Clan head of Amaezike Ohemuje, Pa Ozo Oyigbo Vincent Mmadukaihe Ekwueme, dies at 101
The clan head of Amaezike and eldest person in Ohemuje – Aku community in Enugu State, Ozo Oyigbo Vincent Mmadukaihe Ekwueme, is dead. He died on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the age of 101.
His death was announced in a press statement by his son, and retired manager at Chevron Nigeria Limited, Chief (Sir) Samuel Ekwueme.
Chief Samuel Ekwueme who served as Special Assistant (Planning) to the immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, said the family had fixed the funeral rites of their patriarch for Friday, May 2, 2025 and Saturday, May 3, 2025.
According to Chief Ekwueme, “Our father, Ozo Oyigbo Vincent Mmadukaihe Ekwueme, lived a beautiful life full of love, care and compassion to humanity.
“He broke records by being the first person from Osagu Owuru family to be both the Onye-Ishi (Clan Head) head of Ezogidi-Arua (one of the four clans that make up Amaezike Ohemuje) and the Onye-Ishi of Amaezike and the eldest person in Ohemuje.”
He said: “Ozo Oyigbo was born in 1924 into a polygamous family. He survived life-changing childhood tragedies, including the loss of his seven siblings and mother, which made him the sole surviving heir to his father.”
He explained that “God prepared Ozo Oyigbo early enough for the role of Onye-ishi. This is because God blessed him with wisdom, knowledge and a sense of fairness to adjudicate on matters brought before him.
“He was a team builder, a peace advocate and a crisis manager. Even before he became the head of his clan and Onye- ishi, his living room was like a court room. “It was always filled with people who came to settle issues. Widows, youths, elders, relations, and friends lined up presenting issues and problems to him for resolution or solution. He often went the extra mile and devoted time to settle all the pressing disputes within the family, Ohemuje and beyond.
“As Onye-ishi (clan head), these activities or roles multiplied. He oversaw local affairs, resolved conflicts, facilitated development projects, distributed resources, supported the needy, upheld local customs, and represented the community. Ozo Oyigbo, as a person, was an enemy to injustice and social vices.”
According to Chief Ekwueme who was the APC House of Reps candidate for Igbo-etiti/Uzo-uwani federal constituency, “As a shepherd, Oyigbo’s personality was filled with kindness, love, care and compassion for others.
“He would always find time to visit all his relations, friends and well-wishers in other parts of Aku and neighboring communities.
“Ozo Oyigbo was a man given to philanthropy. Ozo Oyigbo was a generous man who believed that wealth should be invested for the good of mankind.
During his years of active service, Ozo Oyigbo sponsored many people to school, or to learn trade skills and business.
“For him every person especially the youths should either be engaged, empowered or employed, which means the person should either be in school, learning skills, doing business or being employed.
“This broadly explained his philosophy towards helping or providing community service. He mentored and sponsored over one thousand persons to schools, or to learn one skill or the other or help them gain employment.”
Ekwueme said that “Oyigbo led an exemplary life in community leadership, supporting entrepreneurship and employing many of his brothers, friends and relatives as drivers and logistics assistants in a side hustle in the transport and logistics business.
“His transport company traded as NWANNE DINA MBA Motors Transport Ltd. He pioneered the dominance of Amaezike Onochite, Ohemuje in the Aku transport and haulage industry, steering great transporters and transport companies such as UBE Motors, owned by his brother, Chief John Ekwueme (Ochiliozuo), Udo Dili Umuibe owned by Chief Mattias Isiorji, UPTS owned by Chief Godwin Okike and T.A.T.S owned by Chief Theo Amuka.
“These transporters dominated the haulage of agricultural produce from Aku to northern Nigerian cities like Jos and Minna, thereby making significant contributions to the rural economy of Aku. He also helped many to set up businesses and provided financial support to struggling ones. Among other community services and philanthropic gyestures.”
He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren as well as numerous members of his extended family.
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