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).