YOU HAVE NEVER REALLY LIVED UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO NEVER CAN REPAY YOU
——-John Bunyan.
This inspirational quote encapsulates the life of Late Mazi Ezuma Ngwu.
Mazi Ezuma Ngwu was born November 28th 1928, to Mazi Ngwuogo Okoronkwo and Elizabeth Ijeabara Ngwuogo-Okoronkwo (nee Uba), of Amuvi, Arochukwu, Abia State. He was the third son of four boys and two girls from his mother. His father was a textile merchant and his mother a housewife.
Growing up Ezuma was known as a precocious and bold boy which led to his being known by the nickname ‘UBAJE’ which stuck to adulthood. He attended primary school in Isuochi from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School and later New Bethel College, Onitsha, where he obtained the Senior Cambridge Certificate. He later secured work at the Federal Ministry Of Finance – Treasury Division, Kaduna. While working as a civil servant he studied and obtained membership of the UK Chartered Institute of Administrators and Secretaries. He served in different positions in the Federal Ministry of Finance. He rose through the ranks, with some disruption by the Nigerian civil war, but by 1971 he was appointed the Federal Pay Officer for the then East Central State. He also served in this position in the Cross River State and finally Rivers State. He retired voluntarily from the Federal Civil Service, in 1979, at age 52 after 30 years of meritorious service.
Mazi Ezuma Ngwu was exemplified by his dedication to his community. He served in different capacities in Arochukwu and Amuvi organizations. In the early 60s he served as Secretary of the old Arochukwu People’s Congress, Lagos branch. His tenure was marked by the donation of the domestic science center at Mary Slessor Secondary Technical College, Arochukwu. While serving as President of the Amuvi Welfare Union, he supervised the building of the present Amuvi Civic Center. In 1984 he built and donated the present pavilion at the Ogo square in place of the Ogwe Ogo for the relaxation of all and sundry. In 1999 he built and donated to the community, a tomb that marked the grave of Okereke Ijeukwu – one of the early industrious inhabitants of the village and his Great Grandfather.
His love for Arochukwu, and Amuvi in particular was evident throughout his life. On retirement he chose to settle in Amuvi, even though he could clearly afford to live anywhere in the world. He established one of the largest privately owned commercial farms, Ubaje Farms and Estates Ltd,, in Atani, Ihechiowa, Arochukwu LGA. His intention was to be an example for others, so that they may come back to settle in Aro. To say that he employed and found employment for many will be putting it mildly. He started finding employment for people as far back as the sixties, and by the time of his retirement in 1979, he had employed or found employment for over 100 young men and women, quite a few of whom are Amuvians. He never asked for anything in return. It is said that his benevolence in this regard touched just about every family in Amuvi directly or indirectly. The adage, ‘teach a man to fish, and he will feed for life’ comes to mind.
There is a reason the cassava specie ‘Okporo Akpu Ezuma Ngwu’ is named after him. In the late 70’s, a cassava disease decimated crop yield in Arochukwu and environs. He saw the devastation and hardship this was causing. He made enquiries and was told about a strain of cassava that was resistant to the disease. Using his influence he contacted the Federal Government Root Crop Research Center in Benin, and had that genus of cassava brought to Arochukwu. It was planted at the present site of the Amuvi Civic Center. The yield from the cassava was enormous. From there he distributed it to farmers in the area making sure that no one had to pay for it. To many he is known by the sobriquet ‘Oyere Aro Nri’. The cassava genus known as ‘Okporo Akpu Ezuma Ngwu’, is today the most popular type of cassava being planted in the Old Bende division and environs.
Mazi Ezuma Ngwu was so knowledgeable in Aro custom and tradition that he was made a member of Eze Aro advisory council. He was one of the leaders of Okennachi kindred group. There was no gathering of who is who in Aro in which his presence was not sought. Until his death, he was ‘Okpara Ikwu – Ikwu Maka Na Ibe Aka, Oriri Kama Na Ezuma Oke’. He served as a member of Arochukwu / Ohafia Land Use and Allocation Committee where he ensured that integrity and honesty was the norm. He also served as a member of Arochukwu Local Government Police Community Relations Committee.
In everything he did, he always put God first. He was an avid reader of the bible, and did his best to live his life according to the tenets of the good book. He would often tell his children to remember ‘we are put on earth to serve God’s purpose’.