Ikpeazu (file photo)
Ikpeazu mourns late Irukwu
By Valentine Amanze
Abia State immediate past Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed sadness over the passing away of Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu, OON, SAN at the age of 89.
Ikpeazu described the late Irukwu as an “authentic academic Iroko tree,” stressing, “Prof was Africa’s first Professor of Insurance and he it was who developed Insurance as an academic field in Nigeria, writing several textbooks in the field.
“A great lawyer, whose academic contributions, especially in the field of Insurance Law, led to his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)”.
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The former governor further said that Irukwu was the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Government-owned Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation and founder of the African Development Insurance Company Limited.
“He was a renowned and respected voice in Corporate Nigeria.
” A great son of Item in Abia State, Professor Irukwu did not limit his greatness to the field of Law and Insurance. He was a committed and devoted son of Item Okpi and held the title of Omezioha Item. He was also a proud Abian whose doors were constantly open to me as Governor.
“He was a passionate Igbo patriot and a great Nigerian who rose to serve as the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide”, he said.
Ikpeazu also lamented that the death of Irukwu had robbed Nigeria of one of its most prized human assets, noting that his death signaled a further depletion in the ranks of notable elder statesmen, whose passionate and dedicated services helped shape the people.
Ikpeazu extended his condolences to the Irukwu family of Item, the entire people of Abia State, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the academic community in Nigeria and Africa.
The former governor prayed the Almighty God to grant his gentle soul rest, while urging his immediate family to find succour in the imperishable legacies of their father and patriarch.
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