Ohanaeze Loses Another Icon

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has received with a rude shock the news of the passing on of yet another Igbo Titan; a path finder, visionary, erudite scholar, board room guru, financial consultant, former chairman of Union Bank Plc and a highly endowed chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Elder Dr. U. K. Kalu, CON (the Ekwueme of Ohafia), at 88.

Chief Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide communicated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Enugu.

He said, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was heart-broken by the sad news from the family.

He recounted the countless interventions of Elder Dr. U K Kalu at various critical junctures, with wise counsel, in the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in particular and the Igbo in general.

“Iwuanyanwu reminisced on his calm, thoughtful, cerebral mien and candour, his articulate and yet ineluctable eloquence and more importantly his dispositions for peace and sacrifice for the Igbo nation.

“The Ohafia Igbo extraction has not only recorded exploits in commerce and industry; it is also home to the famous Igbo war dance and several cerebral moderate, Marxist and stubborn intellectuals. Elder U K Kalu ranks high amongst the Ohafia intelligentisia, who have made their marks in Nigerian and world affairs. Others in his mold include Dr. Kalu Ezera, Prof. Eni Njoku (once described by Tai Solarin as the most intelligent man in Africa), Dr. Uma Eleazu, Professor Eme Awa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Justice Agwu Anya, Chief Okwara Osonwa, Prof. U. U. Uche, Rt Hon. Ojo Maduekwe, Rev. Uma Ukpai, e.t.c.

The late Kalu, Uke Kalu was born on February 22, 1935 at Isiugwu, Ohafia, Abia State.

He attended the Duke Town Secondary School, Calabar; Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar; and Kings College, the University of Durham, Newcastle. Kalu served in different capacities as a Lecturer and Acting Head, Department of Finance, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Acting Head, Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Business Administration ( UNN). In the Banking and Finance Industry, Kalu served as a Director, African Continental Bank Limited; Director, Development Finance & Investment Co. Limited, Imo State; Chairman, Financo Insurance Brokers Company, Imo State; Director, Magnum Trust Bank Limited; Chairman, Board of Directors, Union Bank of Nigeria; amongst several others.

He was decorated with the robe of the Elder, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.
On behalf of all the structures of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Iwuanyanwu commiserates with the immediate and extended family of Elder Dr. UK Kalu; and urges them to accept with serenity the inevitable end of all mortals.

While we prepare for a befitting farewell, we ask the Almighty to grant the soul of Elder Dr. UK Kalu an eternal rest in his bosom.