BIOGRAPHY
MAZI (EZINNA) JOSEPH O. OWUNNA
Mazi (Ezinna) Joseph Okereke Owunna was born in Amanagwu Village Arochukwu on 15th November, 1933 to Late Mazi Owunna Igwe Ijioma and Late Mrs Rebecca Nwamgbo Okoronkwo of Okoroavigbo, Amuvi Village, both in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
Little Joe as he was fondly called by families and friends then was born with a silver spoon, unfortunately, the cold hands of death did not allow him to enjoy the wealth of his father for too long before his father was mysteriously poisoned to death. His father’s death brought so much pain, agony and sorrow to Joe, his sister, Mary and their mother Rebecca. They were maltreated and tormented by his father’s kinsmen following his father’s death, but the mercies of God prevailed. A good “Samaritan” sent a distress call to his uncles, Late Dede Williams Okoronkwo and Late Dede Pius Okoronkwo. They took them from Arochukwu to Aro-Mbala Isuochi, but after a month, his mother and sister came down to Amuvi leaving little Joe under the care of his grandmother, uncles and a niece.
Little Joe started his primary Education at Mission School Aro-Mbala Isuochi. Little Joe fell from an orange tree while at Aro-Mbala, Isuochi and when news came to his mother in Arochukwu regarding this unfortunate incident, she quickly instructed his brothers to return Joe to Arochukwu.
JOE’S HOME COMING
Late Dede Pius Okoronkwo brought little Joe back to Amuvi, Arochukwu from Aro-Mbala, Isuochi on his bicycle. On sighting little Joe, there was a great joy in the air, both his mother and sister were so overwhelmed with joy, seeing little Joe come back home alive. He was received with great happiness thereby re-uniting the bond they had shared. Joe was amazed when he found out that his mother had become a super trader in stockfish, dry fish, the famous Abiriba hand-made clothe – “Aturu onye duo”.
JOE’S EDUCATION
In 1945, little Joe started his primary education in Amuvi, in the company of other Amuvi children like John Okafor, late Stephen Okereke, Okoro Okoronkwo and many others at the Presbyterian School, Obinkita, Arochukwu.
Joe was spotted as one of the most intelligent and neatest boys in the school. As a result of his neatness, he was nicknamed, ”Joe London”. Joe London was a good athlete while in school. He participated actively in football and high jump sporting events; he equally won several prizes during every Empire day celebrations.
As a young boy, Joe was a chorister under the tutorship of late Mazi Okorodike of Atani Village, Arochukwu. Although he was a member of Presbyterian Church, Joe London preferred to attend the small Catholic Church in the community, and when Mazi Okorodike noticed Joe’s absence in the choir stand on Sundays, he would get it “hot” when he gets to school the next day as they would meet at school.
Joe finally had peace on the day Late Mazi Okorodike invited him to his office to find out why he had refused coming to Presbyterian Church. Joe told him that he found his peace with the Catholic Church. Fortunately for little Joe, he was never punished again by late Okorodike for attending the Catholic Church.
Little Joe graduated in 1955 in a flying colours, he was offered admission for a Teachers’ Training Programme in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, but he bluntly refused the offer. His reason for refusing to become a teacher was that his Brother-in-law, Chief Arisa Ukpabi, who married his sister, Mary, dresses more stylishly than most teachers whom he came in contact with.
Joe nursed keen interest in working in a company just like his brother-in-law, Chief Arisa Ukpabi. He finally joined his brother in-law at Paterson and Zochonis (PZ), Nwaniba, as a produce agent. Joe did exceptionally well while working in PZ such that by 1963, being only 27 years old, he came back to Amuvi to build the edifice where he has lived since then till today with his family.
By 1964, his mother urged him to resign in respect to the on-coming Biafra war (The Nigerian Civil War). In obedience to his mother’s wish, Joe left PZ Company and came back home. He got another job with the Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation (ENDC) with the influence of his amiable mentor, late Dede P.M Igboko. At the end of the Nigeria civil war, Joe resigned from ENDC and established his own business career in Timber supplies, Food stuff supplies to the Nigerian Prisons Service Arochukwu. He was also a registered building contractor in both Imo and Abia states. Finally he went into properties and rentals businesses.
THE CHURCH
The St. Thomas Catholic Church Amuvi was started in one of the Amuvi Primary School classrooms. The numbers of the parishioners then were about twenty (20) of which Joe and late Mr. Joseph Anabanti were part of. Joe who was the then choirmaster also doubled as the lay reader and the Church Clerk.
He was among the four persons saddled with the responsibility of purchasing a church land for today’s St. Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi. His house served as a place of residence for most of the Seminarians sent on apostolic work to the Parish from all works of life.
Joe has served as the chairman of Catholic Men Organisation (C.M.O) both in St. Theresa’s Parish Amankwu and St. Thomas Parish, Amuvi respectively and presently he is their patrons. In recognition of his numerous contributions to the church within and outside Arochukwu, in 2003, he was conferred with the prestigious EZINNA Award at Umuahia, by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, His Lordship Rev. Dr. L.I. Ugorji.
POLITICS
Joe played important political roles in Arochukwu and beyond. He was one of the bulldozers in politics during his active involvement in politics. He was the campaign manager to Late Dr. Nwakanma Okoro in his political quest to become the Governor of old Imo State, under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He equally served under National Republican Convention (NRC) as Chairman of Arochukwu Ward 3.
COMMUNITY
Joe has contributed immensely to the growth and development of his community. He was the Treasurer of Amuvi Welfare Union –Home branch for many years. He was a volunteer member to boundary dispute settlement meetings between Amuvi and its neighbours from Akwa Ibom State. On several occasions Mazi Joe Owunna used his personal vehicle to convey fellow volunteers to such meeting venues. He was a member of the committee saddled with the task of peace resolution between Amuvi and Uburu-ihe. He was the chairman of the Elders Forum in Amuvi, Arochukwu.
Finally, these efforts wouldn’t have been possible without the wonderful support he received from his industrious wife, Mrs Juliana Owunna and his lovely children who have become his partners in all his endeavours.