By Perpetua Egesimba

It was an electric atmosphere at the Hotel Ibis Royal, Airport Road, Lagos, recently.

Members of Obizi Improvement Union, Lagos Branch, gathered at the hotel to celebrate an illustrious son of the community, Ignatius Enyeribe Nwogu, who was recently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army.  

The event brought together indigenes of Obizi in Imo State from far and near. In attendance were traditional rulers of the community as well as officers of the Nigerian Army. There was also presentation of awards to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General O.O. Adeleke) and some other illustrious sons and daughters of Obizi. 

Chairman, Obizi Improvement Union, Lagos Branch, Joe Nnamocha, said the community decided to celebrate Major Nwogu because he was the first Major General produced by the community. 

“We are celebrating him to encourage him to fight more to make Nigeria a united country. We are expecting God to preserve his life because it is not easy. As a soldier; you are exposed to so many dangers.”

He said the community was excited at having a Major General. “At least, let our name be recorded as one of the communities that produced Generals in this country. That is our joy,” he said.

“We recognised Lieutenant Buratai too because without him as the Chief of Army Staff, the promotion of our son wouldn’t have been possible. He must have played a role in the elevation of our son.”

He said the Nigerian Army under the leadership of General Buratai was one of the best in the world today, considering the army’s professionalism, military leadership and administration, peacekeeping missions and counter terrorism engagement, especially, Boko Haram and militancy in Nigeria.

While congratulating General Nwogu, the Obo 1 of Obokwu, Eze Canice Akujuobi Osuagwu, described the General as a man that had stood out in the community through his philanthropic activities.

Related News

“He is my son and my subject. I gave him a chieftaincy title last year. He is our illustrious son and we in Obizi community are celebrating him today for his new promotion. You know, he was in Borno State fighting Boko Haram,” said the monarch.

Eze Osuagwu said General Nwogu had given scholarships to people in his community, donated transformers and renovated secondary schools.

“For me to travel from Imo State to Lagos State to celebrate him means a lot. It shows that we are proud of him. My message to him is to add more to what he has been doing in my community,” he noted.

Anorue Ugochukwu, an engineer, described General Nwogu as a man of integrity and a very courageous man, one with the interest of his people at heart.  

“We are proud of him and we are also appealing to him to make sure that all our young men who are not aware of what is happening in the Army are enlightened, so that we will have as many people as we can in the military,” he stated.

Responding, Brigadier General Nwogu appreciated his people for celebrating his achievement.

“I feel great because the people that are celebrating me are my own people, my community and words are not enough to thank them. It doesn’t happen like this all the time. It shows that the people are happy with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Chief of Army Staff who found me worthy as one of the people to be elevated to the rank of General. So I am most delighted.”

General Nwogu said the occasion was a veritable way of making the younger ones to know that whenever they were working hard, they could achieve success. He noted that it was a way of changing the moral values of the society.

“They will only expect me to recommend them which I have been doing, but the Nigerian Army is an organisation where half of what you do yourself is what takes you into the system. You have to have the prerequisites that they require. Whatever prerequisite they require for joining the Army, if you have it, from your medical history and fiscal fitness, you are good to go. These are not things anybody can do for you. It is when you have passed all these stages and it gets to the point where they see you worthy to join the force, then that is the time they can now say hey, my brother help me. If the board is sitting, support me.

“The message to my people is very simple: It is the people that develop a state. You don’t have to wait for white-collar jobs. And you have to be innovative and creative. Research and development is the way to go,” he advised.