CHIEF (DR.) ICHIE EZECHINYELUGO PAUL AMANCHUKWU OKONKWOR - (FNISM, FBIM, PFH,
JP, MIP-LONDON)
Chief
(Dr.) Ichie Ezechinyelugo Paul Amanchukwu Ezeojih Okonkwor JP was born
a 5th child to the noble family of Mazi & Mrs. Micheal Okonkwor Agbaghiegbe
Nwewe of Enugu Ozalla, Ozalla village, Isuofia town, Aguata Local Government
Area of Anambra State, Nigeria on the 5th day of October, 1942. He was
brought up by his noble parents the Christian way.
EDUCATIONAL
CAREER.
Young Chief Paul Amanchukwu Okonkwor started his kindergarten education at
St. Patrick's Catholic School Isuofia in the year 1950 after returning with
his parents from Ojodo near French Dahomey, where they sojourned from 1945
to 1949. Chief Paul Amanchukwu Okonkwor contributed immensely to the welfare
and up-keep of his siblings & younger ones hence, he was stopped severally
to suspend his kindergarten education to nurse them. This led to his
continuing education even at the age of twelve in the year 1954. Also the
same year, he was baptized by an Irish priest, Rev. Fr. Caraphear after the
Herculean task of trekking over 9 miles to Achina for catechism classes
weekly. After baptism in 1954, he became a mass servant of the catholic
faith. The year 1954 remains ever remarkable to the young chief as this
marked his journey to the mountain of success. Thus, he engaged himself in
truck-pushing after school hours - for sustenance.
In 1957, Chief (Dr.) Paul Amanchukwu Okonkwor started petty trading and
displaying his business acumen at a very tender age. He used to buy all the
school handwork materials (brooms, basket etc) only to re-sell these items
at the end of the term for profit (Entrepreneurship). He later opted for
barbing charging only 2 pence for his services. Still on his
education, Chief Okonkwor's brilliancy earned him largesse & promotions in
the school. In 1959, he took an entry examination into the prestigious
Christ The King College, Onitsha & BSC Orlu which he excellently passed.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
The capability of chief's parents to foot his education expenses
notwithstanding their economic status proppelled him to business. He took a
bold decision and stepped up to his parents with the business opinion. His
mother who a was wealthy oil merchant couldn't help but agreeing with the
dreams of the young son taking after her. Thus in January, 1960 he became an
apprentice to Mr. Louis Ogbuanu from Amichi who trades in bicycle spare
parts at Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Young Chief Okonkwor celebrated
Nigeria's first independence at Ekpoma , but his sojourn at Ekpoma was cut
short due to political upheavals orchestrated by the the Action Group and
NCNC, evolving series of civil unrest especially in the Western Region, he
decided to stay back after Christmas holiday.
Following his unrelenting attitude towards the exploration of the business
world, he moved on to motor spare parts business the following month and
year -1961 with his master, Chief J.O Ibeke residing in Onitsha. During his
course of apprenticeship with Chief J.O Ibeke which lasted from 1961 - 1965,
young Chief Paul Okonkwor proved his mettle beyond imaginations. He
introduced various vehicle parts and accessories into the Nigerian
automobile circle; he introduced the famous Austin® Fan Blades
amongst others. He was highly engaged in vehicle, hubs & axles repairs,
while not forgetting his age-long business of truck-pushing all in the bid
to make life sustainable & meaningful. At this time he was faced with
challenges of competing with official load carriers. Also he was faced with
the risk of traveling all parts of the country including farthest north in
search of old spare parts as well as phased-out ones for commercial
purposes.
In December 1965, he left his master, Chief J.O Ibeke marking his freedom of
business dependence in January 1966. Not quite long after his freedom in
1966, the Nigerian-Biafran civil war broke out and crippled the
economy.
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