That my father, Chief (Sir) Samuel Nwadike Iwuoha, is an epitome of God’s goodness and mercy is an understatement. He is, indeed, a true definition of God’s grace.

To the glory of Almighty God, my father joined the club of octogenarians on June 24, 2018. His very successful children put in place formidable machinery and platform to celebrate him.

This tribute will, therefore, serve as an invitation to the global reading and general public to join us to celebrate this man of peace, man of God, gentleman, responsible husband, successful father, happy grandfather, jovial father-in-law, proud Christian leader, community leader, social crusader, writer and author and, most importantly, a soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The question now is: who is Chief (Sir) Sam Nwadike Iwuoha, JP, KSC?

As his first child/son, I am in a better position to give elaborate answer to the question. However, I will plead with the reading public to listen very attentively as I embark on this very long journey of giving vivid description of Chief Iwuoha. This is because the personality I am about to unveil to the world is not somebody that can be captured in a mere article. Perhaps, a big book of about 20,000 pages will be needed to accomplish the true personality of my father.

He was born into the family of Chief Jonathan and Ezinne Jemima Nwamgbede Iwuoha Iroka of Eziukwu-Obinocha village in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. He was born on June 24, 1938 at Ulakwo near Owerri, where his parents lived.

The young Sam attended the following institutions:

St Paul’s Central School, Nkwerre; Priscillia Memorial Grammar School (PMGS), Oguta; Federal Training Centre (FTC), Lagos; Pitman’s College, London, WCI; Imo State University, Owerri (ICEP). He obtained the following certificates: First School Leaving Certificate, Standard 6); GCE O/Level in 8 subjects with 6 credits at a sitting; GCE A/Levels in Business Management/ General Paper; FTC and RSA in Secretarial Certificates; Pitman’s College, London (Residential) Certificate 140/54 WPM in Secretarial studies; Pitman’s College, London (Residential) Diploma in Business and Secretarial Studies; Certificate in Management Appreciation courses for secretaries and executives, from Walton Solomon and Associates, London; BSc (Government/Public Administration), Imo State University, Owerri.

Armed with the above credentials, Chief Iwuoha was set to explore the world by showcasing his talents and contributing to the socio-economic, political and administrative development of his society.

Multiple personality traits

A variable has two sides: the converse and the obverse. It is the fusion of the two sides that gives one the true impression or identity of a given variable. Conversely, human personality is also like a variable, because the converse and obverse sides of an individual are loaded with positive and negative attributes, depending on who is doing the evaluation or where the evaluator belongs.

From my socio-political barometre, and as his first child and son, I make bold to state that my father, Chief (Sir) Samuel Nwadike Iwuoha has established himself as a constant: a responsible husband, successful father, happy grandfather, accommodating father-in-law, devout Christian leader, social crusader, writer, administrator, community leader, renowned author and, most importantly, a soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As a responsible husband, Dee Sam, as he is popularly called, got married in 1969 to Rosebud Egondu Iwuoha (Nee Ozurumba) of Amaegbu village in Nkwerre LGA, Imo State. His wife is equally an accomplished woman of substance who retired as a headmistress. Together they have the following eight children (five boys and three girls): Hon (Dr) Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, Dr. Nnaemeka Christian Iwuoha, Mr Emmanuel Chinonyerem Uchechukwu Iwuoha, Dr Okechukwu John Iwuoha, Dr. Ndubuisi Godson Iwuoha, Mrs Ugochi Rosemary Umelo, Dr (Mrs) Ugonma Rosebud Azike and Engr (Mrs) Ijeoma Blessing Iwuoha. He is blessed with 23 grand children.

All the children are educated and doing well in their chosen careers.

He also enjoys a superlative relationship with the following daughters-in-law:

Mrs Chioma Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, Mrs Adaugo Nnaemeka Iwuoha (lawyer),

Mrs Mercy Onyinyechi Emmanuel Iwuoha, Mrs Shuku Okechukwu Iwuoha, Mrs Chioma Ndubuisi Iwuoha, including their husbands: Sir Uche Umelo, Austin Azike, a lawyer and Odili Chukwu, a pharmacist.

An administrator

The following is a breakdown of the working life experience of this accomplished administrator par excellence.

He was appointed as stenographer Grade II, in the Federal Ministry of Establishments and Service Matters. Later, he was promoted to Stenographer Grade I on successful completion of Stenographer Grade I Course at the Federal Training Centre, Lagos in 1963.

Also, he worked as a personal secretary in the British Ministry of Works and Public Building, London, during his long vacation in summer 1964; while on an in-service Secretarial Course at the Pitman’s Central College, London. He was promoted to secretary /typist on return to Nigeria.

He was transferred to the Eastern Nigeria Public Service in 1966, and posted to Ikot-Ekpene, at the Annang Provincial Administration.

He continued in service throughout the period of crises: From the Eastern Nigeria Public Service (ENPS) to the defunct Republic of Biafra, the East Central State and, lastly, the present Imo State. He rose from one secretarial post to another, up to chief secretarial assistant, and Chief Secretary to the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, which post he held creditably until his meritorious retirement in 1997, on attainment of 35years of service.

In the course of his career, my father was exposed to a wide range and variety of secretarial and reportorial experiences, including national and international tours, conferences, seminars/workshops, meetings, and boards of enquiries with very top government functionaries. Some of these took him to many important countries and cities of the world, among them United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and the Arab world.

Hobbies

Chief Iwuoha’s hobbies are travelling, writing, reading and singing praises to God.

As a civil servant, he has travelled to virtually all the states of the federation. Outside Nigeria, he has travelled to France; Frankfurt in Germany; Rome, Milan in Italy; Geneva in Switzerland; Warsaw, Poland; Holland, Spain, United Kingdom (Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford-on-Avon, Brighton, New-castle, London, etc).

Additionally, his pilgrimage to the holy land of Israel and Egypt has given him more insight about our Lord Jesus Christ.

The most important aspect of his hobby is singing praises to the Almighty God in appreciation for the redemption work on the cross of Calvary by our Lord Jesus Christ to reconcile mankind back to God. This aspect of his singing as a hobby started from his childhood, as a member of the local Church choir. Currently, Dee Sam is still a chorister in St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Owerri, where he worships and assists as a Sunday School Teacher.

Also as part of his appreciation, Sir Sam, after retirement from public service, gave volunteered to work in the Diocese of Owerri as Secretary to His Grace, the Most Rev Archbishop Benjamin C Nwankiti, and the Rt Reverend Dr Cyril C Okorocha.

He equally served as the Administrative Secretary to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State Chapter. As a reward to his dedication and hard work towards the gospel, he was invested into the Holy Order of Knighthood of the Order of St Christopher in the Anglican Church of the Diocese of Orlu in 2005. Also in appreciation of his numerous services, the Anglican Communion has recently bestowed him as the Resilient Christian Grandfather.

Writer and author

As indicated earlier, one of my father’s hobbies is writing. To this effect, he has written many books and articles published in several national newspapers, journals and magazines. He has written well over 1,200 published articles. Also, many of his books are still in use in institutions of higher learning. He authored many books on Secretarial Studies, Government and Public Administration, etc. He also authored some Christian Religious books. For example, Christian Pilgrimage And Nation Building. This book has so far sold over 300,000 copies in Nigeria alone, especially within the Christian community, institutions of higher learning, seminaries, theological schools and churches. The book exposes the Christian faithful to the truth of the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the sites and places where the Saviour lived his life on earth, prayed and wrought several miracles in the Holy land of Israel.

Another of his Christian books is The Way Of The Cross (Dolorosa in Latin). It followed the most renowned route in world Christian history. It is the 14 Stations of the Cross through which Our Lord Jesus Christ went agonisinglyinto his crucifixion by the Jews at that time.

Community leader

As part of his services to his community, the elder Iwuoha served assiduously as secretary-general of Obinocha Improvement Union (OIU), Nkwerre for six years. He was also chairman of Audit Panel, on two occasions, to Obinocha improvement Union, Nkwerre. He served as the auditor of Nkwerre Aborigines Union (NAU), Owerri branch.

As a reward for his exemplary service to humanity, the women’s wing of Obinocha Improvement Union honouredhim with an award.

Philanthropy

Sir Iwuoha’s assistance to the less privileged in the society is great. Although he biologically fathered eight children, he is a godfather to thousands of successful men and women in the society. He has trained and sponsored many children of the less-privileged in many institutions of higher learning. No wonder my father’s Owerri residence has continued to be a Mecca of sorts, as thousands of people who passed through his training and sponsorship always troop in to see Dee Sam.

All roads, therefore, led to Owerri, the Imo State capital, on June 24, 2018 to celebrate the man of the moment, the latest octogenarian in Imo State - Chief Sam Nwadike Iwuoha JP, KSC - as he marked his 80^thbirthday. The thanksgiving/church service held at St Andrews Anglican Church, Aladinma Housing Estate Owerri, Imo State.

Happy birthday, sir!

*Citizen Iwuoha, for and on behalf of the Iwuoha dynasty, sent this tribute shortly before June 24.

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