Ten Things To Know About Nnewi Billionaire Businessman, Late Chief Benson Aghazu

The news of the death of Chief Dr. Benson Udealo Chizobam Aghazu (Kpakpando Nnewi) one of the finest and outstanding intellectual ever produced by Nnewi came as a thunderbolt to many last week, when his death was officially made public.

His death is seen as a big blow to Nnewi considering his enormous contributions to peace building and community development.

The contemporary history of Nnewi cannot be without mentioning his immense contributions towards ensuring peace, especially the key role he played towards the resolution of Nnewi Crisis of 1986-1996, which almost tore the town apart.

Read Also: BREAKING: Nnewi Billionaire Businessman, Chief Aghazu Dies

Dr. Benson Aghazu who is regarded as one (1) out of two (2) popular billionaires in Nnewi who are well-read, is an amazing personality.

Here are ten (10) things to know about him;

1. Ben. Aghazu was born to Joseph and Udu Agha­zu of blessed memory on Febru­ary 13, 1946 in Akaboezem Uru­agu, Nnewi,

2. He received his formal education in St. Andrew’s Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School both in Uruagu Nnewi; Holy Trinity Primary School, Calabar; Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi; Government Secondary School, Owerri;

After graduation, he won Shell PB Scholarship to study abroad, specifically at the Univer­sity of Leicester, England, where he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Engineering. He did his Master’s degree and a doctorate in chemical engineering at the same University. He later moved to America, precisely Northeastern University, Bos­ton Massachusetts, for his Master’s in Business Administration degree.

3. He was a pioneer staff of Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu where he served as Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering and later as the Head of Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology.

4. While in IMT Enugu, he was in a position to receive kickbacks from contractors but he resisted the temptation. His integrity was said to have attracted the attention of the then Administrator of the defunct East Central State, Chief Ukpabi Asika who appointed him a Director in the then Nigeria Shipping Company (NSC). He was later made the pioneer Board Member of Central Investment Company.

5. Chief Ben. U. C Aghazu is believed to have made some part of his money when he was Chairman of Niger Farms (Nigeria) Limited and of several other successful companies in Nigeria, engaged in integrated poultry farming, management consulting, vegetable oil processing, civil and building engineering construction, water resources engineering and information technology.

6. The biggest hospitality center in Nnewi, The Nnewi Hotel and Event Center, was built by Chief Ben. Aghazu.

7. Chief Aghazu’s title, “Kpakpando Nnewi” (Star of Nnewi) was given to him by Chief Daniel Udefuna Obi, Ume­zuligbo of Uruagu Nnewi.

8. It is believed that Dr. Benson has never attended any event without being in a white outfit.

9. Ben Aghazu is a very active Rotarian, he has served as President of the Rotary Club Enugu and later as District Governor of Rotary International District 9140 covering eleven (11) states of Nigeria. He brought Rotary to Nnewi. He has received The Distinguished Service Award from The Rotary Foundation, the organization’s highest award for any Rotarian.

10. Chief Ben. is married to Chief Chinemerem Aghazu (nee Nduka), Ada Di Ora Mma Okija, and their union is blessed by Children.

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