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Mazi Col Anthony Okoro Eze ( Rtd)
Mazi Colonel Anthony Okoro Eze [Rtd] was born on 23 December, 1932, in Ekka present day Ebonyi State, as a scion of the Eze-Ole dynasty of Amangwu-Arochukwu. His parents were the famous Customary Court Judge, Mazi Eze Ole and Madam Grace Nwaite Eze. He was born into a large polygamous family as his father married twelve wives.

His early education was at Joint Community School, Achiagu and St Theresa's School, Abakaliki. Following his academic propensity, he won a scholarship to the prestigious Government College, Umuahia in 1949. There, he not only distinguished himself academically but also in the sporting arena notably at football, hockey and cricket. Due to his leadership qualities in the Boys Brigade, his School Principal - Mr. Simpson - advised him to pursue a career in the army. This he wholeheartedly accepted.

He had a brief stint at P&T Engineering School, Oshodi before joining the Nigerian Army officers’ cadre. After basic training, he was sent to Teshie Military Academy in Ghana from where he was chosen to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in January 1957. In 1959, he headed to the Royal School of Signals, Catterick where he undertook several courses in military communications.

It was while on a course in England that he met and married his darling wife Mrs. Joan Angelina Eze, a nurse, in 1961. She was from Grenada in the Caribbean and would be his rock through thick and thin.

Not long after his return to Nigeria, Col. Eze was sent to the Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force. On his return, he rejoined the Signals Regiment and became the first Nigerian commander in 1964. He served there with distinction till he was made the Lagos Garrison Commander in January 1966.

It was from this post in Yaba that he had a miraculous escape during the coup of July 1966 when mutinous Northern troops tried to assassinate him.

During the ill-fated Nigeria-Biafra Civil War from 1967-70, he served as GOC 12 Division of the Biafran Army as Brigadier. The environment brought out the best in him as he served with merit in a severely depleted Biafran army. At the end of the war in 1970, he had to deal with premature retirement but in his usual way forged ahead and set up a Communications Consultancy Firm that helped bring Siemens into Nigeria. He had extensive consulting services with Federal Ministry of Communications and the Signals Regiment over the next decade. In the 1980s, he became Chairman of the Nigerian Hockey Federation where he pursued a vigorous path of growth for Nigerian hockey and distinguished himself with his upright and forward-thinking leadership. He also became Chairman of Land Use Allocation Commission in Old Imo State. He was a Board member of Nigercem Cement Company, Nkalagu. In all his business dealings, he was always watchful of anything that would besmirch his family name. He was very passionate about his community affairs, notably his village, Arochukwu. He served Nzuko Arochukwu as the President of Lagos Branch and first Vice President-General at the national level. He helped champion the formation of Eze Aro Advisory Council and served in it for many years. He was a member of Okpankpo Arochukwu. He was a devoted family man with three children - Andrew, Yvette, Chukwuma - and seven grandchildren. He was also a man whose hobbies included tennis, photography and travelling. He travelled extensively with his immediate family in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. He was a devout Catholic and was quite passionate about social justice and the betterment of society.

He was a deeply humble, intelligent and articulate man with high self-esteem. He never hesitated to help others and was always available to advise people. He believed passionately in Scholarship and helped many Aro sons and daughters to attain their educational dreams.

A distinguished Aristocrat who never tolerated mediocrity. In life and death, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.