Ned Nwoko: The Making Of A Great Prince Of Anioma

By Patrick Ochei

The name Prince Ned Nwoko has become synonymous with the language we speak. In Anioma dialect, it is a household name; at the national level, it is as simple as pronouncing Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba.

This humble Prince of the Nwoko dynasty in Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, not only that he is a distinguished lawyer with impeccable experience in international jurisprudence; he is one loved by all.

Having traversed the length and breadth of this planet earth, in 1999 he decided to join the first set of 4th Republic Democrats to venture into politics to serve his people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. Of course, most of the legacy bills we enjoy today as a country were either solely or co-jointly sponsored by him. In the Constituency too, most of the legacy projects we can still lay claims to were influenced, such as Benin/Asaba Expressway, Onicha-Ugbo-Idumuje-Ugboko-Ewohimi/Abuja Road, Delta State Police Headquarters Asaba and many more.

Unlike most politicians without substance, since Ned Nwoko left the National Assembly as House of Representatives Member in 2003, he had remained a big time influence at the national level. He has a thriving business and law firm, in addition to his infectious passion for humanitarian dispositions.

Prince Ned Nwoko has over the years and consistently, assisted large number of persons to become people in life. He has helped sports people, he has helped celebrities and actors, he has helped community people, he has helped the less privileged, he has helped the privileged, he has even helped Nigeria. Recently, the Paris Club over deductions from Nigeria’s debt which was refunded was single handedly fought and won legally through his company – Linas International Ltd.

Based on these sterling testimonies on the person of Prince Ned Nwoko, and the fact that a prophet is not recognised in his home town, four great kingdoms of Ezi, Ugbodu, Ubulu-Okiti and Ute-Ogbeje in Anioma, came together four years ago and pronounced Ned Nwoko the “Great Prince of Anioma Nation”. This is the first of its kind and the highest honour ever accorded any highly placed individual or Royal Prince in Anioma land.

Going further in this mark of respect, many kingdoms have been pledging land to Ned to come and set up the proposed STARS University, should the land in Ugboko become seriously contentious.

However, Prince Ned has accepted their offers of land, but insisted that the main campus of the University must be built in Idumuje-Ugboko, so as to fulfill a long time dream of bequeathing a perpetual legacy to his people. What a love for a people! But that is Ned for you. Beat him, try to kill him; his love for his people and community remains undying.

That is the spirit of Anioma. That is patriotism. It is being selfless, futuristic and transcendental in nature. And that is our Great Prince of Anioma – well deserved!