BIOGRAPHY OF MAZI MARTIN OKORO
BIRTH AND EDUCATION:
Mazi Martin Nlenanya Okoro was born on 28th August 1928 at Amokwe Udi, in the present Enugu State of Nigeria. He attended Infant 11 at Government School, Udi between 1934 and 1935. He also studied Standard VI at St. Thomas School, Udi between 1936 and 1941. After that, he enrolled at the famous College of Immaculate Conception (C.I.C), Enugu where he studied for and obtained the Cambridge School Certificate Grade 1, then with exemption from London Matriculation as what obtained in those days.
After studying at C.I.C Enugu and obtaining the London Matriculation Certificate, the young Martin was offered appointment to teach at his alma mater, C.I.C. Enugu, between 1946 and 1947 because of his exceptional brilliance and conduct. In 1948, Mazi Martin Okoro enrolled to study at the Forestry School, Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma, majoring in Surveying. Between 1957 and 1959, Mazi Martin Nlenanya Okoro attended Imperial Forestry Institute of the University of Oxford, England where he obtained the Bachelor of Arts equivalent certificate in Forestry after he had been admitted into third-year Class of Honour in School of Forestry that covered and comprised studies in Botany; Forestry Pathology; Soil Ecology; Socilogy; Zoology; Forestry Economics; Survey; Forest Engineering; Forest Utilisation; Tropical Agriculture; Forest Law; and Forest Management.
Service Career:
He had held many positions in his service to Eastern Region of Nigeria and later, Imo State of Nigeria. These included Forest Assistant 1 in the Forestry Department, Eastern Region of Nigeria between 1948 and 1957. In 1968, he was promoted to Assistant Conservator of Forest 11, while studying in the University. Between 1959 and 1961, he was Provisional Forest Officer at both Abakaliki and Umuahia, and in 1962, promoted to Senior Assistant Manager in Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC) just as he was promoted Manager between 1962 and 1964, and during which time he attended short management course at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Between 1965 and 1969, Mazi Martin Okoro served as Senior Manager/Acting District Manager as he also attended another course of study at ED Centre, Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as he was also District Manager in Agricultural Development Corporation, East Central State in 1970, following the dissolution of ENDC that year.
In 1971, he was Manager, Maize/Cassava Production Centre, Obitti, in the present Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State while in 1972; he was Tree Crop Specialist in charge of ECS Ada Tree Crops Project. In 1975, he was Manager and Assistant Divisional Manager, Tree Crops in the same organization after he had attended further training in Malaysia. In 1976, Mazi Martin was appointed a member of the Governing Board of the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, on personal merit.
In 1979, Mazi M.N. Okoro was appointed Principal Manager, Imo State Agricultural Development Corporation, Nekede, Owerri, where he was in charge of Tree Crops Department of the Corporation, a position he had held until he retired in December, 1984. He had also served at Elele, in the present Rivers State of Nigeria.
Marriage and Social Life:
Mazi Martin Okoro was married to Mrs Theresa Nkem Okoro (from Emekuku, Owerri, Imo State), who is a professional teacher and a retired headmistress, and who had taught in many places. The union is blessed with children including Dr. Miriam Ijeoma Onyeador, a University of Ibadan alumnus and a London-based medic of the highest professional attainment possible (the first daughter). Mrs. Joan Chinyere Onyeador is a University of Nigeria Nsukka alumnus and a United States-based professional nurse. Ms Martina Ifeoma Okoro is UNN alumnus too who is based in Lagos, while Mrs Ebere Anyaeche had studied in London and is based there. Engr. Thomas Ikenna Okoro, the first son (Ezi Nwa Uda) is an alumnus of Enugu State University and a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Abia State. The second son, Engr Chukwuma Albert Okoro, an ESUT alumnus lives and works in London.
Service to Humanity:
Dede Martin (as he was fondly called by all who knew him) rendered most effective and remarkable, invaluable services to mankind in general and his immediate communities in particular, and had worked very hard throughout his life in helping others and using his position to give people jobs, encouraging and electing to sponsor any member of his extended family to any institution of choice provided such a person had shown interest and passed to attend such institution.
He was a very proud Aro man who was caring and most altruistic. He was the President –General of Amuvi Welfare Union from 1977-1980. He helped in a great way to rescue wounded Amuvi natives during the Biafran civil war, apart from helping to ward off external aggression of the village; he had also given many of them jobs. The ‘seeds’ he had planted in some persons’ minds have continued to germinate till today while serving at various places, particularly the Aros living in diaspora. He had fought and worked tirelessly to bring them back to Arochukwu, through empowering some of them through sponsoring them to learn trades and handiworks, etc.
Death: Mazi Martin Nlenanya Okoro transited to the great beyond in 1991 at the age of Seventy-five.