By Obinna F. Nwachukwu
Nigerians of all walks of life are today celebrating the living legacies of Prince, Engr. Dr. Arthur Eze , OFR (Ebube Ukpo, Ozoigbondu) who is 76 years old today. His platinum birthday was celebrated last year in Awka by the government and people of Anambra State
Prince Arthur Eze OFR was born on the 25th of November 1948 into the Ukpo Traditional Royalty, Dunukofia Kingdom, Dunukofia LGA, in Anambra State, Nigeria. He is popularly known as ‘Prince Arthur Eze’ because he is from a royal family, and his elder brother is the traditional ruler (King) of Ukpo Village.
He attended St. Augustine Secondary School in Nkwere, Imo State in 1970. After his secondary education, he then went to California State University, Long Beach, California to study mechanical and chemical engineering from 1974 to 1978.
Prince Arthur Eze is a Nigerian businessman and the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, reputed to be the largest privately-owned petroleum exploration and production company in Nigeria.
His philanthropy touches every sphere of human endeavour in his home town Ukpo, Dunukofia as well as in Nigeria and beyond.
He was pivotal to the creation of Dunukofia Local Government, as well as the siting of the headquarters at Ukpo and the Police Zonal Headquarters also in Ukpo
Prince Athur Eze has used his massive investments in the oil and gas sector to contribute to the development of the economy of the state, country and the continent of Africa.
Arthur Eze is a Nigerian oil mogul, philanthropist, and politician. The Igbos call him, ‘Ozoigbondu’ of Igboland and he is said to be the 8th wealthiest man in Africa.
He is currently the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Peaceland University Enugu, Enugu State and AZMAN University, Kano and Chancellor of Ebonyi State University..
Atlas Oranto Petroleum.
In 1991, Prince Arthur Eze founded Atlas Oranto Petroleum, which has grown to become a significant player in the oil and gas industry across Africa. It is also Nigeria’s largest privately held, Africa-focused oil exploration and production company.
Atlas Oranto oil prides itself as an oil and gas exploration company with 22 oil and gas licences in 12 jurisdictions across the African continent with oil and gas assets in Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Liberia. The company’s technical base is situated in Lagos while its corporate headquarters is located in Nigeria’s federal capital Abuja.
The chairman chose Abuja as its headquarters so that the management of the company can have direct access to African policy-makers in the region. The Eze family has ownership of the company’s stock and all the shareholders are involved in the company’s operations.
Arthur Eze established Triax airlines in the year 1992, after the deregulation of airline operations in Nigeria. The airline’s base was the Enugu Airport. Triax airline had three B727s until it stopped operations in the year 2000.
Philanthropic Activities.
Prince Arthur Eze is a man that gives in both millions and billions without any expectations whatsoever. Even as he gives freely, he still has more than enough to give from his reservoir of wealth. Even though we cannot ascertain his net worth. He is estimated to worth over $10.8 billion. Available records show that Prince has spent billions of naira on charitable activities in various parts of Nigeria and the African continent. Some of his philanthropic gestures include but not limited to the following:
· He donated $12 million for the construction of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria in 2013.
· Arthur Eze donated $800,000 for the construction of two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in central South Sudan.
· N10 million naira donated to the elderly people of the Ukpo community.
· The Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), received the sum of N5 million for a standard sickle cell clinic at the Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State.
· He was part of those that contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgencies, of which he donated the sum of $800,000 at a fundraiser in Abuja.
· Arthur Eze gave N25 million naira of the total funds raised for the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup in 2018.
· Eze donated $6.3-million to the flood relief efforts in Nigeria in the year 2013.
· A church in Abagana community benefited from his cheerful giving as he gave them the sum of 20 million naira for musical instruments and renovations in 2015.
· Arthur singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
· He modernized the local market near the Ukpo palace and also created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighbouring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana.
· Arthur constructed the overhead bridge in Ebonyi State with his funds, without asking for government intervention.
Awards and Recognitions.
· Patron of Ndigbo Lagos’ and adoption into the Ndigbo Lagos Patron Hall of Fame at his 70th birthday.
· The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Umahi, named a major road after Arthur Eze, and also appointed him as the Chancellor of Ebonyi State University.
· Former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred him with the distinguished award of the ‘Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)’ in recognition of his contribution towards the development of the nation’s economy and humanitarian gesture to the Nigerian people at an event in Abuja on the 14th of November 2011.
· Enugu City Centre Rotary District 9142 named him “Outstanding Citizen of the World” in 2015.
· The Zik Prize in leadership awards honoured him with the ‘Zik Leadership Awards’ in the business category in 2018.
· Africa Value Award’ by Value Reorientation and Developmental Initiative Africa (VARDIAFRICA) in 2018.
Marriage: He is married and blessed with children. One of his children, Onyeka Eze, is the founder and president of Prince Osisioma Foundation.
Tributes
Prince Arthur Eze @76. What people say
Mr. Odutayo Ayodeji Olumoroti (Ekiti)
I just came to know of Chief Prince Arthur Eze. May God continue to bless you with long life and good health.
2. Chief Ifeanyi Okonkwo ( Anambra):
Prince Arthur Eze, you are a good man and generosity personified and indeed your wealth of power has sustained so many homes who are your regular benefactors. May God of hope uphold and grant you good health and long life. Amen
Mr. Obioma Eke :
Eze ndi Igbo I wish you long life and prosperity, keep on your good works , may God continue to bless you permanently. Amen.
Dr. Williams Onyegbadue
What a man! May God continue to bless you in all your endeavors. Aka oma jide aku.
Mrs. Rose Okwe ( Makurdi)
Oh wow. Just got to know about him after someone mentioned him on Twitter. Such a great man.
Mr. Ekene Nkwede:
Godfather Ozoo igbo ndu. May God continue to bless u more and more. One in the Lord.
Onu Romanus Ossi (Abuja)
Prince Authur Eze He is a man who loves to help and to bring solutions to problems he meets in his ways. The generous man who gives without discrimination or boundary. He’s a blessing to the entire black race, and to the world in general. May God almighty protect you and your family in Jesus’s name.
Hon. Iyke ibekwe (Okigwe)
He is really a God sent to help the poor masses, I wish I will be favoured from him
VITUS ODUOFOR ( Asaba)
Prince Authur Eze as you keep on helping people may the almighty God give you more life and prosperity amen.
Gabriel Osaro (Benin)
His success story is truly an inspiration to the upcoming entrepreneurs.
Udeh Juliet (Nsukka):
Thanks for the good works you have been doing (Ozigbondu).
Sis Uju Olisaemeka Onuorah (Awka)
Ozoigbondu, the only man that gives out millions without expecting anything in return,
Ozo Igbo Nile ndu, You are a blessing to our generation may the good Lord continue to bless you abundantly Amen.
Master Onukwube obinna peter (Enugu):
He is a man worthy to emulate….
Onyekachi Sunday
Greater Grace I pray everyday to be like this Messiah of our time sir Ozoigbo ndu
Desmond Obinna Obe
He is such a good man, A blessing to humanity. May the good lord guide and protect him. Amen
Emeka Ekeoma ( Ukpo, Anambra state )
I’m was so poor that I had no money to start a business. But Prince Arthur Eze rescued me and established a business for me, today I can count myself very lucky to have met him.
Engr. Raphael Sunday (Kogi)
Prince is truly a blessing to humanity. What he did for me and my family we will never forget in a hurry. He changed our lives for the better. God Bless Him
Samuel Egekeze (Ilorin):
Am honoured and delighted to have benefitted from Prince Arthur Eze philanthropy. I pray to be like him someday, may be higher.
Barrister Lady Jennifer Mohamed Sule (Jos)
Prince happy Birthday. You have always been a generous man and a well- known philanthropist. I have benefited from your generosity