendship.
Ndukwe, a mechanical engineer, recalled vividly how a polite verbal invitation to Kelly to rest, sleep and freshen up at Steve’s very modest apartment in Lagos rather than wait in the open-air before Kelly’s drivers picked up cars for Kelly’s older brother’s R.T Briscoe’s dealership in Aba led a very young Kelly to casually say to him: “Brother Steve, we will all be proceeding to America to further our education…” Steve said “I did not have the resources to embark on such a journey, yet he inspired me to explore the opportunity. He secured his own passport, he assisted me to get mine. After obtaining his approval from the Student Advisory Committee to proceed abroad, he assisted me in obtaining a similar letter from the Committee!” .
Sir Kelly was born in 1953 in Southeastern Nigeria. He attended Saint Michael’s Elementary School, and Ngwa High School — both in Aba. Noting that in 1974, he left for the Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, in the United States, transferred to Texas Southern University (Houston) in 1975, and graduated from the TSU Pharmacy School in 1979.
“I met my wife Mary in the great city of Aba (in the current Abia State of Nigeria) in 1971. We had our church wedding in 1980 in Houston, Texas at the Palmas Episcopal Church.”
They are blessed with four children who are adults living their lives. Their son, Acho, holds an MBA from Rice University; Chidinma is a Pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Ugochi and Uchechi are physicians.
He recalls “I worked in Illinois as a pharmacist before setting up my oil and gas business in 1982. Also, I served on the board of Imo State Modern Poultry in Avutu.
Later, I was appointed Chairman of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital.
I have also served as an appointed member of the Imo State Land Use Allocation Committee. I have served on the boards of some oil and gas corporations.
After working so hard, and contributing to the development of Imo State and my community, I am presently retired.“
On his role models: “I remember my big brother, Chief Dennis Azuike, who raised me as his son when my father died. It was from him that I learned the art of giving, and sharing, which has become a significant part of my life to this day.”
Significantly, Kelly told me that his life lessons at 70 include these: “With God, all things are possible! You need to have integrity be a man of your word. Be hardworking, be compassionate, and always remember it’s not always about you. Sometimes, you have to put others before yourself.”