BIOGRAPHY
MAZI (ARC) CHRISTIAN OGBONNIA NWAFOR
Introduction:
How can one be brief and provide a “full account” of someone whose life history can be written in volumes? And what is more, with the constraints of time, stirred-up emotions resulting from a peek into the past and print space, the account that will be provided here will at best be grossly insufficient. Please bear with us as we struggle to condense many chapters of the history of an illustrious Amuvi son into a couple of pages.
Early Childhood:
He was born at Amokwe near Udi on the 1st of September 1927. Before the little baby could crawl, he was taken to live at Eke where his father domiciled and was working in the service of the famous Chief Onyeama of Eke. An interesting story told by his mother was how on one horrid night hired vandals set his father’s transport lorry and the house on fire. No lives were lost. The Devine Providence had important plans for him. His mother and a toddler, little Eric, and with the little baby Christian were consequently moved to Enugu.
Education:
He started school at St Brigid’s, Enugu until he passed Elementary Standard One. From Enugu, he was sent to Port Harcourt where under the fatherly and caring wings of Mazi F.C Onyeador, of blessed memories, he completed his Elementary School Education at St Mary’s School at the age of 14.
In January 1942, he was admitted into a newly founded Secondary School, the College of the Immaculate Conception, (C.I.C) Enugu. The “College” at the time was just a leased room in the St. Patrick’s Elementary School Coal Camp Enugu. He was a day student and attended school from his parents’ home at 40 Moore House Street, Ogui. Without the luxury of basic bicycle, he trekked the distance to and fro six times a week. He graduated in 1945 and obtained his Cambridge School Certificate with Grade 1.
Working Life:
His working life started almost immediately after finishing the secondary school. He did not have to look even one day for a job. He was immediately engaged to teach Biology at C .I.C. Other illustrious sons of Amuvi his brother Late Mazi Michael Ezenwa Nwafor and Late Mazi Pius Igboko, later joined him.
In 1949, he was admitted to the Yaba Technical Institute where he obtained a Diploma in Architecture in 1952. The same year he won a scholarship to Northern Polytechnic London. He graduated in 1958 with a Diploma in Architecture. He became an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Professional Life:
On his return from the UK in 1958 he joined the Federal Government of Nigeria and attained the grade of Senior Architect and Acting Chief Architect. He handled very key projects such as Health Centers for Lagos, ICAO Civil Aviation Training School in Zaria, Military Projects including various types of military buildings as well as numerous others. After the war from 1970-1974, he was made the Chief Architect for the East Central State of Nigeria. He had overall control of the Building Branch of the Ministry of Works and Housing. He retired from active duty and established an Architectural Consultancy – CON Associates and Landscape Designers.
Family Life:
In 1957 he was married to late Augustina Ogbonnie Mgbeahuruike and together, after a bout of childbirth difficulties, they had three off springs, Anyamene, late Agodi and Ogbonnia. He had more than his share in the loss of his immediate family members. To bury his children at birth, to bury a wife in her prime and to bury a youthful daughter, can cumulatively take a toll on any individual. For Mazi Christian, the impact was clearly discernible at the later stages of his life. In his quiet moments with this writer, he never ceased to regurgitate these past sad events and that would weigh him down.
Community Life
It could be rightly said that he lived for his community and was the kind of individual that would bend backwards even against all odds to effect a difference on the lives of his people. Let us take a wide sweep.
He was in love with our people at Aguobu Owa – a settlement for Ukwu Umenta family. This settlement is very compact in fact so compact that one could complete a round of visits of all the homes within a couple of hours. On his first visit he was treated like a celebrity and ate all the corn from the farm, as much as he could. He had a record as an insatiable corn eater. That first visit for a couple days ended up lasting longer and he “reluctantly” left on the twelfth day only because school was reopening. That experience was a trigger for the genealogy research. He wanted to trace more of his roots.
Leadership Roles
He initiated and influenced the employment and training of our younger generation. He was the founding member and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.
As a Family Builder and Peacemaker, Mazi Christian Ogbonnia Nwafor was an institution by himself. His views and opinions were mostly sought and respected. Unquestionably, he had a stand on the issues. Though, there could be dissenting views but there was never a doubt where he stood on issues.
As a Genealogist, he fulfilled a pre- Nigeria’s Independence burning passion to trace not only his “Roots” but also those off all families that constitute Amuvi. He left behind a wealth of information, and invaluable database that will serve as a reference material for years to come. He will be very well remembered for his efforts in this area.