Exactly 10_years we lost our Legend:
Egbema kingdom morns;
HRM (EZE) SUNNY NKEMDIRIM ANDREW UZOR
NZE-OBI I OF EGBEMA NATION
(1931-2009)
On 9th October 1931, Sunny N. A. Uzor was born at the Ogboru farm settlement of Abacheke in present Ohaji-Egbema, Imo State; to the family of Chief James and Okachanma Awoyibo Uzor.
His father must have been a rich man to be able to afford a primary education for the young Sunny at Lagos Primary School in the heart of Nigeria. He thereafter attended the Technical Institute Yaba, now Yaba Institute of Technology from 1948 to 1953, wherefore he obtained a certificate in that regard. At the Chelsa College of Aeronautics, England, he studied Aircraft Engineering and Management from 1963 to 1965. Sunny became the first Aeronautics Engineer in-charge of Boeing 707, VC-IO, Forker F-2 and DC-3 at the then Ikeja Airport (now Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos). This made him the first indigenous pilot in Nigeria; a canny record for the people of Egbema Kingdom. Earlier in 1962, he had enrolled as a member of the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers (MSLAE). With dedication to the profession he had chosen, the young Sunny rose to the position of Aviation Superintendent in the British Petroleum (BP) Company Limited Airport at Ikeja, Nigeria. He voluntarily resigned after having attained promotion to the position of Station Engineer in the Nigeria Airways.
As at the time when the sixteen Towns of Egbema were not separated, he was installed as the paramount ruler (Nze-Obi) of the entire Egbema ethnic nationality, then in Rivers State. Later on, when he disagreed with the then Rivers State Government, he ceded fourteen of the Egbema villages to the Imo State Government. Eze Uzor remained the king of that section of Egbema till his demise.
During his life time on earth, Eze Uzor fought for the materialization of the Niger Delta Region course; the struggle to achieve a better life for his people. This yielded fruitful result with the actualization of the Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC). This was partly made possible by the unfaulting agitations of the Association of traditional rulers of the Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), which the monarch co-founded with other traditional rulers in the oil and gas producing areas of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. He later held the post of Deputy National Chairman of the association.
Eze Uzor’s astute membership of several organizations was for the advancement of the course of the people of the people of all creeds, especially his kingdom. His Majesty was at a time, the Deputy National Chairman, South-East Zone Congress of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC); Chairman, Royal Circle of Traditional Rulers in Imo and Abia States of Nigeria; Chairman, Organization of African Instituted Churches. His efforts assisted to influence the creation the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC). He was appointed the first Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the ISOPADEC. Eze Uzor was a Director of the Niger Cement Company situate in Nkalagu from 1984 to 1987. Earlier in 1970, he was the Director of Pan African Bank (a Rivers State establishment) up to 1976, and also a member of the then Rivers State Interim Advisory Council for the state’s Transport Corporation.
For the king, who by his position as the custodian of the customary laws, traditions and cultures of the Egbema Kingdom of Imo and Rivers State, he did not find any stress in managing the two ends, or witness any conflicts relating to such management. His devotion to the course of advancing the Christian faith, especially the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, was admirable. Eze Uzor was very keen at exposing and promoting the culture of the Egbema people. The popular Egbema son: “Ojemba” was part of the Egbema songs and other cultural displays which the King promoted solely by his sponsorship in the early 1970s.
Before his demise on 8th August 2009, he was married to Lolo Cecilia (of blessed memory) and Ugoeze J.N. Uzor. His children include: Prince Steve, Ikenna, Onyebuchi, Ugochukwu, Princess Helen, Judy, Mrs. Gloria Elarius, Amarachi and Mrs. Chinyere V. Ezediaro.
EGBEMA WE CONTINUE TO MISS YOU HRM, EZE S.N.A UZOR JP.
EGBEMA MASSIVE MOVEMENT_E.M.M
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