By NewsBits
Perhaps William Arthur Ward, an American motivational writer, had Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu ancient kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State when he wrote : “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”
Indeed, the life story of the paramount ruler, beginning from humble background to stardom, laced with philanthropism is inspirational, making him a delight for every reporter.
Addressing journalists recently at his palace during the conferment of an “Outstanding Leadership Award” on him by Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Enugu State Chapter, Igwe Asadu said he was not born with silver spoon but not deterred by the vagaries and vicissitudes of life.
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Mr. Lawrence Njoku of The Guardian newspaper, accompanied by his executive members, explained that the award was in recognition of the Monarch’s humanitarian services to his people and beyond. He emphasised that his outstanding achievements in critical sectors could not miss the prying eyes of media practitioners.
Born on September 28, 1966, into the family of Sir and Lolo Asadu Samuel Ejikeme of Ozalla Edem Anii, the young Asadu attended Primary School at Central School, Edem-Ani between 1972 and 1978. He graduated with excellent results in First School Leaving Certificate Examinations (FSLC).
Igwe Asadu was predestined to be great, and he worked hard towards it and fulfilled the prophesy of his grandmother who nicknamed him ‘Ogadagidi’ because of his audacity and assertiveness as well as doggedness in executing what he believes in. Following his brilliant performance in Primary School, he got admission into the famous Boys’ High School, Okpo, Enugu-Ezike for his secondary school education. He gave a good account of himself at Okpo, distinguishing himself in discipline, sports, and academics.
Igwe Ogadagidi chose his career path early in life. The reason for his career choice is understandable. His late father was a famous orthodox medical practitioner in Edem Community whose exploits in the field of traditional medicine earned him accolades from far and wide.
He was reputed to have carried out successful surgeries even without having formal training and in the process saved many lives. The young Ogadagidi, who was named after his father decided to tow the same career path but wanted it through the channel of formal education to equip him for the great task ahead.
At a time when nursing was seen as a vocation reserved essentially for women, and most brilliant young men and women often opted for Medicine, Engineering and Law, Igwe Ogadagidi opted for Nursing and applied for admission to study Nursing at the prestigious School of Nursing, Iyienu, Ogidi in Anambra State.
Destiny was beckoning and the man behind the mask was responding. He was at Iyienu between 1985 and 1988 when he graduated as the best student in nursing that year. Following his brilliant performance at Iyienu, he got employment with the then Anambra State Ministry of Health.
This engagement took him to various communities and towns amongst which were: Oji-River, Ezeagu local governments in Enugu State and Ifitedunu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, to mention but a few. He was later posted to the School of Psychiatric Nursing, Enugu for further training. He graduated from the Institution as a registered Psychiatric Nurse in 1990.
Igwe Ogadagidi has momentum. He can never settle for less when more is possible. He knew that money was important in his quest to impact positively to his community. He sought for greener pastures beyond the shores of Nigeria. God answered his prayers when through the assistance of some of his friends and relations he secured visa and went to the United States of America on November 11, 1996.
This marked a turning point in the life of Igwe Ogadagidi. He arrived New York City with great hopes to conquer. He moved from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia, from there he moved to Miami in Florida, from Miami, he moved to Duke in North Carolina before finally settling in Dallas Texas.
His sojourn to America did not diminish his humongous appetite for knowledge and great determination to impact to his generation. He enrolled into the prestigious Grand Canyon University, Arizona, USA. He graduated with BSc Nursing (Summa cum laude). Igwe Ogadagidi has lived in the USA for about 27years and has never been associated with any form of criminality. The mere mention of his name is a door opener in the United States and so many people (relatives and non-relatives) have successfully relocated to “God’s Own Country” courtesy of Ogadagidi.
Today, Igwe Asadu has chains of businesses which included healthcare, real estate, farming, and hospitality industry. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Promptime HealthCare Services, USA- a leading healthcare service provider in the USA with over 400 staff in his employ. He also owns Acredible Health Care Services as well as Lakeview Health Care Services all based in the USA. To carter for his interest in real estate, he founded NSSP Holdings NLC, a leading real estate firm in Dallas.
Igwe Ogadagidi believes in the Nigeria project, hence he made sure that his investments are not limited to the United States. Back home, he founded Nicholes Place Hotels Limited, Enugu a leading hospitality industry in the Coal City. He also founded Nicholes Place Hotel, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Enugu State. His interest in farming made him to establish Ezenwanyi Farms Limited Odoru Nsukka Enugu State: a big poultry farm that has the capacity to provide for the poultry needs of the entire University town of Nsukka.
To underscore the importance of the city of Dallas in his life, he founded Dallas table water also based in Nsukka. Another thing that stands Igwe Asadu as a genuine lover of humanity. He gives out, making sacrifice without counting the cost. Charity, he said, is a way of life. He sees giving back to humanity as “the rent we pay for the space we occupy on earth.” It could be said without doubt that Igwe lives for the happiness of his people – providing inspirations and delivering benedictions.
To give fillip to his numerous humanitarian initiatives, he founded the Ogadagidi Global Empowerment Initiative: a non-governmental, nonprofit making outfit, dedicated to providing humanitarian services to his people and beyond. In the area of healthcare, he built and equipped an ultramodern free 20-bedded hospital for the community. The hospital was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on December 27, 2019.
Igwe Ogadagidi is a lover of children. He has successfully sponsored what is today known as the Ogadagidi Children’s Party for nine years: a platform that gives him the opportunity to give awards and recognitions to outstanding students from public primary schools in Edem-ani. He uses the occasion to celebrate academic excellence and uncommon talents among Edem-ani children.
He spends several millions of naira on the party every year. To ensure that the students of Edem-Ani High School did not miss out of the 2021 WAEC Examinations, he paid the sum of N500,000 to offset the penalty levied against the school by WAEC.
Igwe Asadu has sponsored four Edem-Ani sons for various Masters Degree Programmes abroad. He organized and influenced the renovation of three primary schools in Edem through Edem USA- an association of Edem indigenes resident in the United States of America.
Ogadagidi is a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widows. He has built and furnished five separate 3-bedroom Bungalows for widows and other less privileged persons in Amenu, Akpa and Edem-Ani, respectively. He ensured the regular distribution of palliative to many families in Edem-Ani during the Covid-19 pandemic and even beyond.
He sustained a foodbank through St John’s Anglican Church Edem-Ani since 2006. He has donated several millions of naira to St John’s Anglican Church Edem-Ani and St Paul’s Parish Edem-Ani in support of their church building project.
He was inducted into the Order of Knight of St Paul in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to the Anglican Church. The people of Edem-Ani in a reciprocal demonstration of their love for their illustrious son, overwhelmingly supported his bid to become the Igwe of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom by returning him unopposed as the Igwe elect of the community.
Igwe Ogadagidi is a holder of many traditional and social titles. He took the prestigious Ozor title in 1994. He has been the Asogwa Ozalla since 2013. He is a member of the prestigious Oha Edem-Ani and Oha Edem. He is equally a member of Edem Project Group, a foremost group of elites from Edem who are committed to the development of Edem community. He is also a member of the Elite Peoples Club of Nigeria, USA branch, amongst others.
The native ruler believes in the inherent values of family life and is a husband of one wife. He is happily married to Lady (Lolo) Happiness Ederechukwu Asadu (Lolo Akudo) and the marriage is blessed with four children.
