Dr. Chidia Maduekwe( ISHINKA OHAFIA) : The Restless Creative At 70 By Lopez Okwara

It was Charles H Fowler who stated that “the best teachers of humanity are the lives of great men.” This is true since greatness is determined by service. Typically, popularity accruing from affluence does not add up to greatness. Greatness resonates through selfless endeavours of patriots and lovers of God and humanity.

Great men therefore, in the true sense of it are like comets, they are not common. Though there may be brandishing of accolades ‘great man’ even on who does not merit it but for noise of recognition. It is important to note in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson “A great man is always willing to be little.”

Chief Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, detribalized Nigerian, great in all spheres of assessment, patriotic, industrious and goal getting Managing Director of Nigeria Film Corporation fits into this shoe of greatness. Born in 1953 by elite parents (A Headmaster cum Cleric, Rev. U U Maduekwe, trained at Hope Waddell Training Institute Calabar, and Mrs. Ori Maduekwe ; trained by the British colonial Masters) Young Chidia was named Chidinma at birth which means God is good. Being a feminine name, he was mocked by young girls in school as ‘the Headmaster’s son who is a girl.’ Along the line, he became Chidia (God therein ) , a peculiar name.

Honestly, one may pause to ask what really is in a name? God has been a profound factor in the life of Chidia Maduekwe: even though the civil war disrupted his education, it did not stop five first generation notable universities in the Country from granting him admissions to study Medicine. As a focused young man who does not join the crowd, Chidia wanted to explore his world from outside tribal sentiments (He has remained so) therefore he chose the Medical College Ibadan. God never left him even when his eldest brother was faced with paucity of funds just barely in his second year, God raised a kind Nigerian from Lagos State , Mr. FEMI Johnson , junior brother to His Excellency Mobolaji Johnson first military governor of Lagos state to continue sponsoring him till he become a Medical Doctor.

Propelled by the health needs of the rural Nigerians Dr. Chidia Maduekwe established, upon graduation from the Medical College and Passing out from Youth Service, Kesandu Rural Mobile Medical ( KRUMM) Scheme. This was a rural health care scheme that provided, in mobile capacity, the primary healthcare needs of the people of Ohafia, Akwa Ibom and some parts of Cross River states close to the then IMO state . The rigours of this exercise for a fresh graduate may have been Jaundiced but he would not bulge a bit. He secured a collaborative agreement with the German Government who noticed his efforts and invited to Germany for endorsement by GTZ. They supplied him with expert support. Dr Chidia Maduekwe thus created a hospital on wheels and was able to reach the unreached medically. As the song writer says; only remembered by what we have’ which in applied direction means we are only remembered by what he has done.to many this remembrance is upon their demise. Dr. Chidia’s remembrance came immediately when the political embargo was lifted in 1992 his party the Social Democratic Party -SDP gave him ticket even in his absence without him committing money, to run as their candidate for Ohafia Federal Constituency. He won and later became the House committee Chairman on Defense .

Dr. Maduekwe has held several public and administrative positions in the country. He was elected Member, Federal House of Representatives in the aborted Third Republic where he served as Chairman, House Committee on Defense (1992-1993). He was the National Chairman, Amalgamation of Nigerian Youths Association (1995-1996); Special Assistant (Youth Development) to the Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports (1995). In 1995, he was appointed by the then military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha as a Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission, where he served until 2001. Thereafter, he became a Senior Management Staff of the Petroleum Equalization Fund between 2001 and 2010.

Some past positions occupied and national assignments of Dr. Maduekwe include but are not limited to the following: Deputy Chairman, Ministerial Committee for the Successful holding of the West African University Games (WAUG), University of Benin; Deputy Chairman, Ministerial Committee for the Relocation of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports from Lagos to Abuja; and Member, Federal Government Delegation to Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago for Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. He was also a Member, Federal Government delegation to the United Kingdom to understudy ethnic diversity and harmonious mechanisms in governance. In 2015, history beckoned on him when he served as Director of the Media Unit, Buhari Support Group Center (BSGC); Director, Media, Information Management & Technology, Directorate Buhari Support Organisations (BSO); and Member, Media Committee, APC Presidential Campaign Council.

As a federal lawmaker, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe was associated with the attraction of some federal institutions/presence to Ohafia, his constituency. Significantly, through his direct personal efforts, he processed and secured approval for the establishment of the Federal Government College, EBEM, Ohafia, which has trained several prominent sons and daughters of Ohafia, Abia State and others from contiguous States of the Federation. He is a former Member, Governing Board of the prestigious National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. This current platform has afforded him the rare privilege of continuing with his usual desire and action plans to project and emplace Ohafia interest and presence into critical national niche positions for posterity.

In the Nigeria Film Corporation, he has championed immeasurable changes and brought to bear strategic innovations that are positively impacting on Nigeria’s Film Industry, domestically and beyond. These are achieved through the awesome display of administrative experience, entrepreneurial and leadership skills acquired during his over thirty-five years of diligent public service.

His focus in the NFC has been to lead an agency which is proactive in its decisions, actions, and performances in delivering on its projects. He set out key policy and strategic approaches to enable the Nigerian people and the world at large to benefit immeasurably from the services of the NFC. Through him, the NFC sought collaboration with professionals in the industry, stakeholders, relevant government agencies and investors, with a view to synergising appropriately and creating the needed impetus to propel the industry into higher orbit.

Also in his leadership, NFC aspired and has led the industry from the vantage position of a government agency and used this platform as an enabler in the globally competitive industry. This way, film making has become a professionally rewarding calling and a profitable investment, impressive enough to attract credible foreign investments from Germany, France and several others . The Nigeria film Institute has been upgraded with a Post graduate program (Master of Arts in Film Culture and Archiving; the first school in Nigeria that undertakes this professional degree. Two streams have been successfully graduated and the third stream is currently on board) still as an auspices of University of Jos. The Goethe University Germany has established a collaborative scholarship scheme with the NFC. Six Nigerian Postgraduate students of the Film Institute undertake exchange studies at the Goethe University for Six months every year. Talks are however in top gear to further commence a doctoral programme in the same field.

Undergraduate students of the Institute have relocated to their permanent site. Where state of the art equipment are installed for the professional training of the students. This has helped to lay a formidable foundation for the next generation of filmmakers and actors.
The first digitized and restored film has been achieved and archived in this period. Shehu Umar was a film produced in 1974 but destroyed due to environmental conditions. The film has been successfully repaired. The synergy and achievements of Dr. Chidia Maduekwe led NFC and her Institute is worthy of emulation. The National Film Video and Sound Archive has been revamped according to world standards and films are being archived for future use.

The list is endless. Dr Chidia Maduekwe has brought prominence to the Nigeria Film industry with the annual Film Festival ‘Zuma film festival with the FCTA collaborating .’ This festival attracts film makers and players from all over the world. The Nigerian content is being viewed positively.

The restless creative ingenuity of Dr. Chidia MADUEKWE has brought to the NFC several big deals and recognition . That could be the reason the Ancient Ohafia Kingdom conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Ishinka Ohafia meaning the Creative Colossus. Subsequently, the Asaga Ohafia community recently made him the Chief Sheriff of the Community as their EZE AKPAN .

What else can be said to a man whose dexterity is selfless and to the appreciable knitting of his society to national and international comfort. As you turn 70 today, may God who has been there for you continue to be your bulwark. May He make your life to be more abundantly blessed.

Lopez Okwara Mba Awa is a Postgraduate Student, University of Jos.