Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has confirmed the death of its former President-General, Prof. Joseph Irukwu. He was 89.
Irukwu was elected President-General in 2003 and he served till 2007.
Ohanaeze described his demise as shocking, saying Irukwu was one of its brightest leaders.
A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Chiedozie Ogbonnia, noted that Irukwu added colour, glamour, zest, robust intellect and panache to the organisation.
The statement reads: “President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not withhold his emotions on hearing the sad news. Ndigbo has lost a well fulfilled man with a large heart, unassailable friendly finesse and amazing public relations.
“Prof. Irukwu was a quintessence of courage and character, and his legacies in Ohanaeze Ndigbo would always be remembered with deep emotional attachments. We pray the Almighty grants his soul eternal rest in his bosom, and the family fortitude and serenity to bear the irreparable loss.”
The deceased was called to the English Bar in 1962 and enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria same year.
He held many top positions in both private and public sectors.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, in a statement by his media aide, Oguwike Nwachuku, said Ndigbo and Nigeria ‘have lost a great statesman who did his best to promote love, unity, equity and justice, not just in Igbo land, but in Nigeria as a whole’.
“Prof. Irukwu’s legacy in the legal profession and insurance industry, where he distinguished himself, will not be forgotten in a hurry,” he added.
Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu described the late Irukwu as an ‘authentic academic Iroko tree’.
A statement by Ikpeazu’s spokesman, Onyebuchi Ememanka, said the deceased was ‘Africa’s first Professor of Insurance who developed insurance as an academic field in Nigeria, writing several textbooks in the field. A great lawyer whose academic contributions, especially in Insurance Law, led to his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)’.
The statement reads: “A great son of Abia State, Prof. Irukwu did not limit his greatness to law and insurance. He was a proud Abian whose doors were constantly open to me as governor. He was a passionate Igbo patriot and a great Nigerian who rose to serve as the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“Death has robbed us of one of our most prized human assets, and this signals a further depletion in the ranks of our notable elder statesmen whose passionate and dedicated services helped shape our people.
“However, I am comforted because Prof. lived a good and long life complete with solid achievements in every aspect of human endeavour.”