The passing of Chief Daniel Chukwuma Maduka , on the fifth of March, 2024 was a great shock to his children, relatives, loved ones and friends.
Chief Maduka, born on September eight, 1942, did not have greater opportunity for further studies after Standard Six in primary school .
After a brief stay at Ankpa Urban Town in the present Kogi state he came back to manage the petroleum and oil business of the first traditional ruler of Awka, Igwe C.O. Nebe, a dealer with the famous United African Company, UAC.
After fighting and surviving the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War Chief Maduka returned with his family to Amawbia and established a restaurant business and Atlantic Hotel.
He also ventured into transport business and farming and was later elected councilor into the then Awka local government council as well as appointed the Supervisory Councilor for Works. Through his business acumen and versatility, he became the distributor of Golden Guinea Brewery, Umuahia, Premier Beer, Onitsha, Sunrise floor, Emene, Enugu, Standard Floor, Lagos, Chairman, Amawbia market Amalgamated Traders Association, Chairman All farmers Association, Anamabra chapter, and Managing Director, Danmak Garden and Suite Limited, Amawbia.
Chief Maduka, was the first rich man to build three storey building with eight flats in late 1970s in a sub-urban community and was a mobilizer of social groups, his Ngene village, and community to achieve set goals.
He was elected Deputy President and later President General of Amawbia Town Union from 1978 to 1980 during which he accelerated human capital development in the community.
Not satisfied with only Girls secondary school in the community, he mobilized Amawbia indigenes to establish Boys secondary school to enable parents who could not afford boarding school for their male children in the neighbouring secondary schools to be “Day-Students” in the Amawbia Boys High School and was instrumental to the procurement of all the school facilities and skill acquisition workshop equipment in 1983 and single-handedly built some structures in addition to construction of road to the college at Agu Nweke Adabebe village. He gave scholarship to indigent brilliant students and assisted in securing employment to many graduates. Chief Maduka equally raised the commercial potential of the community by modernizing the Eke Amawbia market which increased the income of the people. Chief Maduka was instrumental to establishment of Awka Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines, and Awka zone of Hotel Proprietors Association.
Being a lover of culture and tradition, he instilled discipline and orderliness in the conferment of traditional titles in Amawbia community and received the community’s traditional titles of “Isi Ekwu Ngene village, Ichie Ukwu Amawbia and Isi Ozo Amawbia. He vied for the vacant position of the traditional ruler of Amawbia before the cold hard of death prevailed against him.
His accomplishments earned him numerous Award including Rotary Club International award for distinguished community service, Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies award, Amawbia Town Union Certificate of service and Eze Ji of Anambra state Apex Farmers, among others.
Chief Maduka was blessed with seven children; four males and three females, to God be the glory, Amen.
POLYCARP ONWUBIKO
