A nonagenarian, Chief Gabriel Onwugbenu, has advised the youths to enroll in Igbo apprenticeship scheme (Igba Boi), a programme of the Anambra Government and shun the get-rich-quick syndrome.
Onwugbenu, 91, gave the advice in Nnewi, the industrial hub of Anambra during the burial of Chief Michael Anosike, father to Mrs Patricia Amogu, a staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to him, Igbo apprenticeship scheme is a sure means of self-reliance.
The nonagenarian, who mentored the late Anosike, a renown auto spare parts mogul, said there was a need to invent the values of patience, industry, hardwork and mentoring in the quest for wealth.
He said the deceased was diligent during apprenticeship and later became a creator of wealth and employer of labour.
‘The advantage of learning a trade is that on graduation, you become an employer of labour aside from being self reliant and making the money therein,’ he stated.
On his part, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, chairman/CEO, Louis Carter Group, said
the news of the demise of Anosike was a rude shock to him and members of his foundation.
Onwugbenu said the late Anosike had supported his foundation since it was founded 10 years ago.
‘His donation and support are gestures of his personality and character, we will miss him,’ he said.
No fewer than 25 Catholic priests from across Nigeria led by Very Revd. Fr Augustine Nwosu, joined to celebrate the burial mass at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi.
In his homily, Rev. Fr Prof. Ignatius Obinwa, encouraged humanity to continue to live in harmony and do good to one another as there was hope of eternal bliss in heaven hereafter.
Obinwa, who read from the books of Isaiah 25: 6-9; Rev. 14:3 and John 14: 1-6 said though God was not seen or touched, he existed and all his promises were true.
He said only good deeds while alive were the ladder that could take anyone to heaven as nobody took anything with him or her from the earth at death.
‘We pray that the good Lord will bless his good works, forgive him
his sins and bring him to eternal life in paradise,’ he said.
In a remark, the daughter of the deceased, Mrs Patricia Amogu, a Principal Correspondent of NAN, appreciated the priests, knights and ladies of St John’s International as well as friends who joined the family at their time of grief.
She said the death of their patriarch was a huge loss to the family but thanked God for the impactful life he led while expressing faith that his soul would find favour with the Lord.
‘My father was a humanitarian, he lived selflessly, he was a dedicated Catholic and he touched humanity, we will miss him.
‘Knowing a man like my father did not just make me see life from a broader, and clear perspective; it changed everything about me,’ she said.
Pa Anosike, an auto spare parts mogul, was born 81 years ago to the family of Mr and Mrs Julius Anosike from Umuogeli-Okpunoezi, Abubor in Nnewichi, Nnewi.
He started his early education at St Peter Claver Catholic School, Nnewichi and graduated from the Kentist School of B
usiness Management and Administration, London.
He was survived by his wife, four sons and five daughters.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria