Birthday:A PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE: AMB. SIR (DR) GODWIN ALAOMA ONYEGBULA.
A PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE:
AMB. SIR (DR) GODWIN ALAOMA ONYEGBULA.
AN EMBODIMENT OF SERVANT-LEADERSHIP AND A STATESMAN PAR EXCELLENCE.
Ambassador Sir (Dr.) Godwin Alaoma ONYEGBULA, a diplomat, administrator, and bureaucrat par excellence, was born on June 15, 1930 in Nkwerre in Imo State from where he rose to the pinnacle of Public Administration, serving his people in war and peace. He was enabled to execute this role through a Christian home training and education spanning the Okirika Missionary Grammar School to an Oxbridge Institution of academic excellence at the University College Ibadan and Balliol College Oxford.
Godwin Onyegbula belonged to that generation of Nigerians who served the British Colonial Office faithfully in its dying days (1955-1960) but went on to surpass their mentors to establish the premier institutions in Independent Nigeria. He was first African District Officer (called DC in those days) in Orlu, Okigwe, Port Harcourt and Ogoja in Eastern Nigeria; and as the State’s Chief Representative in those areas, was principal executive, judicial and local government functionary as well.
Ambassador Godwin Onyegbula was yet to excel in the Diplomatic Service to which he transferred on the eve of Nigerian Independence in 1960. He was first Director of Administration in the Service setting up the institutions at home and abroad for a swift but smooth take-off; and training the future diplomats many of them becoming Ambassadors and one a Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was first Head of the Nigerian Mission in Dakar, Senegal before proceeding to the United States as Minister/Counselor and later Head of Mission for two years. During his term in Washington DC, he received a personal commendation from the President, Lyndon Johnson, Honorary Citizenship of Miami Florida and was also Honorary Visiting Lecturer at Duquesne University. He was so highly regarded in media circles that the Managing Editor of the Washington Post, Alfred Friendly, in his syndicated columns described him as “probably the brightest young diplomat to come from Africa”. Ambassador Godwin Onyegbula would have continued his Nigerian diplomatic service with his appointment as the first Nigerian High Commission to Zambia in 1966 but for the Nigerian crisis which took him back as Secretary to the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria. He later became Permanent Secretary (Chief Ambassador/Head) of the Biafran Foreign Ministry and was in 1969 General Ojukwu’s Sole Secret Negotiator with US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger’s Special Assistant, Roger Morris.
Ambassador Godwin Onyegbula served his people honorably in peace and war. As Governor Ojukwu’s Permanent Secretary/Chief of Staff, he was also Secretary of Eastern Nigeria Executive Council. In this capacity, he became Joint Secretary of the Biafran Government Directorate which ran the affairs of a war-torn territory. But most notably was his service to the University of Nigeria as a member of the Governing Council (1966-67) led by Akanu Ibiam as Chairman and Professor Eni Njoku as Vice Chancellor (His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze and him are now the only surviving members of that council). Ambassador Onyegbula was Personal Representative of the Governor, and in this capacity was the principal liaison with the government. The Council had the enormous responsibility of settling and integrating into the University system the refugee students and scholars returning from other parts of the country. Its successful accomplishment made the University of Nigeria a truly cosmopolitan institution of higher learning. This marked another era from its birth and nurture under the influence of its founder, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. This council was also responsible for the establishment of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital on similar circumstances of the unprecedented relocation of our medical personnel – professors, consultants and health staff – from other Nigerian Medical Schools.
Ambassador Onyegbula did not neglect his community.
After retiring from Government, he served for eight (8) years 1978-1986 as President-General of his Town Nkwerre Aborigenes Union, which built the two famous institutions: St. Augustine’s Grammar School and St. Catherine’s Girls Secondary School in which two institutions he served as Chairman/Member of their Board of Governors for many years. The St. Augustine’s Old Boys elected him an Associate Member, one of two Nigerian so honoured. He was later elected unopposed to the Nigerian Constituent Assembly, Abuja, 1988/89 which was to give the country its Constitution under General Ibrahim Babangida. He was appointed Member of the Imo State Council of Elders in 2007. Earlier in 2005, he had received the Rotary Club of Enugu award for “Service above Self’ and was the year’s Guest Speaker of the Ideals of Service Lectures.
Even with lean resources, Ambassador Onyegbula and his wife, Joy, have not been lacking in charity. They have endowed some foundations including the University of Nigeria Nsukka and the Widows/Orphans/Needy (WON) Trust administered by the Archbishop of Orlu Diocese for his Home Community and the Archbishop of Enugu for Enugu Diocese, respectively. In the present era of the Anti-Corruption Crusade, here is one public officer hitherto unrecognized and unsung, who can confidently and truthfully assert that throughout his service, he never sought for nor accepted gratification from anyone in the performance of his duties.
Furthermore, his deep commitment and direct personal involvement in the affairs and activities of the church earned him his investiture with the Knighthood of the Order of St. Christopher of the Anglican Communion in 1989. While his occupational accomplishments are obviously quite impressive and commendable, it is significant to note that Sir Godwin also established a Charity Foundation, “Pa Onyegbula Trust Fund,” for philanthropic purposes. Additionally, he authored and published numerous literary materials in the field of Public Administration, Management, Government, and International Relations not only in Nigeria, but also in U.S.A. and U.K. His most recent work, “Memoirs of the Nigerian-Biafran bureaucrat: An account of life in Biafra and within Nigeria” (Spectrum Books Ltd.) was published in 2004.
In recognition of his committed and uncorrupt services to Nigeria as a Public Administrator in peace and war, the University of Nigeria awarded him the degree of Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) (Honoris Causa), at the Convocation Ceremony of the University at Nsukka on Saturday, February 20th, 2016.
He relishes most his later acceptance of Christ as Personal Lord and Savior, and becoming his Ambassador. Onyegbula is married to Joy Ikechi (nee Akanno) an American trained educationist; with nine children, and grand children.
CHINEDU ONYEGBULA
For The Family.
