An Unsung Quintessential Philanthropist: O J Mbonu, imparting the art of generosity

Ezeakukwu Emmanuel Nsoedo

A few people would readily claim intimate knowledge and understanding of the person, Chief Dr OJ Mbonu. It will be easy to claim him as buddies, even though, it might as well be an affinity easily drawn from the charisma of OJ Mbonu,- an ability to make people of any social standing to feel at home with him.

OJ or Ozuomee Nnewi as he is fondly called, is a man who simply has got a Midas’ touch, a perfectionist, yet very unassuming, and at ease; unlike the restlessness associated with those that possess incredibly very high intellect as OJ.

• 

I am very sure that Ozuomee may not be very thrilled with discussing him in the manner that I am doing, but it will be unfair to our wider readers who may benefit from the seamless manner he had always approached projects.

In doing so, he demands accountability, promotes excellence and fairness. He incorporates people to his projects, and always seeded the ownership to the group while pushing all angles to ensure that the tasks are done within the time frame designated for each project.

He possesses “a-can-do” attitude in whatever he engages in whether it is a concept or formulated project ready to go.

OJ just invested multimillion naira solar and inverter power system at St Felix Catholic church Egbu-Umuenem, Otolo, Nnewi. It was few people who knew what he did.

What is clear is that he positively affects those around him to move in tandem with him or feel challenged to adopt independent projects.

The reader must know that this is not an attempt to bite at doing a comprehensive summary of Oj Mbonu; that will be a herculean task because OJ Mbonu is a colossus and an enigma.

Dr. Oj Mbonu is such a generous person when it comes to sharing what he has. Still, nothing excites him more than when a community member or any person at all gives generously for common development. Such gestures would excite him so much that he would throw parties to have an opportunity to eulogize such selfless givers.

One must appreciate that as gregarious as OJ is, he is brilliant at how he gives so that the beneficiaries understand that a lot of hard work went into accumulating the means that facilitated the giving. Even the donations he makes to the community in terms of utilities are tailored to generate maximum effects and some teaching moments to members of the community on how to maximize the art of giving.

While not trying to itemize the role Ozuomee has played in the lives of many individuals to strengthen their livelihood, education, employment, or access to the corporate world where he has excelled and continues to thrive at the apex, it will make sense to point out just a few of those projects.

i. The Nnewi Ofala: During one of his directorship tenures at Nigeria Breweries Plc, he engineered a symbiotic policy that helped advertise Nnewi Monarchy and Nnewi as an old kingdom through incorporating the Nnewi Ofala festival as part of the company’s product packaging. It is essential that why his company invested in the festival in all its ramifications, NBL did also generate value from the relationship. He balances the act.

ii. Scholarship Scheme: DR Oj Mbonu, just like some generous individuals, has always been a person that loves knowledge acquisition. He has always been a “top dog” when it comes to academics. He is where he is today because of his proven record of excellence in academics. Because of that, it has always been his choice to offer scholarships to relatives and several non-related people. He does, however, demand accountability from the recipients.

Egbu Educational Trust Fund (EETF) is one of the schemes he promoted and got the whole community to embrace it and make it theirs. The underlying quest for this program was to sift out academically gifted students of all categories who may not be able to finance their academic pursuits.

In choosing the successful candidates to benefit from these comprehensive grants, individuals with sufficient credibility form the various layers of oversight to manage the selection process. Every step is published as the selection process progresses, and a detailed report is made available on the community’s APPS.

The hard copy is also presented to the general meeting so that those unable to follow the online report will be accommodated. Once OJ Mbonu became aware of this idea, he brought it home and painstakingly taught our people all they needed to do. All the beneficiaries are unknown to every actor that has anything to do with Board or committees related to the scholarship scheme.

The Egbu scholarship scheme blueprint is now being sought after by some highly intelligent and professionals who are charitable. One needs to see the eagerness with which he shared and cheer the recipients on with words of encouragement.

iii. Security: The community’s security has always had some vehicle to aid in the discharge of their duty. Motorcycles and other necessities are employed to ensure capability. OJ Mbonu invested in a sophisticated walkie-talkie system to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. The security personnel reaches each other instantly when there is a need. The issue of no credit or bad network becomes a nonissue. Any information from a point will reach the man over two kilometers away instantly to be a part of the action.

Oj Mbonu is facilitating the construction of the road the ran from Abel Okoye road through Mbonu street, which spurs to Eke Awka-Etiti to Abada road Nnewi. The road has become such an ugly mess that even four-wheel trucks had a serious problem getting through the street.

The road today is getting a quality drainage system built to last an asphalt laid to the specification OJ Mbonu agreed with the contractor. Meanwhile, the road has been rehabilitated to ease the suffering of those living on the road while the main job continues, and the road has once more become a beehive of activities.

For a man who has influenced many career advancement, a man who has supported many individuals in the businesses, a man who is easily lost in a crowd, and loves to dine with the mightiest and lowliest without any distinction to him, other than the fact that they are human beings, he is but a man destiny. Oj Mbonu remains anonymous in sharing himself and resources with the broader public; it is about time we say: thank you for all you have been doing, more so for the ongoing road project.