Umuaka News24

Akajiaku, as he was and still called in Umuaka was a man of unquantifiable generosity and liberality with deep passion for the love of his beloved “ndi Umuaka”. He never led Umuaka as a chairman, but was the greatest and indisputable supporter and financier of the successes of Umuaka leadership. He was a popular sponsor of human development in generic terms, a friend of the youths and the bedrock of learning. Chief Ben Opara’s love for his fellow human beings was superlative and intrinsically motivating. He empowered more citizens of Umuaka more than any other figure in the historical evolution of the community. Akajiaku once said at St Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka when making donation for the less privileged, “ona eghutem ma mu hu mmani ibem ka ha na ata ahuhu”. His memory still lingers in the minds of all Umuaka who knew him. He was on most occasions, the highest donor at Umuaka launching ceremonies.

Akajiaku was born in 1934 in Njaba L.G.A. of Imo State to Late Nze and Lolo Okwara-Ajoku Okwaraojiaku. In 1943 he left his home town for St. Thomas Primary School Nkwerre where he completed his standard six (6) in 1949. Due to his interest in business, he left for Port-Harcourt in 1950. After his apprenticeship he started his own business which blossomed.

In 1978, Akajiaku built a gigantic commercial school in his home town, Umuaka, that marked the birth of “Akajiaku Commercial Academy”. He was motivated to build the school having as a business man seen the importance of the vital roles that commercial education plays both in internal and foreign business transactions. Moreover, it has always been his intention and desire to help thousands of potential students in Umuaka and the surrounding towns who have the burning interest in commercial and allied professions such as Accounting, Management, Secretarial students, etc. by providing a modern and equipped commercial school as most state schools were not channeled towards that direction. He had 50 employees in his educational establishment.

Chief Akajiaku’s contributions to his community started as far back as in mid 50s, when he was still under his master. From 1955 to 1962, he was the Chairman of Umuaka Community in Port-Harcourt during which Umuaka Town Hall was built at No. 12 Obazielu Street Diobu, Port-Harcourt. As a matter of fact, he left the Chairmanship in 1962 when he was elected into the Nkwerre/Isu County Council. From that period onwards, he was in front of leadership as a councillor until the war broke out.

During the first launching of Umuaka Community Hospital in 1976, he was the Chairman and equally was the highest donor and also chaired the launching of Umuaka Girls’ Secondary School in 1975. As the saying goes that “charity begins at home”, Akajiaku was the Chairman of Uba Village Union for a period of eleven years (1975 – 1986). During that time, the village schools new building as required by the state government was built and the old one was renovated. With the co-operation of his people, more land was acquired for the civic centre. More especially, peace prevailed.

As a philanthropist, he liberalized charity to motherless babies’ homes, rehabilitation centres and to the physically challenged. Within the period of 1975 1976, he sponsored twenty eight people from Umuaka and environs to foreign universities mainly in America. In addition he gave scholarships to many people to study in Nigerian Universities. He sponsored an appreciable number of people in secondary schools, trained and helped many in business.

Akajiaku was a lover of sports and in his effort to promote sports in this part of the state. He donated a cup each to Nkwerre/Isu L.G.A, Umuaka High School, Akajiaku Commercial Academy and Umuaka Girls’ Secondary School. Each of these cups was redeemed annually. He was a socialite and belonged to many national and local social clubs. He was the Patron to many social clubs and association which included: Umuaka Town Development Union Aba Branch, Uba Family Meeting Aba, Umuaka Youths Crusade, Akah Social Club Umuaka, Chikwado Social Club Umuaka Branch, Odoziaku Social Club of Umuaka and Chetanne Social Club of Nig., Umuaka Mutual Aid Association Aba, Vocational Schools Proprietors Association Orlu Zone, etc.

He was a great optimist and a devout christian. According to him, “If you have faith, preach it, if you have doubts bury them, if you have joy share it, if you have sorrow, bear it. Find the bright side of things and help others to get sight of it too. This is the only and surest way to be cheerful and happy”.

He married in 1958 to former Miss Philomena Ibekwe. Akajiaku was blessed with eight (8) children.

About his general life philosophy, Akajiaku strongly believed that “Man’s nature makes it possible for him to attain his fulfillment only by working for the perfection and welfare of his society and this is not only confirmed by history and experience, but also by religion which teaches us that the ideal for which we are striving for, sacrificed himself for humanity”.

He enjoyed listening to news on television, reading newspapers and business-journals and mostly spends a greater part of his leisure reading the Holy Bible.

Umuaka News24 Documentary