Johnbosco Ozigbu Continues Quest For Academic Excellence In World Renowned Universities Not Minding Business Exploits

Walk into their offices and you will find stacks of books on financial intelligence, leadership, political memoirs, social documentaries, biographies and autobiographies of successful people. You will also find books on critical economic analysis, on foreign diplomacy, on international trade, on religion, and  philosophical collections.

Meet them and you will hear stories about their latest discoveries, their new approach. They are ever learning and they seem to have minds that are more divergent than convergent.

While writing this piece around 1: 45 am this morning after a private meeting on Monday with one of the greatest leaders of all times in contemporary social discourse and political history, High Chief Johnbosco Chukwuma Ozigbu, Ph.D (Ogwuaga of Ogwuaga, Ngele of Nwangele), I was so astonished with the great institution he has built of himself in academics, research works and  entrepreneurship, alongside a number of well established business conglomerate with interests spanning in construction, maritime, drilling, oil & gas, philantrophy, and selfless community services.

Remarkably, he has done so well in all this, and left his footprints with bold signature by the numerous road projects he constructed in Abba and across Nwangele LGA, donation of over 15 three bedroom bungalow flats to indigent people, awarding educational scholarships to students, sending many youths abroad for greener pastures, and single-handedly building and donating a multi-million Naira ultra- modern church project to Christ the King Catholic Parish, Abba.

Ironically, not too many people know about the scholarly or academic aspect of his life. An estimated 70% of the people who know him, only know about his political sagacity, his business exploits as a corporate tiger and czar, a philanthropist of note, and political  emperor. The remaining 30℅ are his family members and close business associates who know him as a brain box, avowed reader, a scholar, an author, and Associate Professor. And I also write as one who knows him from a distant -close angle.

However, the public perception about High Chief Johnbosco C. Ozigbu, Ph.D, is that of a billionaire road construction giant; a money-making-machine from Ogwuaga Abba in Nwangele LGA, Imo State. Funny enough, this public perception is not completely right as it is usually silent over his strong affinity for education, rigorous pursuit for academic excellence, avowed candor for learning,  and reading books.

Colouring his academic gowns and ropes with an MBA in Banking and Finance, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in International Economics and Finance from Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt; a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D) from the same University. High Chief Johnbosco Chukwuma Ozigbu, Ph.D, also acquired a 2-year Postgraduate Diploma course in Strategy and Innovation from Oxford University’s Said Business School, United Kingdom, had another course on Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, with his latest academic feat for Senior Executive Programme – Africa at the Harvard Business School, United States of America. He has many well researched and written articles to his credit published in high-ranking journals worldwide; Oil Rents and Human Development Outcomes in Nigeria: Evidence from a Non-Linear Bounds Approach to Cointegration, Signaling Channels of Financial Service Digitalization for Financial Inclusion in Nigeria. An Amazon accredited author and best seller.

With the above recorded milestones in academics from world’s famous Universities, how else would one be best described as a scholar and powerful member of the ivory tower other than achieving this academic excellence in the best universities of the world?

Leadership goes in tandem with learning. Leadership ability is dynamic, no matter your current position whether as a top executive or chairman of a business conglomerate, there is always room for improvement. It takes a sound leader to remain vocal and relevant within the political circle even when you are not a billionaire like Alhaji Dangote.

As most leaders reach their peak while   in office and expire or become irrelevant afterwards, others continue to grow and shine even better. Ogwuaga of Ogwuaga has remained relevant in the Imo State political space for over two decades and still counting.

Despite his tight business schedules, he still finds time to read. I suppose that extensive reading and learning is the root of his understanding of the lgbo anthropology and cultural sophistication and substantial natural talent to make a quick connection between the quotidian and extraordinary, between the domestic and international. Little wonder, when he speaks, it is laden with great wisdom.

“Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply his ways in which he exits, to make his life full, significant and interesting.” Just to borrow a leaf from Aldous Huxley.

People’s attitude to books and reading speaks volumes about their mindset. Today, if you see people with the attitude that they are already educated and rely on their past skills and knowledge, you will not be seeing them much longer; they will lose their career to intense global competition and new technology.

Successful people in all spheres of life never stops acquiring specialized knowledge related to their purpose, business and interest. The truth is that people who expect to keep up in today’s world must expose themselves to life -long learning.

The likes of High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu, Ph.D (PG.Dip.Oxford University, UK, Cambridge, UK, Harvard University, USA), Hon. Chikwem Onuoha, Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, Ksp , etc, have continued to learn and grow as they acquire new knowledge, skills, certificates from world’s famous universities.

To the young men and women, who have discarded knowledge in pursuit of money and other mundane things, you better think twice. The men whom you look up to for leadership direction have distinguished themselves in learning and are found worthy in character.

Readers are leaders.

Leaders are readers.

Ngele of Nwangele is a true leader.