Remembering Emmanuel Chukwunaru

THE late Engr. Emmanuel Chukwunaru was born on August 12, 1938, to Mr. and Mrs. Mgbeahurike of Umuchoko, Umuisu Amankwo community in Uzuakoli, Bende Local Council Area of Abia State.

He began his education at St. Anthony’s Catholic Primary School Uzuakoli in 1946 but could not finish because the school hadn’t primary five and six class. Consequently, in 1950, he was moved to St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Bende.

He left St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Bende in 1951 for St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School Oloko, Ikwuano Umuahia, where he finally completed his Primary School education in 1952. In 1953, he got admitted to Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, where he obtained a scholarship from the colonial administration because of his outstanding academic performance.

He completed his Cambridge School Certificate in 1957. He moved on to Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, in 1958 and obtained his Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1959. As the clamour for Nigeria’s independence intensified in the 1950s, there was need to train Nigerian Engineers to take over from the colonial engineers after independence.

The young Emmanuel was recruited by the then P&T and sent to Marconi Training Institute (now IMT Enugu) – the only higher institution in Nigeria that offered courses in Electronics Engineering as at that time – where he obtained his National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electronics Engineering in 1963.

He also bagged a Post Graduate Diploma (full Tech) in Electronics Engineering with specialisation in Radio Transmission from London C & G, University of Cambridge in 1964. A graduate of the prestigious Harris Engineering Training Center, Quincy Illinois, USA, he attended several professional training courses in electronics engineering and was a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). His working career spanned over four decades.

He retired from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State in 1998 as Director of Engineering Services having attained the compulsory retirement age of 60. The late Chukwunaru was a man of peace who believed in equity and justice. His philanthropy was legendry.

At his prime he paid school fees for over 20 persons who were not his children every term. Kind and generous, he never refused to give a helping hand whenever he was called upon. Chukwunaru was a good family man.

He was married and was blessed with 10 children. He loved his children so much and extremely cared for them. He is survived by Mrs. Comfort and Jemima Chukwunaru, 10 children, 20 grandchildren and many relatives and friends, who fondly remember him today. They pray for the continued repose of his soul in the bosom of the Almighty God.