User:Oyiriola/sandbox/Igwe Edward A. Nnaji

Birth/Early Life
Igwe Edward Anike Nnaji was born in 1918 to the family of late Elder Nnaji Nwanike of Iji Nike in Enugu State of Nigeria. His father was a poor farmer. He also sold horses and slaves. His mother, Nwa Alum Nwanike trained Edward together with his four brothers in house chores. They cleaned the compound, went to farm, cooked, fetched water, washed clothes, etc. He started his primary education at St, Patrick’s, Coal Camp, Enugu but poverty did not allow him as his father could not pay his school fees.

Marriage and family life
Igwe Edward Nnaji had a polygamous family. He married seven wives. This in Igbo culture was to exhibit wealth, fame, a show of administrative prowess, to maintain family relations, as well as numerous births. His main reason was to increase number of children and this resulted in his today’s large family. His wives and their children are as follows;

1st Late  Agnes Nnaji had six children

2nd Cecillia Nnaji had five children

3rd Late Nnenna Nnaji had three children

4th Ugwu Oja Nnaji had a child

5th Benedict Nnaji has five children

6th Late Elizabeth Nnaji had two children

7th Cathlene Nnaji has five children.

Igwe Nnaji was blessed with twenty-seven children

Political/traditional Career
Igwe Edward Nnaji in 1939 was sent by his father to represent his village (Iji). He was a member of Finance Committee appointed to collect taxes and return accounts to Agbani, the Headquarters of Nkanu until 1944. At the expiration of his father’s tenure, Ugwu Okwo Eneoka, who was supposed to take over asked Igwe Edward to represent him. This was as a result of Igwe Edward’s generosity and compassion. Due to his good representation he also represented Anike Nwaemene Nnamani before handing over to Ikpe Nweta. He had also represented Nike people during the Nike-Ngwo land dispute in 1942. During the time Igwe Nnaji was representing his father in ishi Ani, he makes bountiful return from tax collection with gains and community money was entrusted to him to keep safe. Because of his deep involvement in traditional matters, the people of Iji Nike appointed Igwe Edward to represent them with the introduction of Chiefs known as Okachamma (Best Man) by the Europeans in 1957. As a member of the Committee of Privileges, Igwe Edward Nnaji became a judge in Customary Court and in 1958 he was appointed a member of the Appeal Court in Udi. This he did till 1960 when he handed over to Chief Joseph Okolo of Amorji so he- Igwe Edward Nnaji can represent Nike as a second Class Chief of Eastern Nigeria and Head of Nike clan.

In the year 1960 that Nigeria got her independence, Igwe Edward Nnaji competed with Chief Isaac Mba, his friend in order to produce a Common Chief to represent Nike in the House of Chiefs. He was elected to represent Nike community. He then competed with Chief Nnaji Nweze from Owoto represent Nkanu County Council in the Eastern Council of chiefs and won again. This post he held till January 15, 1966 when the military took over power. When the civil war ended, communities were asked to produce traditional rulers. Igwe Edward Nnaji was selected by his people and he was given certificate of recognition. The then Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, reconstituted the State’s Council of Chiefs during the Second Republic (1979-1983) and Igwe Edward was recognized. The military struck again in 1983, disorganizing the Second Republic. The then military Governor reconstituted the State’s Council of Chiefs in 1984 in which Igwe Edward Nnaji continued to be part of. This continued till the creation of Enugu State in August 27, 1991. Enugu State Council of Chiefs was reconstituted with Igwe Edward Nnaji as the Deputy Chairman.

Achievements
Nike community initially found nothing good in Western education. They believed it was to make them servants of the Westerners. For this reason, no Nike man served in the Coal Corporation. Igwe Edward Nnaji saw this and introduced free primary education in Nike in 1957. This made every male child in Umuewene Iji Nike to be entitled to a scholarship. This scholarship was extended to secondary and university levels. He also brought electricity to his community in 1962. He equally brought pipe borne water and tarred some roads in his community.

In 1996, His Royal Majesty the Igwe Edward Nnaji made a great remarkable choice by crowning a young boy the mayor of Nike. That young man today is the “Okwe I of Okwe Kingdom” – the traditional ruler and leader of the people of Ibagwa-Nike and in the person of Igwe (Dr.) Emmanuel Oluchukwu Ugwu, “Anyanwu N’awulu Oha I” of Ibagwa-Nike.

Death
HRH Igwe Edward Anike Nnaji died on December 24, 1998. He reigned for fifty-three years before his demise.