News
How Anambra Teacher Became a Billionaire
Joseph Ozoemene Nwankwu was born in 1928 in Orofia Village, Abagana. He attended St. Mark’s Catholic School, Abagana from 1936 to 1940, and later proceeded to St. Raphael’s Catholic School, Awkuzu and St. Bonaventure’s Catholic School, Nimo.
His parents wanted him to become a teacher, but as a visionary, he had his sights set on a bigger endeavor. He worked as a teacher for only three months before resigning from the teaching profession to establish his own business.
He registered his construction company, J. Nwankwu and Bros Limited, which became a renowned player in civil engineering and building contracting. He was one of the biggest contractors in the old Anambra State.
With the wealth he accumulated from government contracts, Sir Joe Nwankwu diversified into numerous other businesses. He founded Olympic, a conglomerate that was unique in its own right. His products from the Olympic Drinks Company Limited became fierce competitors of Coca-Cola across Nigeria. He also established Olympic Packers Limited, the leading corrugated carton industry east of the Niger River, which also housed the section that produced plastic crates for Olympic Drinks.
At the peak of his industrial prowess, he organized a solo trade exhibition/trade fair to showcase all his products, wowing visitors with the diverse range of unique products under his umbrella.
Some of his other subsidiaries and business interests included J. Nwankwu Estate Company Limited, Jojolan Enterprises Limited, Whessoe Engineering Limited, Diamond Breweries Limited, Stena Mills Limited, Life Breweries Limited, Petrogas Limited, Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMCO), Agip Energy, Olympic Maize Milling Industry Limited, Olympic Technical Works and Foundry, and Orient Bank of Nigeria Limited in Enugu.
Sir Joe Nwankwu was also a Patron and Honorary member of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Anambra State Chapter; a Council member of Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Afikpo; and a member of the British Institute of Management.
In recognition of his achievements, he was decorated as a Knight Commander of St. Sylvester (Papal Honorary Award) in 1974 and as the largest employer of Labour, named the Anambra State Industrialist of the Year in 1987.
On the political front, Sir Joe Nwankwu’s involvement included being a member of the Njikoka Country Council, the Onitsha Provincial Assembly, and the House of Representatives in 1965. He also served as the Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Anambra State Wing.
Beyond business and politics, he was actively involved in community activities, serving as the Chairman of the Onitsha Provincial Scholarship Board, Chairman, Onitsha Football Association, Chairman, University of Nigeria Endowment Fund (Onitsha Zone),Chairman, Board of Governors of St. Charles’s Teachers Training College, Chairman, Onitsha Urban County Council, and Member, the Nigerian Grains Board. He was also a Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and a member of the Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Sir Joe Nwankwu’s achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including the title of Onwanetilora of Abagana and Ide Ji Mba of Orlu, as well as the Spirit of Detroit Award (1974) and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Hon. DBA) from Kenton University, Singapore (1987).
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.
Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The beneficiaries, whom he described as poor and vulnerable Nigerians, were largely unable to participate in public discussions about government policies because they lacked access to phones, television and social media.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he said.
Yilwatda also criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his position on the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.
“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind.
“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”
The APC chairman also argued that a return to fuel subsidy would affect the government’s student loan scheme and other projects.
“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he said.
Yilwatda further accused Atiku of seeking to reverse the gains of the Tinubu administration in pursuit of the presidency, saying the APC and Nigerians would not accept such a move.
The APC chairman said the NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.
According to him, the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He said the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has opened up on the joys and challenges of being married to the traditional ruler, saying she takes pride in seeing people celebrate his achievements.
Ivie spoke in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin, where she discussed life as the wife of the monarch and the demands that come with his position.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about the marriage is watching people appreciate her husband’s personality and achievements.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she said.
“And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more. I dey extremely proud of am as a human being, and to see that they also appreciate am dey give me much joy.”
However, Ivie admitted that the Olu’s responsibilities can sometimes make it difficult for her to have enough time with him.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said.
“Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
She said they were learning to adjust to the demands of his position.
“And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she added.
The interviewer also asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his position on polygamy, having previously said he was not open to it.
Ivie dismissed the possibility, insisting that she was confident her husband would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said.
“Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 74,000-capacity stadium, became a house of worship on Saturday as Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference, drawing believers from across Britain and beyond.
Hosted by Streams of Joy International, the conference brought together believers from across the United Kingdom and around the world for prayer, worship and fellowship.
Worshippers at the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference held at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. Photo: X / @AgborMoses34
Admission to the event was free, though attendees were encouraged to register in advance as places were limited.
Despite that, demand reportedly outstripped availability, with some social media users claiming the event was fully booked and turning to TikTok in the days leading up to the conference in search of spare tickets.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
The gathering featured several well-known gospel ministers alongside Eze, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
(Credit: Saturday PUNCH)
10m beneficiaries of cash transfers don’t have phones, not on social media – APC Chairman
‘I’m like three women’ — Ivie Atuwatse rules out polygamy for Olu of Warri
My ex-husband always wanted threesome – US-based Nurse Sugar alleges
-
News15 hours agoTinubu’s tough decisions are already yielding fruits, Yari will deliver on assignment -TSTA
-
Politics15 hours agoBefore dreaming of Aso Villa, APM should first find its feet-Ali Campaign Organization
-
News15 hours agoEFCC nabs City Boy Movement woman leader
-
News15 hours agoPDP group slams Zamfara Governor for attacking Wike, hails FCT Minister’s nationalistic position
-
News14 hours agoSAD: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s mother is dead
-
News9 hours agoHouse of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
You must be logged in to post a comment Login