By Ingram Osigwe
He is Bishop, yet he neither presides over a congregation of Christian adherents nor flaunts the Bishop’s robe as General Overseer of a church. But this Bishop is not without following, clout and influence. In fact, he supridents over a conclave of special kind-human and material resources for the benefit of fellow Nigerians. This is a Bishop with a difference because he sits atop a multi-billion Naira business empire. He is an industrialist, shrewd businessman and a philantropist.Welcome to the exciting world of Chief Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Okonkwo,OFR, popular as Emma Bishop Okonkwo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ekulo Group of Companies. He is one of the few mortals who shares birthday with the prince of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Emma Bishop Okonkwo belongs to the rare breed of Nigerians whose milk of human kindness flows endlessly to the less privileged yet no noise is heard about it. The Okonkwo’s and their friends look forward to every Christmas with special fondness and feverish enthusiasm. It has always been a joyous, double celebration for them: Christ’s birthday (Christmas) and Emma Bishop’s birthday. However, this year’s Emma’s birthday is significant because the Ekulo boss has turned 60.And has therefore joined the club of senior citizens.
In the business and manufacturing turf, Emma has achieved a milestone. It’s for this reason that a great number of his friends, business partners and fellow captains of industry say his new age and eventful, enchanting achievements in virtually all spheres of human endeavor deserve loud celebration.Notedly, it is a no mean feat that, in the face debilitating economic downturn, in an era when industries are shutting down and workers laid off, Emma Bishop Okonkwo proudly and patriotically keeps his conglomerate high and above the raging gale.Rather than succumb to the grim economic tide, Okonkwo has in the last one year guided the Ekulo Group to a giant leap with the expansion of its products via addition of more household brands into the Nigerian market. Such recent additions are Hawaii Carrot and Hawaii Papaya calamansi soaps produced by one of Ekulo’s subsidaries, Evans Industries limited. Evans Industries also manufactures wide range of household products, including Eva Complexion and Meditol medicated and antiseptic range of soaps.
Born at Ichi, Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state, Emma Bishop Okonkwo is married to Lady Franca Ngozi Okonkwo and they are blessed with five Children.A philanthropist of repute, he has touched many lives through his numerous acts of charity. His scholarship programme has been of immense benefit to several youths who yearned for education. These philanthropic gestures have earned him several awards. Emma executes his philanthropic gesture through his Foundation, Emma Bishop Okonkwo Foundation. He has through this Foundation reached out to many institutions in Nigeria, especially in his home state, Anambra. These include Ambulances and hospital equipment he has donated to major hospitals: Lagos state University Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, Charles Boromeo Hospital, Onitsha and Iyi Enu Hospital, Ogidi.
The Foundation has also sponsored the highly commendable health programmes of ASA-USA in four Anambra towns, namely, Awka, Mbaukwu, Umuoji and Ichi. It equally made huge donations to flood victims in Anambra. Emma Okonkwo, through his Foundation, single handedly built the popular Carol Convent Secondary school, fully equipped it before handing it over to the Anglican Church. Widows in his community are full of effusive praises for him for lifting them just as the youths adore him for empowering them.
In recognition of his service to humanity, former president Good luck Jonathan in 2011 conferred him with the award of the Order of the Federal Republic OFR.In 2013; Emma was honoured by the SUN newspaper as the Businessman of the year, 2012.
Emma Bishop Okonkwo, KSC, attended St. James Anglican School, Ichi and thereafter proceeded to the famous Okongwu Memorial Secondary School, Nnewi where he excelled in academic endeavors. He later acquired Diploma in Business Management through Correspondence courses. He also attended Seminars and Workshops which further prepared for the business and manufacturing arena.
Through dint of hard work, Emma was to acquire business acumen under the tutelage of his late father culminating in his founding of the Ekulo Group in the 1980s.Apart from manufacturing; Okonkwo is also into Property Development, Capital Market, Prime Brand management and Development. His hobbies include Table Tennis, football, travelling and reading.
Ingram Osigwe is the media Consultant to Ekulo Group of Companies