Comrade Ekene Nwokoro Ogbonna has been adjudged to have topped the list in humanitarian services, especially in empowering youth and driving community development by his Mgbalukwu community people in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
As a renowned philanthropist, Nwokoro's contributions to community development projects and human empowerment have earned him a chieftaincy title, Ikeoha 1 of Mgbalukwu Kingdom.
Nwokoro was among 7 illustrious sons of the Mgbalukwu Autonomous Community in the Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State who received the royal blessings on Saturday, 28th December 2024, from his community people.
Nwokoro, who is currently the Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor, Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru, was conferred the Ikeoha, meaning the strength of his people, by the traditional ruler of the Mgbalukwu community, HRH Eze Stephen Akpaghara, the Onyibe III of Mgbalukwu Kingdom.
Speaking while decorating Nwokoro, Eze Akpaghara described his Chieftaincy title as a very symbolic one, considering his positive impacts in alleviating the community from socio-economic backwards by embarking on developmental projects and human empowerment in the area.
The monarch further described the Nwifuru's aide as youthful and useful to the human society and affirmed that many people, especially those from the community, have been giving good testimonies about his philanthropic gestures.
Lending his voice, the Public Relations Officer of the Mgbalukwu's traditional ruler cabinet, Chief Jethro Onwe, commended Comrade Ekene Nwokoro and other awardees for having been committed to developing their area.
He noted that the community needed government presence to tackle issues of age-long deplorable roads, lack of electricity, potable water and standard hospital, among others.
Onwe said Nwokoro faced the issue of bad roads headlong, with his prompt intervention in alleviating community people from academic burden through the award of scholarships to indigent children to further their education, offering financial grants and securing job opportunities for the community people, especially the youth.
Emphasizing why the community people gave Chieftaincy titles to their 7 illustrious sons once, Onwe said: "Each of them has a peculiar project or more he has done."
According to him, "somebody like Comrade Ekene Nwokoro has graded and laterited several roads the government was supposed to do during the regime of former Governor David Umahi. Comrade Ekene Nwokoro has graded and laterited more than 20 kilometres of road and other projects. His philanthropy has no boundaries because both the rich and poor have been benefiting from Comrade Ekene Nwokoro.
"As a community, we have 33 villages without a sound hospital, no sound hospital belonging to the government except private clinics around this area. We, therefore, appeal to our able governor to come to our aid because we supported him, and we are still supporting him.
"We are appealing to him to try as much as he can, even if he can attract the federal government to intervene to construct Omininyi Road at most within one year. The main support we need in Mgbalukwu is good roads and electricity because if we have roads, we can access hospitals, but now we are dying like fowls because we have impassable roads. We can easily access water because we are living close to the river," Onwe said.
While reading his citation, a stakeholder from the community, Comrade Chrisantus Alo, described the name Hon Ekene Nwokoro as a conflagration of a wildfire that has remained unquenchable due to the positive things that it is often associated with.
In his words, "Like a diamond that was found in the dustbin, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro made his solemn entry into this world on the 15th day of February 1986 into the humble but hardworking Christian family of Chief Fidelis Nwokoro Nwuzor Nwila of Obegu-Onwonwiya Village in Mgbalukwu Community of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
"Like a young man who knows what he wanted early in life, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro began working hard at a very tender age not just to eke a living but to liberate his family and his immediate society from austerity and constant neglect, little wonder he has been found rendering services to others in humility, hard work, perseverance and focus with a view that someday God will reward him which He has eventually done as it stands today."
Education background
He continued: "Being a polyvalent and multi-talented chap from his childhood days, Ekene Nwokoro rather than asked to join those rearing cows in the village as it was prevalent then was spotted as a brilliant child early and began his Primary School Education at Onwonwiya Community Primary School, where he emerged as a Head Boy popularly known as General Monitor in his set due to his unparalleled intelligence and wisdom among his peers and contemporaries.
"Immediately, after his Primary School Education, the young Ekene proceeded to Boys Secondary School, Iboko and later proceeded to Prestigious Teachers Training College (TTC) Igbeagu, where he bagged his Teacher's grade ll (TCII) Certificate and became a qualified and a certified teacher. He later moved to Destiny Secondary School Ameta Ezzama, where he wrote and passed his SSCE in his usual characteristic of being intelligent with flying colours.
"To equip himself better and widen his intellectual horizon, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro proceeded to acquire his Bachelor of Science (B.SC) degree in Political Science and came out with Second Class Upper Division otherwise known as Magna Cum laude in Latin from the prestigious and revered National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
"Still in his quest of seeking more knowledge, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro in his uncommon determination also bagged a Master of Science (M.SC) degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (PSCR)- a course that is widely sought after in today's Nigeria and like it has always been in his nature, Ekene emerged the best-graduating student in his set this time around.
"By the special grace of God, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro is a Political scientist, Public Affairs Analyst, Intelligent Detective and Security Consultant, Alternative dispute resolution expert and Conflict Management arbiter, to mention only but a few."
Political Career
"Being a man who has often been driven with a passion to ameliorate the sufferings of others and providing succour to the underprivileged, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro started politics very much early in life to contribute his quota in bridging the wide gap between the rich and the poor in our society which has been occasioned by those in power.
"At the age of 19 years, even while in his Senior Secondary School, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro began politics by engaging politicians and serving them in various capacities for him to be given a platform to showcase his leadership ingenuity that is borne out of his innate desire of service to humanity and nothing else. Little wonder, Ekene Nwokoro through the political tutelage of almost all the notable politicians within Ebonyi State and across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
"In 2019, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro singlehandedly graded and laterited a 20.5-kilometre road of Opefia-Ndiewugo- Obegu-Onwonwiya- Edenyeka- Ndingele road. He also attracted a Federal Skill Acquisition Center at Opefia village while securing federal jobs for more than a hundred (100) youths of the Izzi Clan and beyond, of which Mgbalukwu youths are greater in number.
"The record is available at any given time for public perusal. He has always paid School fees of indigent students that are too numerous to be mentioned through his Foundation, Ekeson And Bright(E&B) Foundation and also made it a point of duty to provide succour to the needy and downtrodden in society, especially in the area of catering for the upkeep of the sick and paying hospital bills and providing job/employment opportunities for our teaming unemployed graduates and youths.
"Comrade Ekene Nwokoro has contributed hugely, and he is one of the reasons the Mgbalukwu Community has been on the rise today, having contributed his quota in the area of community project development.
"On a similar note, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro 2020 began another political journey by starting early enough to aspire to contest for the position of a member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly to represent the good people of Izzi East Constituency in the 2023 general election but was not favoured on the premise of zoning arrangement which the government of the day introduced at that time which didn't favour his ward, Mgbalukwu ward (1) owing to the fact that someone from his ward has gone for the same position,n in the past and, it is now the turn of Mgbalukwu ward (2) who has never taken a turn.
"Going further, it may interest you to know that Comrade Ekene Nwokoro despite all of these has served in different capacities to the extent of working with the presidency in Aso Rock Psponsorsal Villa Abuja, notably, the highest office in Nigeria and also the first person from Ebonyi State to work with the Office of the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the place that he stood tall among his equals by serving as a Personal Assistant to the immis reflectedpast vice president of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the Professor of the law of evidence.
"Consequent upon the foregoing, Comr. Ekene Nwokoro has also served as Personal Assistant to the Hon. Minister of State Defence, Federal Ministry of Defence, Abuja and as Senior Special Assistant to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki ( FETHA)."
Alo expressed gratitude that Ekene Nwokoro is currently a member of the State Executive Council, which, he said, made him one of the highest political office holders in the Mgbalukwu community.
He also affirmed that "Ekene Nwokoro is synonymous with philanthropy and generosity, for one cannot cross his path without him putting a smile on such person's face at the end."
Tracing the background of his legacy projects in the grassroots background, Alo disclosed that "in 2019, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro singlehandedly graded and laterite a 20.5 Kilometer road of Opefia-Ndiewugo- Obegu-Onwonwiya- Edenyeka- Ndingele road.
"He also attracted a Federal Skill Acquisition Center at Opefia villa,ge while securing federal jobs to more than a hundred (100) youths of the Izzi Clan and beyond, of which Mgbalukwu youths are greater in number. The record is available at any given time for public perusal.
"He has always paid School fees of indigent students that are too numerous to be mentioned through his Foundation, Ekeson and Bright(E&B) Foundation and also made it a point of duty to provide succour to the needy and downtrodden in society, especially in the area of catering for the upkeep of the sick and paying hospital bills and providing job/employment opportunities for our teaming unemployed graduates and Youths.
"Comrade Ekene Nwokoro has contributed hugely and he is one of the reasons Mgbalukwu Community has been on the rise today, having contributed his quota in the area of community projects development.
"He was the highest donor for the grading of Ominyi Road, which was in its deplorable state as of then, a joint effort by some stakeholders who undertook the project after so many years of neglect by the previous Government.
"He contributed and ensured the completion of Okporo Bridge in Obegu-Onwonwiya village of Mgbalukwu Community when it was almost abandoned as a death trap for those that traversed the road to the popular Nwafia Ndenwu Market. He sunk more than seven Motorized boreholes in Obegu-Onwonwiya Village with his resources, renovated some selected primary schools and also attracted a government-owned public secondary school at Onwonwiya Community Secondary School to complement the only secondary school owned by the commonnnityityityity at Abarigwe.
"He also constructed and completed Ishumadzu bridge that connects Obegu-Onwonwiya and Ndiedegbe village successfully."
He added: "It's worthy of note to mention that Hon. Ekene Nwokoro h, as in his personal and official capacity, single-handed, secured the approval of the award for the construction of Opefia-Ndiewugo-Obegu-Onwonwiya-Edenyeka-Ndingele Road, the only Road owned by Mgbalukwu Community through His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State.
"The contractors will soon commence work in the first quarter of January 2025 by Ebonyi State Ministry of Works in collaboration with FG-RAMP-Worldwide Bank Assisted Projects Scheme."
Alo recalled that in 2017, Nwokoro held his wedding in Abakaliki, which was well-attended by people from different works of life.
The wedding according to Alo attracted the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the former Governor of River State and former Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi alongside other Nigeria political heavyweights across the 36 States who stood in as a sponsor, depicting his good relationship with high profiled individuals both home and abroad. The marriage is blessed with promising children.
Alo concluded that based on his antecedents, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro lives a life atat is laced with love, simplicity and humility which is reflected in his daily engagements with people prayed that God will continue to open His floodgates of blessings for him while keeping him in good health of mind and body to sustain his good works not only in Mgbalukwu Community but Nigeria in general.
Special guests at the event, including Engr Henry Awuregu - Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and Director General Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, Comrade Tony Nw, described the occasion as a practical reward for hard work and motivation to people to embark on humanity services, especially in community development and human empowerment.
They congratulated Nwokoro and other awardees and urged them to sustain their benevolent life, saying they could only get better, not worse while contributing towards societal development during their lifetime.
Appreciating his people, the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor, Comrade Ekene Nwokoro dedicated the award to God and his principal, Governor Francis Nwifuru, alongside his parents.
He commended Governor Nwifur, who was described as a guru in human and infrastructure development in Ebonyi State, saying he has assured urgent intervention for the deplorable roads and lack of electricity, among other challenges facing the Mgbalukwu community.
