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Adieu, Afamefuna Augustine Onuora (1948-2014)

By Onyechi Henry Onuora
20 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
THE late Chief Afam Augustine Onuora, the Ojiabu Ugala of Onitsha, was born in July 1948 in Calabar, the capital of the present day Cross River State, to the family of the late Akunne Joseph and Christiana Onuora of Umuosodi Umudei village, Onitsha Anambra State. As he grew up, young Afam showed traces of brilliance…

Onuora

THE late Chief Afam Augustine Onuora, the Ojiabu Ugala of Onitsha, was born in July 1948 in Calabar, the capital of the present day Cross River State, to the family of the late Akunne Joseph and Christiana Onuora of Umuosodi Umudei village, Onitsha Anambra State. As he grew up, young Afam showed traces of brilliance and this trait subsisted in most of his endeavours all through his earthly sojourn. 

  He started his educational pursuits in 1955 at the Holy Rosary Primary School, Enugu.  He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction in 1961. Thereafter, he gained admission into the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, in 1962 and passed the West African School Certificate Examination in Division 1 in 1966. After the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970), he proceeded in 1973 to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus, to study Banking and Finance. He graduated in 1977 with Second Class Honours, Upper Division and proceeded to do his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Kwara State. 

  During this period, he was employed as a Lecturer in Financial Management in Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin. After completing the NYSC programme in 1978, Afam was employed by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) where he worked in various branches and stations. He rose to the position of Branch Accountant/Assistant Manager in the bank. 

  In 1988, Afam was offered the position of manager in Orient Bank of Nigeria Plc. By 1994, he had risen to the position of Assistant General Manager (Banking Operations), Head Office, Enugu.

  Having had enough of private sector experience, Afam joined public service in 1997 when he was appointed the Commissioner for Finance, Economic Development, Budget and Planning by Anambra State government where he worked until the military handed power over to civilians in 1999.

  Afam joined politics in 2002 and was appointed the Council Chairman of Onitsha North (his hometown) where he made very remarkable contributions to the development of the council area. He was also appointed the Chairman, Anambra State Lotto Commission in 2005, a position he held until he retired from active service.

  The late Ojiabu Ugala met his heartthrob, ‘The Baby’ Chinwe Uchenna Letitia Egbuna, a native of Ogidi in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, in 1978. He wedded her on January 30, 1982, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish, Inland Town, Onitsha. The marriage was blessed with two children — Nneka and Onyechi — and a grandson, Chimnadindu.

  Afam led a very good social life and became a member of the prestigious Agbalanze Society of Onitsha in 2001 where he took the title, Chinyelugo. In 2010, he was appointed a red cap chief, ‘Ojiabu Ugala’ by the Obi in Council, the Eze Onitsha, Agbogidi Nnaemeka Achebe.

  He was a very conscientious red cap chief in the true Onitsha tradition until his death in the morning of December 26, 2014.

   His remains were laid to rest yesterday at his residence at Inland Town Onitsha, Anambra State. 

 He is survived by his wife, Enyi (Mrs) Chinwe Onuora, Pharm Nneka Isiadinso (daughter) and Onyechi Henry Onuora (son), among many relatives. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

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