Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III Biography, Reign, Education, and Business.
Igwe Nnewi
In this article, we will be discussing all you need to know about Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III, his Biography, Networth, Reign, Educational Life, and Businesses. Please, share and subscribe to our notification to get notified when we publish new posts.
In case you don’t know, Nnewi is a historic village in the southern Nigerian state of Anambra, some 60 miles south of the state capital, Onitsha. The Nnewi Kingdom was originated in the year 1498. The line of succession to the throne can be traced from Igwe Mmaku, the first Igwe of the Nnewi Kingdom. The current ruling Igwe of Nnewi is Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III.
An “Igwe” is someone who reigns in a Kingdom or an Empire. It can also be called a King in English. Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III is one of the oldest serving kings in Eastern Nigeria.
He ascended the throne after the death of his father Igwe Josiah Nnaji Orizu. Currently, there have been 20 Igwe’s in the Nnewi kingdom.
The Nnewi Kingdom was originated in the year 1498. The line of succession to the throne can be traced from Igwe Mmaku, the first Igwe of the Nnewi Kingdom. The current ruling Igwe of Nnewi is Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III.
Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III Biography, Reign, Education, and Business.
Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III Biography aka ‘Igwe na-eje uka’
The first thing anyone who is familiar with Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III will tell you is that he is Igwe ‘na-eje uka’. It simply means the King that believes in God and goes to church.
This is not just an exaggeration. Igwe Kenneth Orizu’s love for the church is very pronounced that he is vocal about it. He is not against traditional practices but he has distanced himself from the acts.
As I said before, Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III is the 20th King to rule the Nnewi kingdom. He was born on the 30th of October 1925 and currently 95years of age.
He is a descendant of the Nnofo Royal family in Otolo, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Unlike other 1gbo Kingdoms, Nnewi has started a sonship heredity system of government before the arrival of Europeans.
So, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III is the successor to his father Igwe Josiah Orizu II, his grandfather Igwe Orizu I, and his great-grandfather Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya. This means that he is the third king in the generation of the kingship of the Nnewi kingdom and there have been 2 two kings before him.
Igwe Orizu III Education and Career
Igwe Kenneth Orizu attended Hope Waddel College and New Bethel College in Onitsha, Anambra State. He completed his college education in 1942. Earlier before his coronation in 1963, he worked as a Representative of the Eastern Nigerian Outlook Group of newspapers.
Afterward, he moved to Asaba as the commercial Manager for Mid-Western Region. He was also a trader in Kano state.
Igwe Orizu III Marital and Family Life
Igwe Kenneth Orizu III is reportedly married to two wives and inherited two statutory concubines. He is blessed with 5 children. ( 4boys and 1 girl)
Names of Igwe Kenneth Orizu’s children:
Sons – Obianefo Orizu, Engr. Prince Chukwudi Orizu, Chibuzor Orizu, and Eziafa Orizu.
Daughter– Joy Chika Orizu.
Reign and Achievements of Igwe Kenneth Orizu III
- Abolishment of Osu caste system
Igwe Kenneth Orizu was the first king in Igbo land and Nigeria as a whole to officially end the Osu Caste system. The Osu Caste System is a cultural custom/belief where a family or a person is brand an outcast.
This branding of outcasting is a result of the agreements their ancestors had in the past with an ‘arusi’ a deity. They sought protection and in the process handed over their lives and families to the deity.
So, any child who is born into such a family has automatically become the property of that deity. Hence the name; outcast for the gods.
Such a person does not have the right to associate or marry other members of the village or community. Igwe Kenneth Orizu abolishing this rule now means everyone in the Nnewi kingdom now has equal rights in everything.
- Educational Sector
Igwe Kenneth Orizu was one of the brains behind the establishment of Teachers Training College now known as Nnadi Azikiwe University Nnewi. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the College of Health Sciences of the University by calling on the Nnewi to offer monetary donations. He also generously contributed some of the lands used in sitting at the school.
- Business Sector
Igwe Kenneth Orizu was responsible for the creation of the New Nnewi market. This market has developed and gave Nnewi a point to brag about when it came to Nigerian commercial cities.
Igwe Kenneth Orizu III Net worth
There is no available data to gives the accurate net worth of Igwe Oriizu III. However, he is worth billions in Naira. Igwe Orizu III owns myriads of business both in Nnewi and other States.
Frequently asked questions about Igwe Kenneth Orizu III
When was Igwe Kenneth Orizu enthroned? >> Igwe Kenneth Orizu III was Enthroned on 6th February 1963 (aged 37 years).
When was Igwe Kenneth Orizu Coronated? >> 2nd June 1963 ( aged 37 years).
What is Igwe Orizu’s religion? >> Christianity and Animism. Animism is the worship of Ani and other objects like tree.
Who will be Igwe Kenneth Orizu’s successor? >> Crown prince Obianefo Orizu Iv.
How many children does Igwe Kenneth Orizu have? >> 5 Children (4 sons and a daughter).
What are the names of Igwe Kenneth Orizu’s Children? >> SONS – Obianefo Orizu, Engr. Prince Chukwudi Orizu, Chibuzor Orizu, Eziafa Orizu. Daugter- Joy chika Orizu.
How many wives does Igwe Kenneth Orizu have? >> Two Wives and two inherited statutory concubines.
Summary on Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III Biography, Reign, Education, Business.
Igwe Kenneth Orizu III aka Igwe na-eje uka is one of the greatest and longest-serving kings that have served the Nnewi Kingdom. His democratic kind of leadership helped restore peace in the Nnewi kingdom.
He has a great reputation and regards among his subjects. His words and judgments are always final when it comes to the settlement of disputes in the Nnewi kingdom.
I think one of his greatest achievements that history can never forget is scraping the Osu Caste System He is, of course, the first Igbo King to do it. His commitment to things of God also earned him the name “Igwe na Eje Uka” ( King that goes to church.
Even if I didn’t notice anything, I noticed that Nnewi has moved forward since the reign of Igwe Kenneth Orizu III. Thanks for reading. Please, subscribe to our notification.
