THE 6 MEN WHO BROUGHT CIVILIZATION TO ABIRIBA (PART I)

NO 1: CHIEF IKWAN ONWUKA (a.k.a IKWAN
OKPOGHO-OKPOGHO ) -1908-1991.

Chief Ikwan Onwuka Ebe was born into the family of Chief Onwuka Ebe Amadi and Madam Odunwa Onwuka of Ndi Oriri Umueso, Ameke, Abiriba in the year 1908. Being the 2nd of Five male issues. Ikwan was said to have displayed early in life attributes for which he was known all through his life on earth -peaceful,kind,philanthropic and a dogged believer of justice and fair play who abhorred injustice no matter the perpetrator.

During his youthful time, education wasn't widespread in the area. The custom was for young men to serve as "apprentice" or "Nwanta Uzu" under the tutelage of an established businessman. At a tender age,Chief Ikwan was said to have left Abiriba for Uzuakoli with his master, Chief Egwuronu Obasi (a.k.a Okwodu of Nde Ama, Ameke, Abiriba to serve his apprenticeship. He was said to have served his master for some years, learning the techniques and ethics of busines until he passed out and left for Umuahia to try his hand at his own business, armed with his natural good business instincts hightened during his tutelage ,the experience gained under his master and his belief and faith in God.

At Umuahia,young Ikwan was said to have engaged in trading and in the Obioma art for which people from this area are still well known. Married to an Mbaise lady while in Umuahia in 1942. They both formed a technically sound, morally and socially upright Christian family. Unlike the general tradition in his time and in the area where many of his friends married many wives, Chief Ikwan married only one wife with children who are well educated. He gave equal opportunities to all his children no matter the gender to develop their potentials by educating them both in Nigeria and overseas in areas for which each child has affinity.

He was said to be a hard worker ,and In business, Umuahia could no longer contain him and he left for Calabar in 1942 with his young wife. It was in Calabar that the business of Chief Ikwan Onwuka & Company became well established and grew. Amid stiff competition from Lebanese and Syrian merchants,Ikwan was said to have carried out successful busines ventures importing and selling quality textiles, stockfish, surplus goods and at the end of 2nd Wolrd War, the famous 3-legged Negro pots with the trademarks " I Onwuka" conspicuously displayed on them. It was said that UAC, JOHN HOLT etc did not find it funny with chief Ikwan in business circle at that time. He was said to hav suffered the wrath of the British government for daring to travel to Norway to import stockfish in 1949 which made his 97 Marina Raod shop ,warehouse and home in Calabar the busiest spot in calabar,not only a shop or warehouse for goods ,but the meeting place and transit home to people from all works of life.

He built the NATIONAL CINEMA in 1947, and, for over a decade was said to have had a running battle with Lebanese/Syrian proprietors of PATRICK CINEMA HOUSE also in Calabar. Dogged in his Belief that the Nigerian businessman has the right to do business in his country which led him going to court several times in a bid to see that justice was done. When the NATIONAL CINEMA proved a viable venture,he was said to have gone on to build the 1ST CINEMA HOUSE IN ONITSHA - BROADWAY CINEMA- on a piece of land leased to him by his good friend, Justice Louis Mbanefo and constructed by another good friend called Mr. Achukwu, a.k.a Achukwu Ochanja, both prominent Onitsha indigenes. Ikwan's world was said to have had no boundaries. He was said to be at home with people from all the tribes and nationalities.

In 1944, he was said to have opened a Lagos branch at 33 Balogun Street which quickly became a popular meeting place for Abiriba and other Igbo business pioneers to the city. He competed favourably with Lebanese and Indians in Lagos,and in 1950/51,Chief Ikwan dared out and opened the London branch of " I. ONWUKA & CO LTD" at 20 Copthal Avenue, London E.C and the same time bought a house at 92 Hewith Road, London N.8. Many indigent Nigerian student of the time were said to have benefited from the purchase of the house as his door was said to be open to all needy students who had accommodation and financial problems. His business was said to have taken him toTogo, Ghana, Algeria, Casablanca, Spain. Gibraltar, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Italy and Germany, a well-traveled man. Back home in Nigeria, he was reputed to have had and maintained offices and business ventures in Uzuakoli, Umuahia, Oron, Calabar, PH, Aba, Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Jos and Ibadan.

However, inspite of his business preoccupation, he never forgot his creator. He was said to have lived a simple and devoted Christian life. He was a staunch member of Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (P.C.N) in Abiriba,Calabar and Lagos but never forgot to contribute to the Abiriba Community development through his age grade and other avenues where his Christian religion allowed his.The tag, " Ikwan Okpogho-Okpogho" was said to have been given to him because, he made money and used it for mankind. Loved Abiriba and his people. He was said to be a dependable, generous and a cheerful giver who would give money,advise,accommodation and moral support whenever needed.

He is the First Abiriba man to send a friend, not a relation overseas to study, and the beneficiary is Elder Chief Echeme Emole (E. Emole) ,his bosom friend who received his full scholarships to study law in the United Kinddom. With the education received through Chief Ikwan's scholarship, E. Emole became the FIRST ABIRIBA LAWYER, FIRST LAWYER IN BENDE DIVISION AND FIRST ABIRIBA MAN TO SERVE IN BOTH NNAMDI AZIKIWE/ MICHAEL OKPARA'S EASTERN REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS.

Chief Ikwan was a foundation member of A.C.I.U along with great Abiriba sons like Orji Agwu, Lazarus Ebe Ifendu of blessed memories in 1941 in Nwanibe-Effi-Ayong. A.C.I.U was said to have taken off from Chief Ikwan's house in Calabar. He Awarded several scholarships to friends,relations and strangers even though he lacked formal education of his own. He was founding member of A.C.B Bank whose first branch office was in his house at 43 Victoria Street, now Nnamdi Azikiwe Street,Lagos for which he was a member of the Board of directors

Chief Ikwan Onwuka died on September 22nd, 1991 at the age of 83 years.