Marcel Manafa writes about his late father, Engr. (Chief) M.N.A Manafa ---The Unsung Iroko of Igboland

Men of ‘timbre and calibre' are a rare breed that come once in a long while. They come with a mission - to positively impact on the society with their chosen craft. They come well armed with; great patriotism, strong will, charisma, unusual passion for excellence, enviable humanitarian disposition, solid religious roots and they are well grounded in their craft.
Some of them leave indelible footprints in the sands of history but may be generally unsung but are celebrated in the professional circles.
One of such iconic personalities is the late Engr. (Chief) Marcel Nchekwube Azodo Manafa.
The late Engr. (Chief) Marcel Nchekwube Azodo Manafa was born on the 1st day of June 1923 in Eziagulu Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area in Anambra State.
He attended the famous Government College Ibadan where he excelled and was given a scholarship to study abroad.
He studied at Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering.
He cut his professional teeth with the globally renowned Electrical Engineering Companies Brown Boverie and Cie (BBC).
He joined the then Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN...now PHCN) where he rose through the professional ranks to serve as the first black General Manager of the Corporation.
He was also the first Ibo chartered Electrical Engineer.
He became the 12th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 1984 and a member of the Executive Council of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He founded his companies; Power Construction and Engineering Company Ltd in 1970 (which undertook major rural electrification projects in most States in Nigeria) and Manasons Hotel Ltd Lagos in 1972.
He was a solid pillar in the Aguleri Community and contributed immensely to the infrastructural and educational development and peace in Aguleri and was conferred with the title of Onowu (Prime Minister) in 1988.
He was a great and admired professional and philanthropist who contributed immensely to the growth of Electrical Engineering in Nigeria and his incisive book, ‘Electricity Development in Nigeria' was distributed to the Engineering departments in various Universities in Nigeria.
He also instituted various awards and scholarship within the Nigerian universities, notably the "Manafa Award" given to the best Electrical Engineering student each year at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
He donated very generously to countless of charities, societies and town developmental programmes and contributed so much to the rebuilding and renovation of many Catholic Churches in Aguleri, Lagos and Enugu.
He was a very devout Catholic and spearheaded the beatification of Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi when he visited Mount Saint Bernard Monastery in Leicester England where the remains of Father Tansi was and fought for the return of the remains to Nigeria.
Engr. (Chief) Marcel Nchekwube Azodo Manafa passed away in May 1990 leaving behind; a Wife, 5 Sons, 3 Daughters and 26 Grandchildren.
For 25 years, after his demise, his footprints in the sands haven't been washed away by the tide of memory. He is still remembered as the unsung Iroko of Igboland whose legacy has transcended; ethnic, professional and geographic borders.