Chief Livinus Chukwudi Okwara, known as the ‘father’ of Ndigbo in Lagos State, is an educationist and
businessman. He shared his life experiences with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE, in this interview.
How was growing up?
I was born and also grew up in Lagos. My growing up in the state was very exciting. My parents were averagely comfortable. They were not super rich. So, we were not exposed to luxury life. I grew up just like every other child from an average family.
For my education, I attended St Patrick Primary School, Yaba; and thereafter, I went to Imo State for my secondary education, after which I gained admission to study Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 1966 but sadly, the civil war broke out and scuttled my academic journey at UI and dream to become a medical doctor.
But because the university students had the opportunity to travel abroad for part-time jobs during summer holidays then, I used the opportunity to travel to the UK for summer holidays. It was easier and cheaper to travel abroad at that time, particularly to the UK, coming from a former British colony.
Some other students also travelled the same time that I did but it wasn’t easy for me in the UK. And because the civil war was going on in Nigeria, I couldn’t get funding for education, and so, I couldn’t come home.
What happened afterward?
There was nothing we could do other than to find a way to survive and further our studies. For financial reasons, I changed my course from Medicine to Mathematics and later Computer Studies. So, I combined studying with work. That was how I was able to stabilise in the UK.
How about your parents back home?
I didn’t hear from them for a long time because the civil war was going on in Nigeria at that time and my parents didn’t know where I was. They even thought I had died; and I also didn’t know what might have happened to them back home. The only news we always heard about Nigeria was the war. That there was genocide and mass killing of people. Hence, there was no way I could think of coming back home. So, I was completely cut off from my family but then, since my parents and siblings were living in Lagos, I had the instinct that they would be alive; and truly they were.
How did you eventually reconnect with them?
It was after about three years that I reconnected with them. What happened was that there was one particular man, Chief Collins Obi, who was then a general manager of African Continental Bank in Nigeria. He came to London and stood as a surety for people from the East. And he happened to know my village, and my father. It was fate that brought us together in the UK. That was how he arranged for my re-connection with my father. That was the first time they heard from me after I had left Nigeria. Even at that, there was no communication between us. So, I struggled in the UK, combining my job and schooling. I was very determined to succeed. So, I was serious with my work and also with my studies. After I graduated, I enrolled in the same school for postgraduate studies in Operational Research.
After graduating, I decided to set up a business of my own. I then set up a computer business in London and had four branch offices there.
And thereafter?
Thereafter, I came back to Nigeria after the civil war following a clarion call by the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to Nigerians in the diaspora to come home for the development of Nigeria. Things were not as difficult as they are now. That somebody was living in the UK wasn’t such a big deal. That was how I came back to Nigeria. Thereafter, I established computer studies centres in almost all over the then 12 states of the federation. It became the pioneer of computer revolution in the country, as the first computer training centre in the country. I was the first in all states of the federation.
When did you get married?
I was still in the UK when I got married. I married a lady from my state, Imo. We had known each other during my secondary school days. And we were friends. Although we didn’t see each other for many years, somehow, we got re-connected.
How did it happen?
My parents were putting pressure on me to get married; and I directed them to a girl that I was close to who was not far from my village, but was born in Lagos. I told them I would like to marry her and God so good; we were reconnected.
That was how I came to Nigeria for our traditional wedding; and I returned with her to the UK before I later returned home permanently.
Why did you come back home?
As I had said earlier, I just felt I should come, more so that there was a clarion call by the government urging Nigerians to come back home and be part of the development of the country. And since computer studies was new at that period not only in Nigeria, but even in the UK, I used the computer knowledge I had gained in the UK to start Rimax Institute of Computer Studies here in Lagos. It was the first computer school in Nigeria as of that time. We got many young boys and girls, who enrolled with us and we were doing very well for many years.
What then brought you into partisan politics?
Interestingly, I joined partisan politics not long after I returned to Nigeria. I started with the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). That was the most popular party in Yoruba land. I just loved the late Obafemi Awolowo’s political ideology and welfarism. I also love his great passion for quality education and healthcare service for the people of the region. I admired him so much. Wherever you were and whatever you may be doing and you heard ‘Up Awo’, you would just abandon them to see what was happening. Papa was a true Nigerian. He used education as an instrument of development in the western region; and it worked out well for the region. Interestingly, the education he promoted was not for the Yoruba people alone, and could have worked as well with any other regions. Those from other regions, who lived in the Western Region, also benefited, including my humble self. I had no reason to join any other party than UPN. I love their philosophy as progressives; and I have been a member of the progressives since then.
So, as I was doing my school business, I was also into politics. And I was able to get close to the leadership of the party. For example, the late Papa Awolowo and Alhaji Lateef Jakande knew me one-on-one. I was very close to them and even to their families. They all knew and called me in the political circle as Mgborogwu Ndigbo. That is the name of my cultural group. When Papa Awolowo died in 1987 for example, I went to his house with my cultural group. Mama Awolowo was overwhelmed when she saw me.
After the UPN era, there was a transition to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the time of late Moshood Abiola. Again, we all moved to Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now with All Progressives Congress (APC). Today, I’m one of the chieftains of APC in Lagos State. I’m well known in their circle. The current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also knows me one-on-one. My cultural group is the largest Igbo cultural group in the whole of Lagos State.
Why didn’t you then get a political appointment?
I didn’t go into partisan politics for political appointment or party patronage. I’m a teacher and businessman and I want to remain so. But then, it wasn’t as if I had no political appointment before. I always rejected political offers. But one was forced on me by the administration of Bola Tinubu when he was the governor of Lagos State. He appointed me to the Agricultural Board. I only work for my party and candidates without asking for what to gain as compensation. And that does not prevent my significant contribution to my party and candidates for elections. I still play such roles well till today.
What is your view of Nigeria’s education sector?
Education is designed to liberate the mind; and through different compartments of education, acquire different skills as a means of developing nations for the progress of mankind. For me, it is the responsibility of the government to provide quality and quantitative education for its citizens.
India has done that, Malaysia has also done that, so many other countries that Nigeria was even better than at independence, have done that.
Nigeria should be able to afford free education at all levels. If not for corruption in political governance across successive administrations, we would have moved very far economically. We would have been rubbing shoulders with the great nations of the world like Singapore and India.
What Nigeria needs now is a production and not consumption economy. The corruption in the land was borne out of excess funds with the government. A lot of money has been wasted in the country just because of lack of clear vision by the successive administrations. And it is better for our political leaders to get things done right. The masses deserve to live happily.
How would you describe life at 79?
It has been full of ups and downs. But all the same, I will keep thanking God.
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