By Dr. Anslem Iwuji
On Saturday, March 12th, 2022, all roads led to one of the most popular Hotels, AllSeasons in Owerri, the Imo state capital for not only to celebrate a notable scholar and reformer extraordinary, but to witness the empowerment of widows, the less privileged and the physically challenged.
To every individual, the occasion was meant to celebrate a man that has contributed immensely in bettering humanity, but at the chagrin of the mammoth crowd, the event became a cynosure of sustainably lavished empowerment of sorts garnished with structured intellectual extravaganza with the theme, “Upholding Unity in Diversity in Nigeria” by erudite scholars put together by the celebrant.
Obviously, Prof Protus Uzoma marks his birthday every 5th of March, but in addendum to make it colorful and sustainably impactful, Prof Uzoma decided to stretch the programme to March 12th, to enable him bring out the best for his guests.
Obviously, one who attended the event would have mistook it to a political rally considering the number of notable political, social, and religious leaders in attendance; but convinced on the cross-capacity of Prof Uzoma to bring every section or manner of persons together, the apprehension becomes doused.
Prof Uzoma means something to different persons. This is not due to his scholarly disposition and acclimatized intellectual scapularies to find urgent solutions to issues of urgency.
In the words of John Holmes, “A child is born from a parent, but a savior is made from a woman”. Prof Uzoma is such a savior that is made from a woman, rather than being born by a parent.
A philosopher of note, an acclaimed juggernaut, a human spiritism of inestimable value; so calm but rugged, very and highly loaded with intellectual solutions, an extraordinary-ordinary specie of unknown world in human manifest, so adoring, ravishing and urbane!
The occasion of his birthday anniversary was preceded with myriads of awards from different groups and tribes; Orluzurumee Youths, Imo Newspaper Editors, and the most curious one, from Ogoja, Cross Rivers state indigenes…oh what a man with infectious intellectual panorama!!!
What an occasion that attracted Major General Ihekere, Prof Francis Dike (SAN), Commissioner of Police (Imo state Command), HRH Eze (Barr) Emma Obiakor, CP Rtrd, and a virtuous woman, Chief (Mrs) Virginia Anyanwu (Mother to the PDP Nat’l Secretary), Senator Samdaddy Anyanwu.
Others include, guest lecturers, Rt Hons. Jones Onyeriri, Asiwaju Jerry Alagboso, and Prof Aham Anyanwu, Traditional Ruler of Isuokporo Isunjaba, HRH Eze (Barr) Chikwado Darlington Ogbenna, the celebrant’s Monarch amongst others.
The occasion was also massively attended by Coordinators of Divine Mandate Movement (DMM), its women Wing, the member representing Isu state Constituency, Rt Hon Ngozi Obiefule, the Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (Imo state Chapter) and different cultural dance groups, etc.
