Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
| Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 September 1942 Imo, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | Igbo |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Home town | Imo State, Nigeria |
| Spouse(s) |
Eudora (m. 1967; her death 2011) Frances Chinonyerem(nee Enwerem (m. 2013) |
Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (born September 4, 1942) is a Nigerian politician, statesman and renowned businessman, considered one of the richest men in Nigeria.[1]
Biography
Iwuanyanwu was born on 4 September 1942 in Atta, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State of Nigeria. He studied Civil Engineering at the University of Nigeria and thereafter worked at the Hardel and Enic Construction Company, later acquiring it from the foreign operators. His business grew into a conglomerate of over 20 companies.
He had a promising political career and at different times ran for the office of the presidency of Nigeria. However, his political career was affected by a perceived association with men of the notorious Nigerian 419 ring, including the infamous Otokoto saga. He also held several political offices for the Nigerian government, notably in sports administration and management of federal roads maintenance. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the ruling People's Democratic Party[2] and coordinated the party's campaign for the South-East zone during the 2003 Presidential election.
He founded the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which won several national and international championships.
As of March 2011 he has been the Executive Chairman and publisher of Champion Newspapers.[3]
His wife of more than 40 years, Lady Eudora Nnenna Ozinyereaku Iwuanyanwu, with whom he had three sons and five daughters, died on 28 August 2011, aged 63.[4] She was described as "a critical success factor for her husband".[5] Announcing her death, Chief Iwuanyanwu said: "As a Patron of Cancer Society, she had recently expressed great concern over the large number of deaths due to prostate cancer and all other kinds of cancer. At a recent family meeting, she convinced me to build and donate to Nigeria Ten (10) Cancer Screening and Treatment Centres, one in each of the Six Geo-Political Zones, and one in each of the 5 South-Eastern States. This was scheduled to be announced on the 4th of September, 2011. She died a week before."[6]
As of March 2011 Iwuanyanwu was the Executive Chairman of Champion Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Champion newspaper.[3]
References
- ↑ "Nigeria's Top 50 Richest Billionaires", Nairaland Forum.
- ↑ Okereke, Emma (26 April 2005). "Iwuagwu for Burial May 13". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "I'm still owner, publisher of Champion Newspapers - Iwuanyanwu". Champion Newspapers. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
- ↑ "Chief Dr.Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu mourns wife, Lady Eudora as he turns 69 today", Imo State Blog, 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Nigerian Businessman, Iwuanyanwu, Loses Wife", Nairaland Forum, 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "My Grief" by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, The Source, Vol. 29 No. 24, 3 October 2011.