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Day dignitaries bid farewell to insurance guru, Prof Joe Irukwu
From Peter Okore, Umuahia
The remains of late Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu, who died July this year at the age of 89, were committed to mother earth last Saturday, 21/10/23 at his country-home Amokwe-Item, Bende Local Government Area of Abia state, after an inter-denominational church service.
Irukwu’s virtues were generously captured in series of tributes and eulogies from dignitaries across Nigeria and beyond. The people of Item-Okpii, in their traditional attires, dances and displays, demonstrated the love for one of theirs, the traditional farewell rites in grand style.
Until his demise, late Professor Irukwu was a legal luminary, doyen of Insurance and Re-Insurance in Nigeria and Africa; a one-time President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, a seasoned Administrator and an illustrious Igbo son.
The event, which could be described as an assemblage of a cream of who- is- who in Nigeria, the Insurance and Nigeria Re-Insurance Industry, titans of industry as well as the entire Igbo Nation, from home and in the Diaspora; all expressing their impressions about late Irukwu in various forms.
Some of the dignitaries at the scene included Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti, former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Chief Emmanuel Udom, former Imo state military administrator and later former senator representing Abia- north senatorial district in the National Assembly, Gen. O.S. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Senator currently representing Abia-South in the National Assembly, Enyinnaya Abaribe, former Senate President, Adolf Wabara, President-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and other chieftains of Ohaneze functionaries and former governorship candidate in Rivers State, Mr. Tonye Cole well as distinguished sons and daughters of Item-land; including a former Director-general of Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), Arunma Oteh.
Speaking during the Church service held at Jane Egbichi Oteh Mini- stadium, Amokwe Itembia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti appreciated the impactful contributions and enduring legacies of late Prof. Irukwu.
He expressed shock at the untimely departure of Prof Irukwu and highlighted the desire of Irukwu to see positive change in Abia., but regretted that it was tragically cut short by his pasing away just one month after the emergence of the present administration on May, 29, 2023..
Otti acknowledged the significant achievements of late Irukwu in various fields of human endeavours, especially in the areas of Insurance, Law and leadership within Ohaneze, but pointed out that the most profound accomplishment of professor Irukwu was his devotion to the Christian faith.
His words: “ I can tell you that the departure of De- Ogbo, got to me with some kind of shock ; not because I expected that he would be here for ever; but at 90, with the kind of good health that God blessed him with , the kind of effort he made to see a change in Abia ,for a long I thought he would be here for a longer-while. I encourage you, the living, to embrace Christ. If you believe that you have achieved great success in life, but have neglected to sit and pray to God; it is time to reconsider your priorities.”
The governor expressed hope that Joe Irukwu will rise again on the Resurrection morning alongside all those who had devoted their lives to Christ; saying that life and death are in the hands of God. He urged the bereaved family of Irukwu to bear the loss with fortitude.
In his own tribute, the former president-general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Gary Igariwe, on behalf of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group described late Irukwu as an exceptional leader, who distinguished himself in service and prayed God to console the family Irukwu left behind.
In his own, the President-general of Item Development Association, Sir Onwuka Orji attested that the late Irukwu trained and mentored many Item professionals and captains of Industry, who are excelling all over the world, saying that Irukwu’s passage has created a deep vacuum in Item-land and Nigeria as a whole.
In a brief response, a grandson of the deceased, Master Tobe Irukwu described their grandfather as a strong and caring man, who loved his family very well, pointing out that the deceased will be missed by all.
