By Chief Augustine Chika Okoroafor
It is with grief and discomfort that I write this tribute to my fraternal friend and ally of over 47 years.
Time flies, it was just like yesterday as I remember our first meeting at “Freedom Square, UNN” during the summer of 1973. All the fresh men were asked to congregate at the Arts Theatre for a briefing. After the briefing some of us refused to go back to our hostels. We stayed on to socialize and fraternize. I remember in that group people like Emma Onyilofor, Denchukwu, Chris Ngige, Clement Ebiri, Pat Utomi, Ike Emeagwali and others. That was our first meeting and the begining of our friendship that will last for over 47 years.
Within few days of striking this relationship, we discovered we had a lot in common. We were in the same Economics Department, I also discovered early that he has very “big dreams”, and his dreams always came true. He was one with a big heart who enjoys the company of his friends, especially old friends.
Our first year as Professor Chukuka Okonjo boys was very interesting. Professor Okonjo was the Head Department of Economics & Dean Faculty of Social Sciences. Students dreaded this erudite Professor’s courses especially Econ 101. If you wish to graduate, it is the begining of wisdom to avoid this course, except it is compulsory for you.
The following year we relocated to Zik’s flat at Onuiyi Haven, where we were privileged to have Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha as our neighbor and landlord.
Pa willy spear headed the formation of the Village Confraternity. He questioned why the elitist Oyibo clubs on campus like Alfa, Beta Sigma be holding sway at the expense of our tradition being pushed back.
With the support of people like Dean Duru, Emma Onyilofor, Phil Uche, Rollins Mba, Lucky Agba and many others including myself the Village Confraternity was inaugurated in 1974/1975 session. This club became the show piece of our tradition, where our village norms and etiquette are practiced. Every student scrambled to join and it became very competitive.
In the subsequent sessions in the university, we were roommates and class mates and all my earlier prediction about Pa Willy manifested.
His business acumen manifested early as he was making money shooting films on campus.
‘Willy remembers’ as we called him was big minded and operated bigger than most people could comprehend. There was no problem that was insurmountable in his mind. That was how he convinced I and Emma Onyilofor his roommates to become mobile when going for NYSC. He motivated us to each buy a car and we did. This was a very wonderful idea because we had fun and doors were opened for us.
After our service year he got a job with International Computers Ltd in Lagos, I got one with Exxon Mobil as a Management Trainee, while Emma Onyilofor worked for British American Tobacco Company, also as a Management Trainee. After a while, he won the best Salesman Award of his company and was sent to London for business exposure. He met an old friend in London who he stayed with and was able to save enough money to buy 3 used Mercedes Benz Cars which he shipped to Nigeria with the help of a bosom friend; it was cleared and he made a lot of money and this is how Globe Motors originated.
Prior to his coming back from London I had rented an apartment at Enitan Street, Aguda. As he came back he bought a 504 GL in November 1978 making him the first person in our group to achieve this feat, I bought mine three months later.
Pa willy rented a flat at No 11 Alawode Street, Ikate and convinced me to relinquish my Enitan apartment to our numerous friends including Rollins Mba, Nnamdi Njoku, Ojembe, Awa Kalu, McPeters and move in with him. The Enitan apartment was nicknamed AGUDA Rangers Abode.
We bonded so much in his Alawode apartment because we were used to each other. The bonding was so much that when Mobil transferred me to Enugu in the 80’s Pa Willy persuaded me to resign, reason being that he was seeing a lot of money in the streets of Lagos that we can harvest. He reasoned that he will soon resign and start his own business. That is why I call him a “FARA–SEE” not (Pharisee) because he can see far in business.
I rejected his advise and left for Enugu in 1980. When Mobil posted me back to Lagos in 1985, Pa Willy had grown his Globe Motors to an enviable height. His prediction had come to pass.
In his magnanimity he relinquished the duplex he was staying at Mogaji Close, Surulere to me and moved to a twin duplex at Femi Ayantuga. As I moved over to Mogaji close I discovered that Chris Asoluka was my next door neighbor and Tayo Adenirokun of blessed memory lived on the other side of the twin duplex. We all became great friends.
Pa Willy was always coming around to stay with me and play Checkers with Chris whom he always beat. Willy was a good draught player, hence he acquired his first traditional title as the “The MBI 1 of MBIERI. This title came well before his EZEIGBO Ikoyi title. I had accompanied him to receive several chieftaincy titles including the one bestowed on him by CHIEF ADE OJO’S(ELIZADE) Community at ILARA MOKIN, ONDO STATE. He was also there when I received my Akanachimba title from my Arondizuogu community.
What a friend Pa Willy was because he always got the back of all his friends. He invested in and nurtured friendship. He protected the interest of his friends. His friendship was sacrificial. In every aspect he was an epicenter of friendship.
What an ally he was! He was a dependable ally that stood solidly for what he believed in. He was a reliable ally to his family and political family.
He was loyal to every cause he believed in. He stuck to his allies through thick and thin in good times and bad times for better for worse.
What a husband and father he was. He was a loving, caring and incredible husband to Nkriu. Willy attended high octane parties with her. He confided in me how his wife stabilizes him in parties.
He was an inspirational and exemplary father to his children, Uzoma, Enyinna, Ziky and Zina. Typical of Pa Willy he derives pleasure challenging people including his children. When Uzoma made the best result during his graduating year at Loyola Jesuit he challenged him the more that made him to repeat the feat at the Penns State University where he read Economics like his father. Willy not satisfied with this challenged him again, he went to Oxford University for his masters to confirm his rating as a first class brain. Willy successfully repeated this with Enyinna who after leaving Loyola Jesuit College gained admission to the prestigious American University of Paris, in France and did his Master’s at Nottingham University UK. He equally challenged Zina and Ziky the twin babies of the family. Zina proceeded to the prestigious George Washington University for bachelor’s and performed excellently well before proceeding to Sciences Po in France for master’s degree programme, while Ziky went to American University for his first degree and acquired a Masters degree at George Washington University. What a successful feat. All his children are accomplished.
Pa willy has a Midas touch for his family and extended friends that he fondly refers to as way backs. When I opted for early retirement from Mobil in 1996, Willy challenged me and inspired me in setting up my own Oil Company.
It was very striking and significant that in April 1st 2019 when I sponsored a Draught tournament at NPA Club Lagos to mark my birthday, Pa Willy in company of Ayoola Offodile played a key role as he gave out star prizes to the winners and on April 1st 2020 he was the first person to call to wish me Happy birthday and reminded me of last year’s occasion and promised to visit me later. I was still expecting his visit when early morning of 21st April, Nkiru his wife called to give me a heart breaking news of Pa Willy’s death, it was very difficult to accept initially but it turned out to be a reality.
Everything that happens in this world, happens at the time God chooses. The time for birth and the time for death. Life is Ephemeral and the end is INEVITABLE.
But the saddest moment is when the person you love becomes a dim MEMORY.
.ADIEU PA WILLY, my best friend, my ally, my best man, my main man, my chairman, I will forever remain grateful.
*Augustine Chika Okoroafor, a retired EXXON MOBIL Executive, is currently Chairman-AUGUSTO OIL NIG. LTD. Lagos
