By Ingram Osigwe
Ten years on and it looks as if it was just yesterday. The memories about him remain evergreen because he lives in the hearts that he touched. And they are many!
Neither a star nor comet heralded his birth on March 19, 1942 but the then rusty Amechi, Awkunanaw community in today’s Enugu State had the presence of mind to recognize that a child who would later shine brighter than star had been born.
And 10 years ago when he joined the saints, beyond Awkunanaw, the world was aware that that a star had dimed but not his name, not his good deeds while on earth. The death of Chief Chiji Agbo brings to an end, an elegant era. Born to the family of late Chief Nwankwo Agbo and Madam Comfort Agbo, Chiji, a seasoned industrialist died on July 17, 2005.
A man with a good heart, Chiji would rather surrender his last kobo to the needy rather than see the them suffer. As a landlord, he was an unusual one to his tenants who he treated like his own biological children. Chiji would rather return later for his rent than barge into the apartment of any his tenant who was not ready to see him.And if any was asleep or engaged with one activity or the other at the time of his visit for his rent, Chiji would respectfully go back home and return later rather than disturb such tenant.
As a youngman, Chiji climbed the ladder of success by the dint of hard work. His motto was ‘Hard Work and Honesty Always Pay In Life’. He started his working life with a German firm, Nigerian Commercial and Industrial Limited, NCIE, before the Nigerian civil war.
A man with eyes on the future,Chiji believed in entreprenurship.This accounted for why he resigned from NCIE in 1981 and in partnership with some German and Nigerian friends founded MAKE LIMITED,a steel trading company.And desirous of exploring the manufacturing sector, Chiji in 1986,along with his friends and partners, established Industrial Metal Processing Company Limited,IMPCO as Chairman.The company today is thriving and viable, providing employment to hundreds of Nigerians.
Chiji was an astute industrialist of national repute with a conglomerate of companies under his superintendence. These include AWK-Print limited, Casman limited, Allied Technical and Engineering company among others.
Chiji served God, humanity and his community, his exalted position in the social cadre notwithstanding. For example, he was Pioneer President of Awkunanaw Welfare Association, Secretary of Amechi Awkunanaw Development Union, President-General of Amagugwu Development Union, National Patron, Nkanu Social Club, Lagos branch, Patron of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria among others.
In recognition of his the upliftment of his community and state in the mould of education endowment and other philanthropic gestures, the Rotary Club of Enugu conferred on him ‘Community Service Award’ of 1995. A lover of sports, the late industrialist contributed in no small measure to the development of sports in Nkanu land and Enugu state in general. He singlehandedly instituted a football tournament in Awkunanaw and donated a trophy known Awkunanaw Unity Cup.
Chiji loved his community, Awkunanaw and his state, Enugu. And he demonstrated this in many ways. For example, apart from employing a plethora of Enugu indigenes in his company, Chiji named one of his companies, Awk-Print limited, after Awkunanaw.
During his life time, Chiji was a great lover of education who provided scholarship to many indigent students up to university level and helped placed them in befitting employments after graduation. The detribalised nature of Chiji ensured that his philanthropic gestures cut across ethnic groups.
It was in the realisation of Chiji’s elegant deeds that the then Grand Patron of the Council of Enugu state Traditional Rulers and Odezuligbo of Nike, the late Igwe Edward Nnaji conferred on him ‘Ochendo Enugu’. He also had in his kitty the chieftaincy titles of ‘Ogbunechendo’ of Amechi Awkunanaw and ‘Enyiduru’ of Ugbawka’
A caring, loving husband to Joy Obigageli since 1972 and dotting father to Ifeoma, Ndidi, Uchenna,Chiji Jnr,Nwamaka and Nonyelum,its ten years since you departed this world but it’s as if it’s just yesterday. Your memory is evergreen in our hearts because you are unforgettable. Continue to rest in the Lord’s bosom. We love you but He loves more.