By chijioke hilary
For those who are not familiar with a quintessential gentleman and astute politician leading the Campaign and Mobilization Committee of Imo state PDP, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, the entrepreneur is a gifted icon enriched with the magic wand to turn things around.
From a humble beginning, Chukwueke who recently bagged the Ohamadike of Owerri title, is an enigma who could be said to have risen from grass to grace.
Born on the 25th of January 1957 by late Uba Chukwueke and Chief Mrs Martha Chukwueke of Umukwe Ndegbelu in the ancient kingdom of Awaka, Owerri North LGA, young Jerry went through the crucibles of Western Education that ended up at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland USA, where he read Political Science and International Studies.
As a versatile and multi talented person, Jerry Chukwueke’s life has witnessed a chequered history bothering on growth and success. From a humble beginning, the old boy of St Augustine’s College Nkwerre and St Francis College Oturkpo, Benue State, rose from the position of a night guard to that of a General Sales Manager in a Ford Motor Company in the USA in record time of six years.
Propelled by goodluck and determined to carve a niche for himself, Chukwueke left the Ford Motor Company to establish his own automobile company known as Dominion Automobile Group with major dealerships of Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge Motors, a dynamic company of over 200 staff strength and annual turnover of over 60 million US dollars.
When the American economy went into recession in the early 90s, this astute young businessman and tycoon diverted from the US to invest in his fatherland, Nigeria where he set up the high flying Germaine Group of Companies with interests spanning the areas of automobiles, logistics, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and Real Estate.
Chukwueke’s magical touches have turned Germaine fortunes as it now occupies a space in the map of top class indigenous companies in Nigeria, with an annual turnover of over N10 billion naira and over 500 employers.
Apart from involvement in Germaine, Chukwueke’s business empire has diversified into other firms, including oil and gas and hospitality Industries.
There is no doubt that the positive impacts by the corporate mogul and empire builder attracted several awards as he was in 1991 among the Top awardees of Dominion Ford Mercury Award of the Dominion Automobile Group. In 2008, the Guardian Newspaper named him one of 20 outstanding Role Models in Corporate Nigeria, while Tell Magazine named him amongst 20 notable Leaders in Corporate Nigeria. Same applies to Newswatch Magazine who recognized him amongst 50 Notable Leaders in Corporate Nigeria.
Chukwueke’s life does not revolve around business alone. The PDP member who is an illustrious son of Owerri is an unassuming philanthropist and political strategist who has exploited the party’s Contact and Mobilization Committee to not only reposition and reconcile but also re-energize and rebrand the party for the challenges ahead. Suffice it to note that Opara Ukwu Ekpudo Awaka has a history with gubernatorial contests in Imo State. In 2007 he was adopted as the consensus candidate of Owerri Zone PDP in 2007 but gave way to Okigwe Zone, based on the zoning arrangement of the Party.
It is for these impeccable attributes and qualities that monarchs from Owerri Zone considered him to be conferred with the Ohamadike Owerri Chieftaincy title which he took last weekend.
However, the ceremony was shrouded in controversy, as the Governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha ordered Traditional Rulers not only not to appear there, but asked them not to endorse the Chieftaincy. But the Monarchs defied the instruction and crowned their illustrious son, the Ohamadike of Owerri Federal Constituency.
Present to witness the epoch making event include, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Imo State, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker House of Reps, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chief Agariwe, President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Leo Stan Eke, Bar Chief Humphrey Anumudu and many others.
