Elder (Chief) Chima Uzoma Apugo Onyekwere, OON hails from Amachara in Umuahia South Local Government of Abia State. He attended the elite Federal Government College, Kano, which unwittingly served as a first level learning platform in understanding and appreciating Nigeria's fundamental complexities and the character and personalities of the major actors in the Nigerian political drama.
He further obtained a degree from University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. A Masters in Information Technology- Information Assurance from UMUC. A post graduate professional management education for Chief Executives from Lagos Business School Lagos State and Harvard Business School, Boston USA. He is an active and effective Alumni of both Business Schools, and their very rich pool of contacts and opportunities that can be harvested in the service of our Nation. These are part of the formidable academic armory Chima secured.
He Started his working career in Mobil in the Exploration Department. But driven by his quest to explore the emerging opportunities in the nascent Information Technology Industry he established and ran Saap-Tech Nigeria Limited in 1986, www.saaptechafrica.com which was a technology distribution Company and a pioneer company and leader in ICT from then onwards.
Born Innovator, he championed the internet revolution in Nigeria by establishing the first Internet Service providing (ISP) company Linkserve Limited www.linkserve.net which earned him the sobriquet “Father of Nigerian Internet” by the Federal Government of Nigeria cited during his conferment in 2008. He also received the Pathfinder Award in ICT, ICT personality of the year, Titan of Technology and so many other awards industry awards over a thirty (30) Years career.
He has also funded other companies such as, Well Drill Limited and Parkhill Limited which has provided employment and stability to lots of Nigerians from across the Nigerian landscape.
In 2007, he was nominated for the conferment of a National Award by the Presidency for his pioneering work in ICT. On February 14th 2008, then President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Musa Yar’Adua Awarded him the prestigious National honour of OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF NIGER (OON).
Chima has served and is still serving Nigeria in so many High-Profile Boards such as Chairman Internet exchange Point www.ixp.net.ng and Chairman Board of Trustee of Nigeria Internet Registration Authority www.nira.org.ng. He also served as a pioneer board member of FATE Foundation www.fatefoundation.com (an NGO involved in the development of entrepreneurs focusing on younger generation).
He also served as a President General of his elite school Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association.
In 2011, Chima moved back to Amachara, Umuahia to engage in community development from his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. A move that saw him experience, first hand, the poor level of all developmental milestones in the lives of our people. Haunted by the observance of lack of basic infrastructure, frightening figures of unemployment, lack of primary skill sets, abysmal education and rampaging hunger amongst our people, Chima chose to cast his lot in service to the people at the most primary level by accepting the honor of community service to his village, Amachara as president General, a position he has held for 5 years running and which has served as a platform for better understanding the most needful requirements of our people. With his team, he resolved several nagging communal disputes: land, commerce, agricultural practices and other major matters of interest. He championed the now acclaimed Amachara Day which is in its 5th year and waxing stronger, and currently stands as an annual unification event for Amachara citizens in Nigeria and the diaspora and also a veritable tool for community development. Chima, worked with others to start a daily free clinic for children and the elderly, located and optimally functional within the precincts of the Amachara community Civic center, caring for society's most vulnerable population.
He has partnered and endowed several empowerment programs, where skill set acquisition is key, taking to heart the Chinese adage that says "it is better to teach a man to catch fish than to give him fish". He has also helped in the acquisition of tools and machinery for trainees and various others so they can have a head start. He has assisted many young and aspiring business men through funding and logistics, and engaged others to help with business incubation requisites, and provided scholarship schemes to the indigent and financial succor to the bewildered widow.
Thus, it is in the course of his role as community leader that he suffered gunshot attacks as a result of his resolve to defend the oppressed but was never deterred on a course he was determined to pursue in the service of humanity.
He is an ordained Elder and a Qualified Lay Preacher in Methodist Church. Presently servicing as the church Steward for English Service at the St Stephen Cathedral Amachara in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State.
Chima Onyekwere was On December 26th 2017, within the hallowed grounds of Ama-Ukwu, Amachara, conferred with the traditional Chieftaincy title of Iyi Udo Amachara (River of Peace), by AMACHARA ELDERS COUNCIL, for his Sterling qualities of remarkable leadership. This is the first time ever of such a conferment with all the elders in the community endorsing. His citation acknowledged his love for peace, leadership competency and ability to draw development and transformation to his community.
Iyi Udo Amachara is an amazing family man, husband and father to five accomplished now independent children one of whom is Nigeria's representative in shot-put and discuss. He's a celebrated business man, a role model, a proven community servant and leader, an outstanding trailblazer whose skills, courage, depth, vision and reach are needful for these times.
