Obidinma Isaiah O. Onyemelukwe
Ph.D (Economics) (Mich)
High Chief,
Ichie Ochimba Nanka
Obidinma Isaiah Okoli Onyemelukwe was born around 1937/8 in Nanka, Nigeria. He was brilliant. He was an institution and a library. He was a decent, kind, generous, conscientious man. He was a pillar in his community, Nanka, which he loved dearly. He was iroko in the Onyemelukwe family. He was a loving father to his four children, the best father one could ask for. He loved his wife, Rebecca, with the love every woman in the world would wish for. He was born to Ezenwaka Onyemelukwe and his wife Mgbokwu Nwonu, of the storied Onyemelukwe family of Nanka. He graduated with the highest grades from Addis Ababa University, scoring a distinction (the equivalent of First Class Honours), and a Masters’s and Ph.D. in Economics in 1977 from the University of Michigan, USA, having written his doctoral dissertation on ‘Econometric Analysis of Structural Patterns of Economic Development.’
He had postgraduate diplomas from the Institute of Social Studies at The Hague, The Netherlands, International University of Comparative Sciences, Luxembourg in 1962 obtaining a diploma in Comparative Economics. He was the recipient of the United Nations Fellowship from the United Nations African Institute for Development and Planning, Dakar, Senegal in 1966. He was the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including the African Graduate Fellowship Award of the African-American Institute, New York.
A career civil servant, he began his career at the Ministry of Economic Planning, Enugu, and rose to become a Permanent Secretary in 1988, having worked on Economic Development and Planning for the governments of Eastern Nigeria, East Central State, and later on Anambra State from 1962 up to his retirement as Permanent Secretary in 1992. Retiring in 1992, he transitioned into academia, having already been a part-time lecturer for several years at the University of Nigeria and Anambra State University of Technology. A consummate teacher, always teaching even outside the classroom. From 1992 until 2012, he lectured at various institutions of higher learning, the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where he also served as Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki where he also served as Head, Department of Economics from 1999 to 2001, and Anambra State University, Uli. He was the author of several books, including The Principles of Economics and the Basics of Macro Economics, and many published academic articles.
Throughout these years, he was actively involved in the activities of various communities he belonged to, demonstrating a commitment to building and supporting the community in myriad ways: cultural renaissance and community development in Nanka, including active participation in the development of community secondary schools at Enugwu Nanka and Agbiligba, the resolution of the chieftaincy dispute in Nanka, erosion advocacy to the government as a member of Nanka Erosion Committee, a key contributor to Nanka’s electrification project, the Chairman of the Nanka Patriotic Union’s Scholarship Committee, and a host of other issues. He has remained interested and engaged in the affairs of his beloved community, and consistently worked toward the development, peace, culture, and progress of Nanka.
An active and committed member of the Nze na Ozo society of Nanka, he took the Ozo title of “Chibugo” in 1982. For many years he was the Chairman of the Akubueze Age Grade, his age group – otu ogbo, whose meetings were held in his house. In recognition of his many services, he received various honors from Nanka. The Nanka Patriotic Union honored him as Special Guest at the New Yam Festival in 1990. Further, in recognition of his services, Nanka selected and installed him as Chief with the title “Ochimba” in 1994. In 2007, Chief Isaiah Obidinma Okoli Onyemelukwe, as a result of his contributions and services to Nanka, was elevated to membership of the Igwe’s Cabinet under His Royal Highness Igwe G N Ofomata, becoming Ichie Ochimba. With the elevation of His Royal Highness Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, Obu Nanka, Ochimba remained an active member of the Igwe’s Cabinet. The Igwe bestowed an award on him at the New Yam Festival in August 2017. In Enugu, where he lived for much of his life, he was engaged in the affairs of Nanka. Hardly ever missing a meeting, he was an active part of the administration of the Nanka Patriotic Union, Enugu Branch helping to manage finances, and working in various positions, starting with being the first Assistant Secretary in 1963. He led the performance of “Igba Opi,” the traditional dance of the Enugu Branch of the NPU for ten years.
An Old Boy of DMGS, he was an active Dengramite. A member of the DMGS Old Boys Association (DOBA), Enugu Branch, he served in various positions, including as Secretary, Financial Secretary, and later on as President.
A Rotarian, since 1984, he served in various positions, including as President of the Rotary Club of Trans-Ekulu. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Enugu at his death. Always engaged in activities in his environment, he was at one time the chief organizer of security services on various streets in Trans-Ekulu, where he had his home from 1981 till his death.
A committed Christian, who had seen God’s almighty and ever-caring fatherly hands in all the affairs of his life, he was a long-time member of the All Saints Anglican Church, Enugu. He became a lay reader in 1998. He has been the President of the Lay Readers Association at All Saints. He was for years the Chair of the Gabriel Group in the Church and was at his death a Patron of the Gabriel Group. He was also a committed member of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Enugwu-Nanka. Amongst other positions, he was the Patron of the Boy’s Brigade at his death. He was a member of Gideon’s International, helping to spread the Bible around the world. he was active in many other societies.
A dedicated family man, he was married to his love, Dr Rebecca Chiegonu Onyemelukwe, a university lecturer, and with whom he enjoyed the blessings of life and weathered the storms including for 45 years. A devoted father, he had four children with his wife Rebecca: Cheluchi, Akaoma, Blessing, and Soke (and their spouses), and six grandchildren. His family includes his sisters, Prof Jane Ogbalu (a university professor), and Mrs. Bessie Obinwa (an education administrator) and their families, and the wider Onyemelukwe of which he was the head until his death.
An Old Boy of Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha (DMGS) (1952-256), he was a proud and active Dengramite. A member of the DMGS Old Boys Association (DOBA), Enugu Branch, he served in various positions, including as Secretary, Financial Secretary, and later on as President. A Rotarian, since 1984, he served in various positions, including as President of the Rotary Club of Trans-Ekulu. He was until his death a member of the Rotary Club of Enugu. He was a Lay Reader of the Anglican Church and a member of Gideon’s International. Always engaged in activities in his environment.
He died on February 24, 2022. An old man, in the evening of his life yet still an active contributor to society, he was shot by armed men in the South-East of Nigeria on his way home to Nanka. Despite the circumstances of his death, his family is grateful for a life well lived, a joyful, feisty, tenacious, resilient life lived every single second, a life committed to doing good, an exemplary, blessing-filled life, with deep, positive, and enduring impacts on his family and all he came in contact with.
The Onyemelukwe Isaiah Obidinma Onyemelukwe Foundation is established in his cherished memory and to carry on his legacy of doing good through support for the causes and issues that were close to his heart.