The Onwa n’etilora 1 of Anam Kingdom
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he popular cliché, ‘first impression sticks’ is not applicable to Chief (Comrade) Daniel Chukwudi Obiorah (The Onwa n’etilora 1 of Anam Kingdom).If you profile and categorize him based on the spur of the moment kind of judgment, then you have done so using the wrong barometer and faulty premise. This is because at first encounter, you are confronted with a man you could pass for a middle income earner. He wears no airs and there are none around him. He is as simple as air itself. The calm ambience he exudes is just natural. He is just being himself.
However, many would be shocked to later learn that this unassuming Youngman who mingles with the lowly and the downtrodden without discrimination is workaholic, a business czar, corporate tiger and sits atop multi-billion dollars investments spanning several interests.Chief (Comrade) Daniel Chukwudi Obiorah (The Onwa n’etilora 1 of Anam Kingdom) is a tested Philanthropist, an achiever-a job creator,and an employer of labour . And he makes no noise about these.In Nigeria those often considered the greatest are the politicians, fraudulent exploiters, violent conquerors and evil geniuses turned heroes and heroines, who have out done others by stealing the community’s common wealth and sharing crumbs amongst their praise singers but Chief (Comrade) Daniel Chukwudi Obiorah (The Onwa n’etilora 1 of Anam Kingdom)people by giving them comfort with he ultimate fulfillment to them,his people.
Chief (Comrade) Daniel Chukwudi Obiorah (The Onwa n’etilora 1 of Anam Kingdom) is a courageous and dogged fighter, unassuming, highly principled and very modest in all aspects of life. His lifestyle and philosophy is worthy of emulation. A great philanthropist who has empowered numerous youths in Anam Kingdom and Delta State.
In this interview with Grassroots Publishers, he explained why he finds love in humanitarian services.
Excerpts:
Briefly tell us about your background?
Chief Daniel Obiora ( Onwa N’Etili Ora 1 of Anam Kingdom) hails from Anam in Anambra West local government area of Anambra state. I am from a very noble and humble background. I was born into a royal family of six as the fourth child. My respected Father who was also a Chief until his death. Then my lovely mother who has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me. I came from a family of farmers. After my primary and secondary education, I proceeded to Benin-Republic for further studies.
Why do you like helping people?
There is saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” For it is in giving that we receive. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. Making money is happiness; making other people happy is a superhappiness. The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Therefore, my foundation for giving is passionate; it is inborn. Life is like a circle; the more we share with others, the more the society gets better and the better we are.
What are some of the positive impacts you have made?
Some of my interventions are designed to alleviate the social, cultural and environmental issues, which is aimed at reducing the impact of poverty among the most vulnerable while creating equal opportunities for all for exponential impact on even the global society. I have engaged most seriously in Youths supportive programmes because youths they say are the leaders of tomorrow. I have also given scholarships to indigent children; provided equipment to hospitals to enhance proper health care services in Anam Kingdom.
Do you have any political ambition?
I don’t have any right now. Really, I don’t have. I have to focus on making sure that the youths are engaged and that is my joy. My major priority now is how to make life meaningful to people around me. I am not thinking of politics now.
What are the things you detest most?
Well, I do not like people telling lies particularly when they are obvious. I do not like booth licking. I want to be seen as a straight person who will just live his. Another thing I don’t like is somebody who has the skill and has refused to use it or somebody who has refused to acquire skill. You know you really cannot work with such person. So, like I said, the only way out is just to do the right thing.
What legacy would you want to leave behind?
I will want to be seen as a good person who has improved the quality of work and lives of people around me and more importantly the less privileged and youths. In spite of all I have said, I consider myself to be very, very lucky. There lots of people who are not as lucky as I am, it is not because I am special, it is just because the Almighty God made it possible for it to be so. Some people don’t have who pay their school fees yet they are very brainy and diligent students. Such people if identified in the society, I want to be seen as somebody who they can relate with, make them know that it is not the end of the world and that help can actually come from places that they least expected. I want to also use this opportunity to advice the elites to imbibe the idea of contributing to the service to humanity as the government alone cannot do it.