You may not have encountered my friend turned brother, Chido Onumah. He is an intruiging personality crafted out of raw steel. Not that you could tell from the mollifying voice that greets you on that first encounter, though you will quickly come to agree that it’s softness perfectly compliments a gracious and self-effacing demeanor. As […]
You may not have encountered my friend turned brother, Chido Onumah. He is an intruiging personality crafted out of raw steel. Not that you could tell from the mollifying voice that greets you on that first encounter, though you will quickly come to agree that it’s softness perfectly compliments a gracious and self-effacing demeanor. As you walk away, you may find yourself believing that this gentleman is too polite and refined for Nigeria but you couldn’t be more mistaken.
Several months later, I was all packed up and ready to fly across the Atlantic to meet with my kindred spirit for the first time in Abuja, my heart brimming with anticipation. Patrick Okigbo III of Nextia with whom I had also been sharing my thoughts on the issue was gracious enough to be at that meeting.
Four arduous years have passed since our inaugural meeting, and Ikenga Media continues to forge its path, surpassing our initial expectations. Though we acknowledge the journey ahead, we take pride in seeing our idea transcend mere thoughts and manifest as a tangible force. Most significantly, we remain steadfast in our mission to resist the seductive grip of brown envelope journalism and hold those in positions of public trust accountable.
But this piece is not about Ikenga, it’s about characters, how we are molded and the way soceities emerge. Chido grew up in the shadows of Edwin Madunagu, the professor of mathematician-turned celebrated journalist and an icon of the Nigerian socialist movement. He tells the story of how growing up, his idea of fun was spending time at Prof. Madunagu’s office at the Rutam house of the Guardian newspaper, scavenging through every piece of news article he could lay his hands on.
Chido was intentional in not joining the crowd; instead, he sticks to the old rule of “say what you mean and mean what you say,” just like Madunagu and his generation. He is unfazed by material possessions, and his life is the very definition of modesty combined with panache. His outlook is cosmopolitan, and his sense of justice is second to none. He is firmly rooted in his identity and unapologetic about identifying as Igbo.
Olu was highly respected and held in awe, our traditional institutions. He was recognised as a high chief and later was bestowed with the title ””Gbadeto” by Oba Akran of Badagry, Oba Aholu Wenu Toyil. Though he departed from this world in 2005, his legacy lives on in the hallowed grounds of his final resting place in Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State.
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