By Pastor Oguejiofor Agbo
This is another special day to say happy birthday to His Excellency, Chief Senator (Dr) Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, Anyanwu n’awara oha 1 of Nkanu, who is, no doubt, the foremost elder statesman east of the Niger.
It is another opportunity to celebrate a man of destiny and vision, whose success story motivates and inspires people to greatness, in this special day of his 85th birthday.
Jim Nwobodo is a political colossus, a great political son of the great Zik of Africa, a timeless, quintessential and iconic leader cum father, whose positive foot marks are strongly printed on the sands of the old Anambra State ( now Anambra, Enugu and some parts of Ebonyi States) and on the Nigerian political landscape.
Jim Nwobodo is not just a name. Jim Nwobodo is also an institution of political discipleship and mentorship. Ever since he came to political power as the first Executive Governor of the old Anambra State in 1979 he has continued to raise people to various positions of political leadership even to this time. He is the timeless father and leader of Enugu politics.
Apart from the great Zik, no one has ever enjoyed massive and organic political followership from time to time in Enugu like Jim Nwobodo.
Jim, as he is fondly called by all, is commonly referred to as the first son of Wawa land ( which comprises of Enugu and some parts of Ebonyi States) especially as he is the first light to shine forth from that region.
His rising and journey to stardom have greatly inspired and reshaped the minds of many people, especially those of Wawa extraction, to aim higher in life not minding their background.
Jim had a humble beginning. A native of Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, he was born on the 9th of May, 1940 in Agyaragu, Lafia, now in Nasarawa State, where his parents, late Peter and Susan Nwobodo had resided.
He had his early education in Lafia and completed his secondary education in Awka, Anambra State, in 1956.
He later obtained his teachers certificate from St. Peter’s College, Zaria in 1959. He also attended the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan from where he obtained the Advanced Level (commonly called A level) result. He later got admission to the then University College, Ibadan and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of
Arts ( Honors) degree in English. As a student he was a very active member of the Students’ Union having served as the National Secretary. He was also the only African executive member of the World University Service at the organisation’s convention in America.
After completing his university education he was employed as a teacher in the prestigious King’s College, Lagos in 1964. In 1966 he got another job with Shell BP as Personnel Development Manager.
Jim was also a successful businessman. After the civil war in 1970, at a very young age, he established Links Group International Limited which was a leading company in Pharmaceuticals, Scientific Equipment supplies and others. He was very successful that he became a multi millionaire in his twenties. He was also a sports lover and philanthropist. He was the chairman of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu from 1975 to 1979 during which he greatly motivated the team to win the African Cup Winners Cup ( now Nelson Mandela Cup).
The young Jim ventured into politics in 1978 under the mentorship of the great Zik of Africa, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha, who was the leader of the defunct Nigerian People’s Party (NPP).
He contested for the position of the governor of the old Anambra State under the platform of the NPP and won. And in 1st October 1979 he was sworn in as the first Executive Governor of the old Anambra State at a very young age of 39. As the governor of the old Anambra State he was faced with the challenge of rebuilding the war torn state. He did so much in the state in just one tenure to earn him the adoration of the people of the state.
Jim is a man of great vision. He established the then Anambra State University of Science and Technology ( ASUTECH), Enugu, which was the first Nigerian University of Science and Technology. The University, with a multi campus structure, had the main campus in Enugu and other campuses in Awka and Abakaliki which later provided the framework for the establishment of three other universities after state creation, and they are Enugu State University of Science and Technology ( ESUT), Enugu ; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Ebonyi State University,
Abakaliki respectively.
This has made it easy for many young people of the old Anambra State, both then and now, to obtain University education. His administration also embarked on a massive Rural Electrification Project with the vision of lighting up every community in the state. Through the project electric poles and cables were installed in almost every community in the state before the end of his tenure in 1983. Due to Jim’s business acumen there was great industrial revolution in the state which resulted in massive job creation and economic boom during his tenure.
The projects established by his administration in the state included the following :
*The Ikenga Hotels at Awka and Nsukka.
*The Greater Onitsha Water Scheme financed by the world bank.
* The Greater Enugu Water Project.
* The Abakaliki Water Scheme.
* The Flour Mills, Emene.
* The Nike Lake Resort.
* The Aluminium Products Factory at Ogbede in Igbo Etiti.
* The Building Materials Factory at Ezillo.
* The Metallugical Factory, Ozubulu.
* Specialist Hospital in Abakaliki.
* The Anambra State Television channel 5 – 0.
* The Anambra State Road Safety Corps.
* Establishment of functional health centres in almost all the
communities in the state.
* The Anambra Vegetable Oil Processing Company, ( AVOP), Nachi.
* The construction of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium started during his administration.
He also built the Anglican church in his community, Amechi, Awkunanaw.
His administration also did very well in agriculture. He established a Ministry of Food Production and also launched the Food for the People Program. His administration also introduced Community Farms and Agro – services Centres in rural communities. His achievements as the governor of the old Anambra State are too many to be mentioned here.
Most of these projects are still existing and the various states that made up the old Anambra State are still enjoying them till date. He was a member of the Constitutional Conference convened by the then General Sani Abacha military regime in which he served as the chairman, publicity committe.
Jim was later appointed Minister of Youths and Sports by the Abacha government. He led the Nigerian dream team to the Olympic games in Atlanta, USA, in 1996 during which the Nigerian Under 23 Football Team captained by Nwankwo Kanu defeated Brazil and Argentina, among others, to win the Olympic gold medal.
In 1999 he was elected into the Nigerian Senate under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) as the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial district in the National Assembly. He was the chairman Senate committee on internal affairs. In 2003 he contested for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the UNPP ( United Nigeria People’s Party).
He has continued to play the role of a father in his home state, Enugu and across Igbo land and Nigeria even at his present age. When there was heavy protest and disagreements in Enugu after the 2023 gubernatorial election he intervened by approaching the protesters and appealed to them to be calm and wait for the final result from the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC). Even today, at eighty five, Jim is still strong and active as a father, leader and nationalist. He understands the game of politics and plays it smartly to the admiration of so many people.
Jim is happily married to his lovely and amiable wife, Chief ( Dr) Mrs Pat Nwobodo ( Obidiya), a woman with a good heart and a renowned financial expert.
Jim is also a loving father to his children. We are happy and very grateful to God for keeping him for us.
Today, I feel delighted to join many others to say happy birthday to our father, Chief Jim Nwobodo.
Written by Pastor Oguejiofor Agbo, from Obeagu, Awkunanaw, Enugu.
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