Obinna Don Norman (Agu Ibeku)
Benjamin Disraeli was an avant-garde two-time influential prime minister of the United Kingdom who defied his middle-class status at 26 to break into the British government.
He acquired eminence by decriminalising the work of trade unions with the promulgation of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act of 1875.
He advocated youth leadership as the panacea for good governance and the nation’s development when he said that “almost everything great has been done by youth.”
To further augment his statement, he added that “the youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity.”
Simply put, youths are the bedrock of any society, and meaningful development becomes a mirage without the youth calling the shots.
In the era where advocacy for youth leadership is gathering momentum, one name that resonates in the lips of every Abia youth is Engineer Nwafor Enyinnaya , a 46-year-old graduate of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).
His kindness, humility and selflessness are traits that distinguished him from his contemporaries. Notwithstanding his privileged upbringing, he made it an obligation to associate with those socially disenfranchised by class – the deprived and downtrodden –.
“Nothing breaks my heart more than to see children, young and old people go to bed with an empty stomach and wake up the next day not knowing where their next meal will come from,” Nana said compassionately.
He added, “Improving the lives, well-being of the underprivileged and putting smiles on their faces are the essence of my existence. That is what informed my generosity. I believe we can heal our society and curb crime and youth restiveness by showing love and care to the deprived.”
In a society where sudden wealth syndrome and egocentricity rule, it is phenomenal to see a young man who sees the world through rose-coloured glasses, Nana Nwafor, is indeed an outlier.
You can hardly differentiate him from his over 250 staffers. He is not bossy and does not treat them like pariahs. He eats with them, supports and attends all their occasions. Above all, he treats them rationally.
His staff members have encounters, moments and testimonies about Nana Nwafor to relive but could not share them publicly. According to them, he detests his act of charity publicised.
He is also a peace-loving bridge builder who cherishes friendship across borders. All his friends have one unique way of describing him – a man who pursues common causes with diplomacy and exciting flamboyance -.
However, his mansuetude and benevolence have not gone unnoticed. He has received several accolades from notable organizations. These are the Special Friend Award by Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Most Valuable Community Leader Award by Aba Sports Club.
As a devout Anglican, his priceless contribution to the church growth – both in service and resources – is immeasurable. For this reason, the Council of Knights conferred him with the Knighthood of St. Christopher.
Aside from the Anglican Church, other churches have honoured him with numerous awards for his support and contributions. These are the Merit Award (Son of Consolation) by St. Silas Church Women Ministry and the Distinguished Son and Builder in God’s Temple by Diocese of Aba Ngwa North. Others are the Award of Encouragement by Adventist Women’s Ministry and Ezi-Enyi of the Harvest by the Catholic Diocese of Aba.
Wait ooh! Did I tell you that he is a member of several engineering professional bodies and societies? Please forgive me. Sir Nana Nwafor is a Member of, Nigerian Society of Engineers, a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and an Honorary Fellow, Nigerian Environmental Society (FNES).
Least, I forget, he is also an active member of Aba Sports Club and Ngwa Patriot Forum, Abia State. The likes of Nana Nwafor must be the reason Kailash Satyarthi says thus:
“The power of youth is the commonwealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people.”
Have you seen why Nana Nwafor is a blessing to his generation, an inspiration, and a leader?
To be continued
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