Mathias Ugochukwu
Encyclopedia
Mathias Nwafor Ugochukwu
(1926–1990) was a prominent Nigerian businessman from Anambra State
. A leading industrialist from the Eastern Region of Nigeria, he played a pioneering role in large scale manufacturing in the region. He was sometimes called by his alias, Ugobuzuo. He was a friend to various Igbo
politicians such as K. O. Mbadiwe
and the former Nigerian Vice President, Alex Ekwueme. His relationship with the vice president may have led to his detention under the administration of General Buhari.
, he left for Jos
to work as a residential caretaker for an Igbo businessman. However, hoping for more opportunity, he left Jos and joined the police force in present day Anambra State. Before joining the force, he was involved in minor trading. As an officer, he entered and won 50,000 pounds
in the Irish Sweepstake
. After collecting the sum, he found private enterprise more fulfilling and productive; he entered business full-time. As a businessman, he founded many firms, forming a strong conglomerate. He established a transport company, and formed a business venture with John Holt, later becoming the chairman of John Holt Inc. He also invested heavily in spare parts, textile
importation and real estate
development. As a leading Igbo businessman, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the African Development Corporation, the board also had C.T Onyekwelu and Louis Ojukwu as members. The company was part of a project to encourage African entrepreneurship and was supported by N.C.N.C.
During the 1970s, he bought various subsidiaries of John Holt as part of an Indigenization
decree; he was one of the few Igbo
businessmen with enough capital to acquire shares in the multi-national firms of Nigeria.
Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu is a Nigerian name of Igbo origin. Its literal translation is "God's Eagle", which is interpreted as "Crown of God" — since the crowns of traditional Igbo rulers are adorned with a tail feather of an eagle.-Men with this given name:...
(1926–1990) was a prominent Nigerian businessman from Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
. A leading industrialist from the Eastern Region of Nigeria, he played a pioneering role in large scale manufacturing in the region. He was sometimes called by his alias, Ugobuzuo. He was a friend to various Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
politicians such as K. O. Mbadiwe
K. O. Mbadiwe
Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, statesman and former government minister. He was born in the Orlu division of present day Imo State and attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar for primary education...
and the former Nigerian Vice President, Alex Ekwueme. His relationship with the vice president may have led to his detention under the administration of General Buhari.
Life
Mathias Ugochukwu was born in Umunze and attended St Augustine's Primary School, Umunze. After completing his primary educationPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, he left for Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
to work as a residential caretaker for an Igbo businessman. However, hoping for more opportunity, he left Jos and joined the police force in present day Anambra State. Before joining the force, he was involved in minor trading. As an officer, he entered and won 50,000 pounds
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
in the Irish Sweepstake
Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake
The Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake was a lottery established in the Irish Free State in 1930 as the Irish Free State Hospitals' Sweepstake to finance hospitals, and is often referred to as the Irish Sweepstake...
. After collecting the sum, he found private enterprise more fulfilling and productive; he entered business full-time. As a businessman, he founded many firms, forming a strong conglomerate. He established a transport company, and formed a business venture with John Holt, later becoming the chairman of John Holt Inc. He also invested heavily in spare parts, textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
importation and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
development. As a leading Igbo businessman, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the African Development Corporation, the board also had C.T Onyekwelu and Louis Ojukwu as members. The company was part of a project to encourage African entrepreneurship and was supported by N.C.N.C.
During the 1970s, he bought various subsidiaries of John Holt as part of an Indigenization
Indigenization
In anthropological terms, to "indigenize" means to force local cultures to adopt another. Most changes in original culture occur when western corporations impose their products on other economies, Westernizing. Some forms of indigenizing include: Spray painting slogans on bill-boards, interpreting...
decree; he was one of the few Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
businessmen with enough capital to acquire shares in the multi-national firms of Nigeria.