Tribute To Dr Emekka Enejere -- Of Candour, Integrity And Passion

Life will test man to see if he is willing to put “loyalty” to others ahead of fidelity to his principles. He will be offered many temptations to expose his true character. A man’s greatest reward is to live with integrity, and his greatest punishment is what he inflicts upon himself for placing anything above his integrity. Whenever the man sacrifices his integrity, he loses his freedom… and himself as well. (StevePavlina.com)

I very well recall the day that I spent the greater part of the afternoon with Dr Emeka Enejere in 2006 at our family home in Opi. My father, the late Igwe G.A. Ugwuegede, had just been buried and in the days immediately following that event one of the guests we, my sister, Dr Joy Ugwuegede, and I, received was Dr Emeka Enejere.

Dr Emeka Enejere was a very recognizable name in Nsukka and certainly in my family; he had visited with my parents severally. So when he came calling to offer respects in memory of his departed friend, I, for one, braced for what could be a stiff and formal meeting.

That day I learned how easy-going, compassionate and even humorous he could be. He told us the stories of his relationship and friendship with our parents, of their attempts at the development of the people and the zone, of his perspective on persons, on the church, on our Igbo and Nsukka cultural institutions and on life itself. His was no high horse. He consoled us and cheered us up. We were glad to have met with him. By the time he left in the evening, we had formed a bond a personal bond with him.

This very healthy relationship, involving other members of our family, especially my mother’s siblings, and his dear wife, the Honourable Justice, continued to blossom as time went on. By the time I forayed yet again into politics in 2011, this time in a constituency formally involving Igboeze South LGA, his own LGA of origin, he was prominent among those whose support I sought. Dr Enejere continued to be concerned about my matter right up till the very end of his life. I will ever remain grateful that he was so minded and thought me a fit person to expend his thoughts and support upon. I will continue to remember him.

I am sure there are very many others who will remember him very fondly too. I do not dare to give his life history – there are far too many around who are more disposed and who have more data than I – but two areas of his life endeavor will show the candour, passion and integrity that is so much in him. One is the creation of Igboeze South LGA. Tributes generally are a time of benevolent hagiography of the deceased but it is no exaggerations that the contribution of Dr Emeka Enejere to the creation of Igboeze South local government area, during the military administration of then President Ibrahim Babangida, is possibly at the apex of all such efforts. In a country where access mattered, it was he who had the contacts and access, the will and the zeal, to tenaciously pursue the cause of the people until the creation of Igboeze South local government area became a reality.

His integrity, courage, strength of conviction and resolve to walk the talk were brought to the fore very poignantly during his time as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The details of the governance challenges besetting the university and the governing council that he led may have many sides, depending on who you ask, but it is undisputed that the Pro-Chancellor, an alumnus of the University himself and a former lecturer had a vision for his assignment and a passion to bring it to fruition. Perhaps for him was the dictum in Romans 12:2 King James Version (KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

An intelligent man, he certainly knew that it was “safer” for him to “go with the flow” and “be a team player” but he chose to do what he perceived to be the right rather than the convenient or safe thing. He chose to be guided by the dictates of his principles and his integrity. Whatever may be the judgment on his tactics, it is obvious that he did not just talk the talk of probity, transparency and accountability, he also walked the talk. He never lost his integrity, and he never lost himself. And so he toed a difficult path, seeking to contribute to the motto of that university – to restore the dignity of man – for indeed there was restoration required at the time he came. Some had reasoned that Dr Enejere could have “gone with the flow”, become strong within the scheme of things as they were and end up with more power and influence, in tandem with the status quo. But to go with the tide is to go only downstream; it may be quieter but you are in the company of flotsam and the destination is not yours. Dr Enejere chose to plot a path to a destination carved out by a vision, and the sounds of his voyage to his intended destination are yet distinct. Though he was removed from office, the actions of the students, staff (academic and non-academic, and the entire university and its’ host community after the fact show clearly that his was an appreciated effort. In 2015, one year after his removal both the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, UNN chapter, decided to honour him. The following is an excerpt in relation to the position of the staff Unions.

In separate chats with Vanguard, the President of ASSU, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada and Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Paul Erua, unanimously described Enejere as one of the heroes of UNN whose contributions would remain inestimable. According to Abada, “Dr. Enejere ensured that some anomalies in the school were corrected. Dr. Enejere was able to resist attempts to put the institution on the wrong path. He was suspended by the last administration for these reasons. The suspension was so unpopular … that is why the workers in the institution see him as a very different and upright person. He deserves to be honoured. There is no type of award that will be enough to appreciate such a person because he has showed that there are still men of honour in Nigeria. This honour is being given to him on the basis of merit.”

( http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/why-we-honoured-emeka-enejere-ex-unn-governing-council-chairman-asuu-ssanu/ )

This testimony, made when the subject of the award was no longer in office or in “power” is sufficient in itself to portray the impact he wrought on the university community in his brief period as Pro-Chancellor of the University.

I do not doubt that yet others will dwell very copiously and more suitably on other aspects of his life; I do not attempt to define him herein. The Ugwuegede Family join in celebrating his life, cut short by the leveler and rather want to cheer ourselves and all those who are saddened by his death with the knowledge that his was a life well lived, to the great benefit of family, friends and associates, in peace with his maker. Yes we shall all miss him, but yes we shall also remember him, his strength of character, humanity, passion and integrity and in that fond memory, he lives well. Adieu, kind Sir, and fare thee well.

Engr. I.N.A. Ugwuegede