Born on May 14, 1941, Igwe Achebe, also known as Agbogidi, emerged the 21st Obi of Onitsha on May 14, 2002.
By Ishaya Ibrahim
As congratulatory messages continued to pour in celebrating the 82nd birthday of Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has described the pre-eminent royal father as someone committed to a united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.
Born on May 14, 1941, Igwe Achebe, also known as Agbogidi, emerged the 21st Obi of Onitsha on May 14, 2002 after the death of his predecessor, Obi Okechukwu Okagbue, who reigned between 1970 and 2001.
In a congratulatory message on his verified twitter handle @PeterObi on Sunday, Obi wrote:
“I heartily congratulate His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, as he marks his 82nd birthday today. His Majesty’s sacrifices and commitment to a united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria remain exemplary.
“I appreciate and celebrate him, for all his support to me during my years as the Governor of Anambra State, which has continued till today. I pray God Almighty to continue to grant him excellent health as well as bless him always. – PO”
Before his emergence as the Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Dutch Shell Group serving as director in various companies in the group.
Outside Shell, Agbogidi has held positions on the governing councils of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, and the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
In corporate life, Obi Achebe was chairman of Diamond Bank PLC and the Universal Insurance PLC and is currently the chairman of Unilever Nigeria PLC, International Breweries (ABInBev) Nigeria and Omak Maritime Limited.
On two occasions, he served the nation on panels of inquiry in the petroleum sector. In 1976, he was a member of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry on the Port Harcourt Refinery. In 2004, President Obasanjo called on him to be Chairman of the Presidential Enquiry into the February 2003 Fuel Shortage in the country.
In 2005, Obi Achebe was a delegate to the National Political Reform Conference representing the traditional rulers of South-Eastern States. He became Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Management Reforms and coordinated the traditional rulers’ forum at the Conference.
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Agbogidi belongs to a string of social, professional and voluntary (non-profit) organisations in Nigeria and overseas, where he has made invaluable contributions in various capacities.
He is a fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. He is a Life Member of the Nigerian Economic Society and member of the Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management and Nigerian Environmental Society. He is a Vice-Patron of Island Club, Lagos; Vice-Patron of Lagos Country Club, and Member of the Metropolitan Club, Lagos.
On bilateral and multilateral relations, Obi Achebe has also represented Nigeria’s interests on social, cultural and commercial matters.
He has been a member of the Nigeria-Britain Association (NBA) and a life member of the counterpart Britain-Nigeria Association (BNA). He has served as a member of the Governing Board of the BNA, the Advisory Board of the Britain-Nigeria Business Council, and the Board of Trustees of the Africa Centre, all based in the United Kingdom.
On becoming a traditional ruler, the Africa Centre, in recognition of his services, made him one of its five Patrons, with Nelson Mandela as the Grand Patron.
Obi Achebe has a strong passion for education as a fundamental factor in national development. In his firm belief that lack of funds should not prevent any child from acquiring a good education, he set up early in his reign a manpower development trust fund for his community.
In 2007, he, along with His Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade II, the late Ooni of Ife, and His Majesty, Alhaji Ado Bayero, the late Emir of Kano, were guests of the Director-General of UNESCO in Paris to share thoughts on the strategic role of monarchs in promoting the development of science and technology.
In 2008 and 2010, he addressed the annual symposium of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation in New York City to promote partnership between the US and Nigerian universities. He became Chancellor of Kogi State University in 2010.
In recognition of his varied services to the society, Obi Achebe was decorated with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2004.
He was appointed Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council in 2008; made an Honorary Fellow of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education in 2008; and awarded the degrees of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) Honoris Causa by the Anambra State University in 2008, and Doctor of Science (DSc) Honoris Causa by the Kogi State University in 2010.