Chief Dr Chukwudi Okparaku, a businessman and traditional leader, says perseverance, honesty and hard work have shaped his journey from humble beginnings to success as he marks his 60th birthday.
Okparaku, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, said his experiences over four decades in business had taught him the importance of consistency, integrity and commitment to long-term goals.
He spoke in an interview while reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, cultural heritage, community service and hopes for Nigeria.
The businessman, whose interests span freight forwarding, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and oil and gas, said his journey began in 1986 when he joined his father’s cosmetics trading business in Onitsha, Anambra.
According to him, he left the business in 1988 following disagreements with his father and began building his own enterprise.
“From 1988 till today, I have been on the block. It has not been easy, but being patient, consistent, hardworking and committed to my vision has brought me to where I am today,” he said.
Okparaku attributed his business growth to honesty, diligence and maintaining strong relationships with clients.
He said delivering quality services and treating every assignment seriously had helped him retain customers and attract new businesses through referrals.
His business interests have since expanded into manufacturing, including soap, cosmetics and tissue paper production, as well as the oil and gas sector.
Okparaku said the investments reflected his determination to contribute to Nigeria’s economic development despite the challenges of doing business in the country.
Culture, tradition shape identity
The traditional leader said his attachment to Igbo culture stemmed from his upbringing and his father’s determination to ensure that he understood his ancestral heritage.
Born in 1966, he said his father took him to their ancestral community in 1975 to learn the customs, traditions and values of the Igbo people.
He recalled that elderly relatives, some aged 90 and 100, taught him the community’s traditions and responsibilities.
“My father believed strongly in culture, tradition and succession. He wanted me to understand our customs and know where I came from,” he said.
Okparaku, who holds traditional titles including Eze Chukwukwadoro Ndi-Igbo, Bobaselu of Ikotunland and Eze Ndi-Igbo of Ikotun/Igando, said his cultural identity and Christian upbringing had influenced his values and approach to leadership.
He added that his involvement in the Catholic Church went beyond attendance, stressing his commitment to active service.
How community service restored hope
Okparaku said his attachment to his ancestral community motivated him to participate in efforts to restore peace after armed groups overran the area, forcing residents to flee their homes.
He said the displacement of community members prompted like-minded individuals to establish Odimmaosu, an organisation through which they mobilised resources to support peace efforts.
According to him, he emerged as the organisation’s leader and worked with other community members to engage the state government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
“When the community was overrun by bandits, people ran away. Watching my people go into exile was something I could not swallow,” he said.
Okparaku recalled that members of the group faced risks and made personal financial sacrifices to support the effort.
He said that when they visited the community in 2023, roads were overgrown with weeds and the area appeared deserted.
The businessman said several people had been killed during the violence, adding that the eventual restoration of normalcy resulted from the collective efforts of community members and security agencies.
He, however, acknowledged the contributions of other men and women who participated in the intervention.
Okparaku expresses confidence in Nigeria
The businessman said his experiences abroad had strengthened his appreciation of Nigeria and his determination to contribute to its development.
He said the patriotism instilled in him during his elementary school years had remained a guiding principle.
“I have been abroad and seen it all, but I understood that those countries did not belong to me. I am a Nigerian, and I carry my Nigerian passport with pride wherever I go,” he said.
Okparaku said he returned to Nigeria determined to apply the experience he had acquired abroad to building his businesses and supporting the economy.
He identified harsh working conditions, business disappointments and challenges involving regulatory and security agencies at the ports as some of the difficulties he had encountered in the maritime and freight forwarding sectors.
Despite the challenges, he said perseverance had helped him establish and sustain his businesses.
Okparaku expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying the country had enormous potential but required effective leadership to realise it.
“I believe in Nigeria. Till today, I believe in Nigeria. Tomorrow, I will still believe in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that he hoped to see a country whose leadership and economic conditions would attract people from across the world to work and invest.
Reflects on lessons at 60
Reflecting on his life at 60, Okparaku said his experiences had taught him to view past mistakes as lessons rather than reasons for regret.
He said the challenges he had faced helped shape his character and develop the wisdom needed to navigate difficult situations.
“Whatever happened in the past is a lesson that helped to nurture the person I am today. In Igbo land, we say you do not go backwards; you move forward,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said he hoped to live long enough to mentor younger Nigerians, share his experiences and contribute further to national development.
“I want to impact and impart the wisdom I have to this generation, help direct them and contribute to building the economy,” he said.
Pays tribute to wife, associates
Okparaku paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as a major pillar of his success, saying their 25-year marriage had been sustained by patience, sacrifice and mutual support.
He recalled that their early years together were marked by financial difficulties, including periods when they could not afford transportation and had to trek from Ilasa-Maja to Ikotun.
He also said his wife sometimes stayed awake until about 2 a.m. waiting for him to return from Tincan Island, where he conducted business.
According to him, he recently learnt that she had sometimes sought food from her sister when the family struggled to meet basic needs.
He said the discovery deepened his appreciation of her sacrifices and contributions to their journey.
“My wife is a jewel of inestimable value. She is a wife given to me by God because He knew that I needed someone with patience and endurance by my side,” he said.
Okparaku said he renamed her Ezinne, meaning a good woman, in recognition of her commitment to their family.
He also expressed gratitude to relatives, friends and business associates who supported him during the early stages of his career.
He singled out a Pakistani business associate, Adnan, for helping him secure business opportunities through client referrals and connections with United States companies that shipped containers for him to clear.
He also appreciated companies that had maintained business relationships with his group for more than two decades.
As he celebrates his 60th birthday, Okparaku said he hopes to continue serving his community, mentoring younger people and investing in Nigeria.
“Those who threw stones at us, we gathered the stones to build mansions,” he said, reflecting on how he turned opposition into motivation.
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He added that his greatest desire was to continue contributing to society and witness a Nigeria that fulfils its potential.
“To God alone be the glory, honour and adoration. Without Him, I would have been a dead man,” he said. (NAN)
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