Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed sorrow at the passing of the organization’s former president-general, Prof. Joe Irukwu.
In a statement released on Sunday in Enugu by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Chiedozie Ogbonnia, the Igbo sociocultural organisation expressed its sorrow.
“Ohaneze received with rude shock the sad news of the passing of one of our brightest, an accomplished legal luminary, moral edifice, insurance and risk management wizard, erudite scholar of world renown, Igbo leader and former President General of Ohanaeze Prof. Joe Irukwu”, he said
He stated that Irukwu was elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2003 and served honourably until his retirement in 2007.
According to Ogbonnia, Irukwu brought colour, beauty, zest, a robust mind, and panache to the Igbo umbrella socio-cultural organisation throughout his term.
“One of his works- Nation Building and Ethnic Organization: A Case Study of Ohanaeze in Nigeria, published by Spectrum, is an intellectual Magnus opus that fascinated the scholarly community in 2007 as one of the best sellers.
“Before the expiration of his tenure, Irukwu led other Igbo leaders to commission a multi-million naira complex comprising of a 1,500-seater auditorium, library and conference room which he built single-handedly”.
“This was part of his own legacy to the Igbo man’s quest for equitable recognition and accommodation in the Nigerian polity,” he said.
Recall that Irukwu’s death was announced by his kinsman, Prince Harrison Okorie, the President-General, Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, on Saturday in Enugu.
