The man, Chief Okah Okechukwu came into the world like every other existing soul. By his doggedness, hard work and determination today, he is a pillar to many in the society. Like they say, charity begins at home. He has become the mainstay of his community, where, for his unfailing contribution to the less-privileged, youths and aged ones, he was graciously bestowed with the chieftaincy title of “Eze Omekwa Ali I of Elele by the good chiefs Ohame Eze Council of Elele.
To say that, he is kind and golden hearted is an understatement. He sees doing good work as part of his life, as if his existence is dependent on serving humanity with the little resource he has gathered by dint of hard work.
He is responsible to many souls being alive today in Rivers State, not minding where such souls come from, this he finds pleasure to do indiscriminately both in his home town and wherever he finds himself. His caring and generosity nature speak volume amongst his peers without any particular gain from his good philanthropic gesture wide and near. He has more than 100 wards under his generosity scheme as he pays their school fees and places some even on special scholarship.
He is a traditional ruler, an entrepreneur, public social peace crusader, philanthropist, a community advocate, promoter of peace, promoter of youth talents and encourages youths’ peaceful co-existence. He also encourages hard work among the youths in the society. A detribalized brother of all times, who believes in the philosophy of brothers without border.
Traditional Ruler
As a man, Chief Okah Okechwukwu, impressed the council of chiefs in Elele and in appreciation of his life style and good conduct, he was found competent to sit among the traditional rulers council of his immediate community hence the entire Elele traditional rulers council of chiefs bestowed on him the unique title of “Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, as a mark honour and appreciation to this noble man of Rivers State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His selfless contribution to humanity started from when he was a mere young boy of six years. Little as he was then, he respected his elders and offered himself to helping any elder that came in contact with him with all sorts of manual assistance he could render. He found pleasure in carrying firewoods, assisting elderly women with their domestic needs. The most striking part of Chief Okah Okechukwu, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, is the pleasure he derives in assisting the elders and anybody in need. Even as a young man growing up then, his noble mind of assisting his fellow man became prominent when he had made some money. As a chief in Elele community, he made it a standing policy to assist his fellow traditional rulers with a token on monthly basis. This he does annually without stress or regret. In fact, he does this unfailingly with delight.
This is another feat he has demonstrated to keep his good nature of his tender youth days on. The Oha Omelele chiefs of Elele community are special chiefs that should be treated with dignity. This chief Okah Okechukwu, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele has taken as his responsibility to see that these chiefs are supported with a token of each person per month. This is another unique gesture that this well meaning son of the soil has demonstrated. Well over fifty (50) Oha Omelele chiefs of Elele are placed under this special scheme just to add meaning to these chiefs of repute from his community. This goes to show the level of respect and generosity of Chief Okah Okechukwu, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele.
Philanthropist
How will one describe the numerous philanthropic contributions of chief Okah Okechukwu, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, to the Rivers Society and his immediate community? Doing good is Chief Okah Okechukwu’s way of life, right from the cradle. Youthful and enterprising, jovial, caring and loving as he would be, he never toys with the idea of helping his fellow man no matter where one comes from. No wonder he spread his tentacles wide to reach out to as many people as possible.
Mostly the youths of Rivers State and his immediate community have benefited from him in no small way. He deemed it fit to have the youths in one umbrella to front common goal of unity. Many youths, through his effort, are gainfully employed and are doing well as they no longer depend on anybody to fend for themselves and their families.
He supported his community in initiating a football competition to encourage football talent excel during the yuletide period to compliment the festivity.
As if that is not enough, he went on to complement the lives of the windows, elderly women, and married ones inclusive in procuring farmlands for their farming upkeeps. This he does without discrimination annually.
He also has many students in his scholarship scheme as he is solely responsible for their school welfare and needs
Entrepreneur
It is a man of golden heart that could have another man in his heart as he journeys into life endeavour. Chief Okah Okechukwu, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, is a successful businessman, a true investor in Rivers state. To support Rivers youths and the government while he had all the opportunity to invest in overseas, he chose to come down to Rivers State to support the economy and the youths by establishing a world class well furnished hotel which is like heaven on earth.
He is the Director of Ocabique Nigeria Limited (Ocabique planet Hotels), situated at No. 5 Okah close by Chinda Avenue, off stadium road, Port Harcourt.
Indeed, Ikwerre Local Government should be proud of this selfless son of the soil. He, through his hotels, has empowered both male and female youths in the state as they make their livelihood through the hotels.
He used his hotels to encourage night social life in the city of Port Harcourt, thus making entertainment a little easier for those who believe in social recreational life.
As a man who has the interest of the youths at heart, he went on to establish another Ocabique Hotel in his home town Elele in order to engage the youths in meaningful activity as a way of empowerment instead of allowing them to roam about, looking for jobs. The Hotel has 86 rooms with an Olympic size swimming pool.
According to his manager, Aguma, he is doing that also to accommodate the youths in his home town which had always been his dream to help the youths find their feet through using their hands to fend for themselves.
Speaking further, Aguma states that he did that to encourage the youths of his community to enjoy the comfort of present day civilization at home.
Social Peace Crusader
As a man who has the interest of Rivers State, he had always supported the Rivers State Government as he gathered ladies and youths of the state to organize peaceful co-existence rallies in the state. To achieve this, he bought the group a bus for their rallies, campaigning for good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence in Rivers State.
He sponsored the youths to be patriotic and be part of the political system of the country, in voting for a candidate of their choice in any party they so desire.
He used the opportunity to address the youths to either be voted for, or look out for a candidate whom they think could represent their interest in government.
He was also instrumental to the present government in power as he supported the party in no small measure, supporting the campaign team of youthful energetic women and youths to go all the way to fulfill their political ambition.
Encouraging peace
He has always wanted Rivers State to exist as a peaceful state hence he supported every move and action of peace. This he combined with the political set up of the state and zeroing down on the youths to achieve his dream. He had been doing this for the past governments as a social crusader and peace promoter.
Chief Okah Okechukwu, Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, is a man who had given enough to be counted as one of those who love Rivers state and the youths. His selfless effort in seeing humanity exist as one indivisible family is commendable in the land of the living.
As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. The Eze Omekwa-Ali I of Elele seems to have understood this adage. No wonder he pursues goodness as if his entire essence of existence depends on that.
He also has contributed in many ways to the peaceful co-existence of youths in his community. Such a man is not common to locate in our society, a man who will spend his hard earned money without inducement or reward from anywhere. As a businessman, he had been fair to those in business with him as no court case trails him anywhere among his business partners, which speaks volumes of the honest nature he is made of.
As an honest man who is disciplined in his dealings with his fellowmen on earth at different endeavours, people seek his partnership in business. To say the least, Chief Okah Okechukwu, the Omekwa-Ali I of Elele, is a society builder of noble repute.
He has seen the up and down and chose to be nice to even those who do not deserve his kindness, yet he chose to serve every other person that comes his way.
Well, the good book says, “whatever one sow so shall he reap”. May you reap exactly what you have sowed in the lives of the needy and the less-privileged in the society as you spread your kindness without border. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
