Farewell Prof Ebere Onwudiwe By Apollos Nwauwa

Nigeria has lost another eminent scholar, Prof Ebere Onwudiwe. He died in the early hours of Saturday, January 9, of COVID-19. Prof Pat Utomi had already called on Ohaneze to postpone its elections to give Ndigbo some time to honor the late Prof Onwudiwe. A native of Isunjaba in ISU LGA of Imo State, Prof Onwudiwe was an economist, political scientist, author, and columnist on social issues relating to Nigeria and Africa. He was a prolific writer and a regular columnist in both Guardian and Vanguard newspapers.

Besides his professional pedigree, Ebere was my brother (from a different mother) and a very close colleague who lived and worked in Ohio with me before relocating to Nigeria a few years ago. Also, his hometown is adjacent to mine; needless to say that I have been emotionally distraught by his sudden exit. Before leaving for Nigeria, Prof Onwudiwe served as the Director of the Center for African Studies at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio. He mentored me as faculty administrator when I became the director of Africana Studies in my university.

Before his death, he was chairman of O-Analytics in Abuja after serving as a governance consultant with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more on Prof Onwudiwe, please see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebere_Onwudiwe

Just recently, on December 26, 2020, Ebere was honored with a chieftaincy title for his lifetime achievements by the Isunjaba community. It was only a few days ago that he informed me about this investiture and promised to send the pictures that have yet to arrive before the cold hands of death struck.

Prof Ebere Onwudiwe will be sorely missed. Funeral arrangement has not been announced.

May God grant his soul an eternal rest.

-Apollos Nwauwa