Although unassuming, Chima Uzoma Onyekwere, OON,
has a lot of caps that fits him and in fact facilitated and participated in
most organizational enterprise; he dares where others refuse to set a foot.
From technology pioneering to core business, Chima Onyekwere cannot be missed
in the midst of industry players.
Elder (Chief) Chima Uzoma Onyekwere, hails from Amachara in Umuahia
South Local Government of Abia State and was born in 1961 in London. He
obtained a degree from University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. A
Masters in Information Technology- Information Assurance from University of
Maryland University College (UMUC) in United States. A post graduate
professional management education for Chief Executives from Lagos Business
School Lagos State and Harvard Business School, Boston USA.
He started his working
career in Mobil in the Exploration Department. But driven by his quest to
explore the emerging opportunities in the nascent Information Technology industry
he established and ran SAAP-Tech Nigeria Limited in 1986.
As a born innovator, Chima
as fondly called by close allies, championed the internet revolution in Nigeria
by establishing the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) company Linkserve Limited, which earned him
the sobriquet “Father of Nigerian
Internet” by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as cited during his
conferment in 2008 as the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON). He also received
the Pathfinder Award in ICT, ICT personality of the year, Titan of Technology
and so many other industry awards over a 30-year career.
He has also funded
other companies such as, Well Drill Limited and Parkhill Limited which has
provided employment and stability to lots of Nigerians from across the Nigerian
landscape.
In 2007, he was
nominated for the conferment of a National Award by the Presidency for his
pioneering work in ICT. On February 14th 2008, then President and Commander in
Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Musa Yar’Adua honoured Chief
Onyekwere with the prestigious ‘Officer of the Order of Niger (OON).’
Chima has served and
is still serving Nigeria in so many high-profile capacities such as the chairman
Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria and chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT)
of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA). Even as a pioneer board
member of FATE Foundation; a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by
Fola Adeola, Chief Onyekwere was involved in the development of entrepreneurs
focusing on younger generation, as well as a former President-General of his
elite school Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association.
Chief Onyekwere moved
back to Amachara, Umuahia in 2011, to continue engagement in community
development from his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. A move that saw him experience,
first hand, the poor level of all developmental milestones in the lives of our
people. Haunted by the observance of lack of basic infrastructure, frightening
figures of unemployment, lack of primary skill sets, abysmal education and
rampaging hunger amongst his people, Chima chose to cast his lot in service to
the people at the most primary level by accepting the honor of community service
to his village, Amachara as President-General (PG), a position he has held for
5 years running and which has served as a platform for better understanding the
most needful requirements of his people.
With his team, Onyekwere
resolved several nagging communal disputes: land, commerce, agricultural
practices and other major matters of interest. He championed the now acclaimed Amachara Day which is in its 5th year
and waxing stronger, and currently stands as an annual unification event for
Amachara citizens in Nigeria and the diaspora and also a veritable tool for
community development.
In alliance with other
community leaders, Chief Onyekwere started a daily free clinic for children and
the elderly, located and optimally functional within the precincts of the Amachara
community Civic center; caring for society's most vulnerable population. He went
on to partner and endowed several empowerment programmes, where skill set
acquisition is key, taking to heart the Chinese adage that says "it is
better to teach a man to catch fish than to give him fish".
He also assisted in acquisition
of tools and machinery for trainees and various others to enable them have a
head start, just as he helped several young and aspiring business men through
funding and logistics, in addition to engaged others to help with business
incubation requisites, and provided scholarship schemes to the indigent and
financial succor to the widows.
ITRealms gathered reliably, that it was
in the course of his role as community leader that he suffered gunshot attacks
as a result of his resolve to defend the oppressed, but was never deterred on a
course he was determined to pursue in the service of humanity.
Chief Onyekwere is an active
member of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), a political party deeply
rooted in the South-East and Abia State particularly, whereas serving as the
Deputy State Chairman of the party.
An ordained Elder and
a Qualified Lay Preacher in Methodist Church, Chief Onyekwere is presently serving
as the church Steward for English Service at the St Stephen Cathedral Amachara
in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State.
Chima Onyekwere was on
December 26th 2017, within the hallowed grounds of Ama-Ukwu, Amachara, conferred
with the traditional chieftaincy title of Iyi Udo Amachara (River of Peace), by
Amachara Elders Council, for his sterling qualities of remarkable leadership.
This is the first time ever of such a conferment with all the elders in the
community endorsing. His citation acknowledged his love for peace, leadership
competency and ability to draw development and transformation to his community.
ITRealms also gathered that Iyi Udo
Amachara is an amazing family man, husband and father to five accomplished now
independent children one of whom is Nigeria's representative in shot-put and
discuss. He's a celebrated business man, a role model, a proven community
servant and leader, an outstanding trailblazer whose skills, courage, depth,
vision and reach are needful for these times.
Today, May 19, as you
mark another divine year of service to humanity; a desire you wish to take to
the Nigerian Senate towards bringing the required reform into the public
service and stimulating entrepreneurship in the country. We join other lovers
of positive change to say may this love for public service be a stepping stone
of good omen that you offers.
Happy birthday Iyi Udo,
Chima Onyekwere and may the stream from river of peace continue to flourish as the
Iyi-Udo 2019 project kicks-off.
Remmy Nweke/GEE
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