Ezieogo Chief George Nkata Emetu was born in the year 1894 to the family of Nna Emetu Mba and Nne Eke Uko of Nde Ofali Compound of Amaekpu Ohafia. His parents noticed the genius in him, and sent him to school in 1910 at Obu Nde Imaga, Elu Ohafia, from where he transferred to the Presbyterian school, established by Rev. Collins in 1914. Rev. Collins, a veteran missionary of the Church of Scotland Mission, sent him to Itu to serve as a houseboy to Dr. Wood, a fellow missionary.
At Itu, he completed his primary education and obtained the Government standard six certificates in 1915. When the Uburu Presbyterian Hospital was opened in May 1915, there was so much need for indigenous nurses and interpreters that early in 1916, he was sent to Uburu Hospital to serve under Dr. J.W. Hitchcock, as a nurse and an interpreter.
Later the same year, he was sent to work under Rev. W.M. Christil, as a teacher and an interpreter. Apart from being a teacher, he was also engaged as a senior Interpreter for the early District Officers O.P. Gunning, and R. B. Cardel, both of Afikpo Divisional Office.
Between 1920 and 1945, he opened and headed the following Church of Scotland Mission Schools:
- - Uburu Ohaozara
- - Isu Achara
- - Okposi
- - Onicha
- - Ogoja Town
- - Onu Eke Abakaliki
- - Ikwo Abakaliki
- - Afikpo
- - Ishiagu
- - Abakaliki Township
At the same time, he was a member of the Church of Scotland Education conference, representing Ogoja province.
In 1946, he was awarded the Teacher’s Higher Elementary Certificate, one of the greatest honours, which could be accorded a headmaster of outstanding qualities at that time. Towards the end of 1946, Ezieogo George Nkata Emetu decided to try other facets of life and so, he voluntarily retired from teaching and took to politics. During his political days, he held the following outstanding posts:
- Chairman Ohaozara County Council.
- Chairman Afikpo Divisional Land Arbitration Panel.
- A member of the Ogoja provincial Assembly, representing Afikpo Division.
- A member of the Eastern House of Assembly, representing Ogoja province.
Before he left Ohaozara, he had trained up the following personalities, to whom he handed over his mantle of leadership.
- Eze Chima Nkwo, The Enochiekuma of Ohaozara.
- Onyiba Aja Nwachukwu, First Nigerian Minister of Education.
- Agom Eze, Chairman Imo State civil service State House of Assembly.
- Isu Okogiri, First Eastern Nigerian Homeopathetic Doctor.
- Samuel O. Mgbada, former parliamentarian and a host of others.
His teaching vocation did not prevent him from displaying his other natural talents, such as, his shining star as an expert hunter of his time. Having distinguish himself as an expert hunter, Ezieogo George Nkata Emetu got a Merit Award in 1935, from the Edward and Mechush Company Limited, a shotgun manufacturing company from whom he bought his double-barrelled gun. The title of the Award was cited, ‘‘The Best Hunter in West Africa’’. In recognition of this, he received a special type of hunting light and was requested to advertise and distribute the hunting light in West Africa.
On November 11th 1952, Ezieogu George Nkata was invited by the Amaekpu Development Union to ascend the throne of Amaekpu, a seat that had been vacant because of dispute. First, he rejected the offer but after some persuasions from friends and well-wishers, he accepted and was crowned as ‘‘The Ofali Agwu 11 of Amaekpu Ohafia’’. On assumption of office as the Ezieogu of Amaekpu after his coronation on December 24th, 1952, Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu dedicated his life to the service of Amaekpu in particular, and Ohafia in general.
Between 1953 and 1954, he negotiated with Rt. Rev. Dr. J.B. Wheller the then Catholic Bishop of Owerri and secured the founding of St. Georges School, Amaekpu Ohafia, now known as Amaekpu Community School.
In 1954, he negotiated with the authorities of Mater Hospital Afikpo, and had a maternity home opened at Sgt. Onuka Ibe’s house, from where it was shifted to Ugwu in Amaekpu. The year 1957 marked Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu’s struggle for opening of a secondary school. Negotiations were between him and the Catholic authorities, following which the first secondary school, Coronata Secondary School, Asaga Ohafia, was opened in 1958.
Between 1965 and 1970, Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu initiated and organized the bitter struggle for the establishment of the now popular Isiama Daily Market.
In 1972, following his earlier negotiations with the government of Eastern Nigeria Ministry of Health, the Ohafia General Hospital was stared. The Hospital led to the loss of his life-accumulated property, along with others, because the first contractor, who handled the project, took them to court and had their properties sold by public auction.
As a peacemaker, Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu did not waste time in leading other courageous Chiefs to surrender to the Nigerian Soldiers in 1970, in order to alleviate the sufferings of Ohafia Citizens, who fled into the bush towards the end of the Civil War.
Amaekpu was just a land locked area with no access road, but today through the efforts of this great man, and in collaboration with A.D.U. and social clubs, roads have been constructed and the town has taken on a new look.
Following some disturbances at Coronata Secondary School in 1983, and the sensitivity of the situation, Ezieogo George Nkata Emetu’s experience and his belief in peaceful co-existence, brought the situation under control. He approached his Lordship, Rev. Dr. Anthony Nwaedo, and requested for a secondary school to be built in Amaekpu. The Bishop sympathized with the situation, and St. Anthony’s Secondary School Amaekpu Ohafia, was opened in 1986, under Rev. Fr. Livinus Ukah.
Inspite of his activities to help his people spiritually and developmentally, Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu had very high regards for customs and tradition of Ohafia. He took all the titles in Ohafia including ‘‘Igwa Oba and Igwa Nnu’’, which are the highest titles great and prominent farmers in Ohafia can take. Infact, since he took the title of ‘‘Igwa Nnu in 1962, no other person had done so again in Amaekpu Ohafia till his death.
Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu established ‘‘Isiama Day’’ as an annual festival. The festival is now celebrated with pomp and pageantry by all Isiama villages.
Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu had very rare qualities; he was firm in his decisions, very intelligent and always had an answer to all problems. He always ordered his decisions by saying, ‘‘When the going gets tough, only the tough gets going’’. In his book entitled ‘‘OHAFIA, A MATERIALINEAL IGBO PEOPLE’’ (Page 69), Philip O. Nsugbe wrote thus about Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu.
‘‘An Ezieogo whom I know personally, Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu, has the kind of personality that easily wins, rather than imposes respect. He was a retired government school headmaster, a pioneer in education, not only in Ohafia, but as far afield as Afikpo, and parts of Ogoja Province. His most useful role to his people has been as a fearless emissary, heading delegations, sometimes on behalf of the whole of Ohafia, to government ministers, and high-ranking officials of his state. Thus, as far as one could see, his duties as the village head lay in the sphere of his external relations.
At the time I met him, he was at the peak of his big projects: the building of a hospital and a central daily market for Isiama Ohafia. For doing these, he had on more than one occasion come into conflict with many people, including government officials………….’’
Ezieogu George Nkata Emetu did not make his great achievement on a platter of gold. To achieve his objectives for the people, he came in conflict with villages, individuals and even government officials, but he always knew his rights, and stood firm in getting them in the midst of many obstacles. He played with the hounds and hunted with the cats, but he outwitted the hounds, and maneuvered the cats.
Sponsored by Brother William Osita Ufere, Ezieogo George Nkata Emetu was baptized by Rev. John Ukaegbu, on December 18, 1985. He was later confirmed by His Lordship, Rev. Dr. Anthony Nwedo in 1989.
Ezieogo George Nkata Emetu died in the early hours of Sunday, March 25, 1990 at the age of 96 years.
(Culled from ‘‘The History & Culture of Ohafia’’ by N.E. Obuba)