NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel celebrates Oguejiofor at 56
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, has honoured businessman, philanthropist and community leader, Chief Austine Oguejiofor, also known as Onwa Enugwu-Ukwu N’Umumri, as he clocks 56.
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The Chapel said the recognition was in acknowledgement of Oguejiofor’s achievements in business, his philanthropic activities, community engagements and his years of relationship with and support for journalists across the country.
Source: Original
In a statement issued to mark his 56th birthday, the Chapel said the occasion provided an opportunity to “pause and take stock of a life that has touched people, institutions and communities.”
The journalists said Oguejiofor had, over the years, maintained a relationship with members of the media, making himself available for conversations on business investment, development and philanthropy.
“For members of the media, the celebration is significant as Chief Austine Oguejiofor has over the years maintained a relationship with journalists, making himself available for conversations around business investment, development and philanthropy,” the statement said.
According to the Chapel, Oguejiofor’s activities had featured in the Nigerian media through reports on his investments in Anambra State, real estate ventures and other business interests.
It said his relationship with the media was noteworthy because “everybody loves the journalists when the headline is favourable, but suddenly turns their back when the questions become uncomfortable.”
The Chapel said Oguejiofor’s relationship with journalists had, however, been “less transactional,” noting that he had engaged reporters, shared his views on issues of public interest and supported members of the profession in different ways.
It described him as “a businessman who understands that journalism remains an important part of society’s accountability chain.”
The Chapel also highlighted Oguejiofor’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a prominent businessman, saying he had publicly spoken about the struggles he faced and the various jobs he undertook before establishing himself in business.
Among the jobs, it said, was working as an electronics repair mechanic, describing it as “a far cry from the property development investor, among others, that would later define his public life.”
The statement said his eventual relocation to Abuja opened a new chapter in his career, with his business interests expanding into real estate and other sectors.
“That journey has become part of the appeal of his story,” the Chapel said, adding that it was “also a reminder that behind many Nigerian success stories is a period when the person in question was simply trying to survive, learn a trade, pay a bill, and find the next opportunity.”
It said Oguejiofor’s transition from his modest beginnings to prominence in the business world was “not simply a story about wealth but persistence.”
The Chapel said philanthropy had also remained a visible part of his public identity, noting that Oguejiofor had consistently spoken about using the proceeds of his success to support his family, community and humanity.
“Beyond business, philanthropy has remained a visible part of Oguejiofor’s public identity,” it said.
The statement added that his interventions and investments had extended beyond personal enterprise, with interests spanning real estate, energy and community development.
His investment in Anambra State, according to the Chapel, had particularly attracted attention.
“Speaking with journalists, Oguejiofor highlighted the satisfaction he derived from investing in his home state, describing his desire to give back as part of what he hoped to achieve through his success,” the statement said.
The Chapel also recalled that in 2019, the Eastern Union and Igbo think tank movement worldwide, Oriental Platform, recognised Oguejiofor as a businessman of integrity and patriotism.
It said the organisation cited his contributions to development, job creation and philanthropy.
“Citing his contributions to development, job creation, and philanthropy,” the statement said of the recognition, adding that such acknowledgements helped explain why his 56th birthday had become more than another social gathering.
The Chapel said Oguejiofor, at 56, occupied a space where “business success increasingly meets community responsibility and traditional leadership.”
It said his traditional title, Onwa Enugwu-Ukwu N’Umumri, reflected his standing within the Enugwu-Ukwu community, while his public engagements had increasingly placed him among influential voices within the community and wider society.
“His title, ONWA ENUGWU UKWU N'UMUNRI, reflects his standing within the ENUGWU UKWU community, while some public engagements have increasingly placed him among influential voices within the community and wider society,” it said.
However, the Chapel said titles, awards and business portfolios could only tell part of his story.
“Titles, awards, and business portfolios can only tell part of a man’s story, and perhaps that is what makes the NUJ FCT Correspondent Chapel’s recognition particularly significant,” it said.
According to the Chapel, its celebration was a recognition of a man whose journey had intersected with journalism, business, community development and philanthropy.
“It is also a reminder that the relationship between business and the media need not always be transactional,” the statement said.
“At its best, it is a relationship built on access, understanding, respect, and a shared interest in telling the stories that matter,” it added.
The Chapel said Oguejiofor’s 56th birthday should therefore be viewed as more than a milestone.
“For Chief Austine Oguejiofor, 56 is, therefore, more than a milestone. It is a point on a longer journey from struggle to enterprise, from enterprise to influence, and from influence to responsibility,” it said.
The journalists said their message to the businessman was that his journey and contributions had been noticed.
“The NUJ FCT Correspondent Chapel’s message is simple: your journey has been seen, your contributions noticed, and your support for people, including journalists, has not gone unnoticed,” the statement said.
The Chapel further said the celebration was not only about Oguejiofor’s achievements but also the impact he had made on people around him.
“At 56, the celebration is not just about the man he has become but about the footprint he is leaving behind. Some people count their birthdays in years while others are measured by the lives they have touched,” it said.
The NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel congratulated Oguejiofor on his 56th birthday and wished him “continued good health, wisdom, enterprise, and many more years of service.”
Source: Legit.ng
