Okparaku at 60: Lessons from business, culture, service to humanity

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Chief Dr Chukwudi Okparaku, a businessman and traditional leader, says honesty, perseverance, respect for cultural heritage and commitment to community service are among the enduring lessons from his 60 years of life.

Okparaku, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday, said his journey from humble beginnings to business success across freight forwarding, manufacturing, transportation and logistics had taught him the importance of consistency, sacrifice and learning from life’s challenges.

In an interview reflecting on his personal journey, business experiences, cultural identity, community service and hopes for Nigeria, he attributed his achievements to hard work, the values instilled in him by his parents and his faith in God.

“From 1988 till today, I have been on the block. It has not been easy, but being patient, consistent, hardworking and committed to my vision has brought me to where I am today,” he said.

Okparaku’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1986, after leaving school in 1985, when he joined his father’s cosmetics trading business in Onitsha, Anambra.

He worked with his father for about two years before disagreements compelled him to leave and begin fending for himself in 1988.

He said the experience taught him independence, resilience and the need to take responsibility for his decisions.

According to him, the values of honesty and diligence became the foundation of his business relationships and helped him build a reputation for reliable service.

“My parents taught me to be honest and truthful in whatever I do.

“I take every job seriously because I understand that to build a brand, I must do every job given to me diligently,” he said.

He explained that delivering quality services consistently had helped him retain clients and attract new businesses through referrals.

From freight forwarding, his business interests expanded into manufacturing, including soap, cosmetics and tissue paper production, as well as the oil and gas sector.

Okparaku said the expansion reflected his determination to contribute to the Nigerian economy despite the challenges of operating businesses in the country.

He acknowledged that his career had not been without disappointments, citing difficult operating conditions, harsh weather, business setbacks and frustrations involving regulatory and security agencies at the ports.

However, he said perseverance had helped him navigate the difficulties and sustain his business interests.

“Despite the tough challenges and rough business terrain, I endured and persevered. That perseverance was what made us what we are today,” he said.

Culture as a Foundation for Identity

Beyond business, Okparaku, who holds traditional titles including Eze Chukwukwadoro Ndi-Igbo, Bobaselu of Ikotunland and Eze Ndi-Igbo of Ikotun/Igando, said respect for cultural heritage had remained central to his identity.

Born in 1966, he recalled that his father took him to their ancestral community in 1975 to learn the customs, traditions and values of the Igbo people.

He said his father believed that growing up solely in Onitsha would not adequately prepare him to understand his cultural heritage and responsibilities to his community.

According to him, elderly relatives, some of whom were about 90 and 100 years old, taught him the traditions and customs of his people.

“My father believed strongly in culture, tradition and succession. He wanted me to understand our customs and know where I came from.

“Those elders inculcated the culture, customs and everything about our tradition in me. That is why I am culturally inclined, and I can die for the culture,” he said.

He added that his Christian upbringing had also shaped his character and approach to service.

Baptised in the Catholic Church one month after his birth, Okparaku said he grew up learning the importance of devotion, responsibility and service to others.

“I do not go to church to sit down. I go to church to work, all to the glory of God,” he said.

He said his experiences had reinforced his belief that personal success should be accompanied by a commitment to preserving cultural values and contributing to the welfare of others.

Community Service and the Quest for Peace

One of the defining experiences of Okparaku’s life, he said, was his involvement in efforts to restore peace in his ancestral community after armed groups overran the area and forced residents to flee their homes.

He recalled that watching community members abandon their ancestral homes and seek refuge elsewhere was deeply distressing.

The situation, he said, prompted like-minded individuals to establish Odimmaosu, an organisation through which they mobilised resources to support efforts to restore security.

Okparaku said he emerged as the organisation’s leader and worked with other community members to engage the state government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

“That is the town where I was born. I am not a stranger there or in that local government. It is my ancestral home.

“When the community was overrun by bandits, people ran away. Watching my people go into exile was something I could not swallow,” he said.

He said the intervention involved considerable personal risks and financial sacrifices by men and women who believed that their community could regain peace.

“People warned us not to go, but we said no. If we do not go, who will do it? Some of us emptied our pockets,” he said.

Okparaku recalled that when members of the group entered the area in 2023, roads were overgrown with weeds and the community appeared deserted.

He said several people had been killed during the violence, adding that the eventual return of normalcy reflected the collective efforts of community members and security agencies.

“God used us. I was just an integral part of it. There were many gallant men and women that God used,” he said.

For Okparaku, the experience underscored the importance of collective responsibility, courage and personal sacrifice in confronting challenges affecting communities.

He said individuals who benefited from their communities had a responsibility to contribute to their security, development and overall well-being.

Faith in Nigeria Despite Challenges

Despite his experiences abroad and the difficulties of doing business at home, Okparaku said he remained confident in Nigeria’s potential.

He said the patriotism instilled in him during his elementary school years had continued to influence his decisions and investments.

“At school, we were taught patriotism, to be proud of being Nigerians and to understand that we have no other country except Nigeria.

“I have been abroad and seen it all, but I understood that those countries did not belong to me. I am a Nigerian, and I carry my Nigerian passport with pride wherever I go,” he said.

He explained that his decision to invest in Nigeria was driven by his desire to apply his experience to the country’s economic development.

Okparaku, however, said Nigeria needed effective leadership to translate its vast resources and opportunities into improved living conditions for its citizens.

“I believe in Nigeria. Till today, I believe in Nigeria. Tomorrow, I will still believe in Nigeria.

“Yes, Nigeria is a great country. What is lacking is leadership, and I believe that someday we are going to get it right,” he said.

He expressed the hope that Nigeria would develop an economic environment capable of attracting investors and skilled professionals from across the world.

Gratitude, Family and Lessons for Younger Nigerians

Reflecting on his 60 years, Okparaku said he was grateful for the experiences that had shaped his character, including the mistakes and setbacks from which he had learnt valuable lessons.

He said he preferred to regard past difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than reasons for regret.

“Whatever happened in the past is a lesson that helped to nurture the person I am today. In Igbo land, we say you do not go backwards; you move forward,” he said.

He described himself as a man who had encountered challenges but emerged stronger through experience, determination and faith.

“I can describe myself as a man who came, who saw and who conquered,” he said.

Looking ahead, Okparaku said he hoped to share his experience with younger Nigerians, guide them towards informed decisions and contribute further to national development.

“I want to impact and impart the wisdom I have to this generation, help direct them and contribute to building the economy.

“Most importantly, I want God to help me live long enough to see a new Nigeria, which I know is possible,” he said.

He also paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as a major pillar of his success, saying their 25-year marriage had been sustained by patience, sacrifice and a shared determination to overcome hardship.

He recalled that their early years together were marked by financial difficulties, including periods when they could not afford transport fares and had to trek from Ilasa-Maja to Ikotun.

According to him, his wife sometimes stayed awake until about 2 a.m. waiting for him to return from Tincan Island, where he conducted business.

He said he only recently learnt that she had sometimes visited her sister to obtain food when the family struggled to meet its basic needs.

The discovery, he said, deepened his appreciation of her sacrifices.

“My wife is a jewel of inestimable value. She is a wife given to me by God because He knew that I needed someone with patience and endurance by my side,” he said.

He added that his wife had remained a source of strength throughout the difficult and rewarding stages of their journey.

Okparaku also expressed appreciation to relatives, friends and business associates who encouraged him during the early years of his career.

He singled out a Pakistani business associate, Adnan, for helping him access business opportunities through client referrals and connections with United States companies that engaged him to clear their containers.

He also thanked companies that had maintained business relationships with his group for more than two decades.

As he begins another decade of life, Okparaku said his priorities remain service to God, preservation of his cultural heritage, support for his community, mentorship of younger Nigerians and continued investment in the country’s economy.

“To God alone be the glory, honour and adoration. Without Him, I would have been a dead man,” he said.