- His projects dot Enugu, Owerri, PortHarcourt, others
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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
–Pix(above): Sir (Ogbueshi) Edmund Okechukwu Onochie. Below: Faces at the 4th Frank Mbanefo Memorial Lecture organised by the Enugu chapter of the NIA
When Sir Edmund Okechukwu Onochie turned 90 on September 27, the event was marked with splendour by family, friends, associates and professional colleagues.
Though the nonagenarian’s name may not ring a bell like that of politicians, but it sure does in the building sector. Onochie is a household name in the field of architecture in Nigeria. He is also a town planner.
This doyen of architecture was the toast of the 4th Annual Frank Mbanefo memorial lecture organised by the Enugu State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) recently. The event which was held on November 3, provided opportunity for architects in the state to unwind under a cosy atmosphere as they celebrated one of the most successful architects in the South East.
It began with a technical session anchored by Dofas Technical Nig. Ltd and Geberit, before proceeding to the night session where a documentary on the ‘Life and works of Sir Edmund Okechukwu Onochie’ was presented. Guests were equally treated to a flurry of old-school pop, highlife and traditional tunes as well as assorted local and continental cuisines.
President of the NIA was represented at the event by Chike Ibeanu, another renowned architect, while his counterpart of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCN) had Abiola Akinola, standing in for him. The stage was clearly set for the celebration of a man with one of the most prestigious careers in architecture and town planning in the country, spanning six decades.
Onochie’s career started in 1960 when he worked as an apprentice at Donald Goldfinch Architects, Birmingham, England and F. Potter Associates, Architects and Town Planners, Birmingham.
He returned to Nigeria towards the end of 1962 following a notification by the then Eastern Nigeria High Commission directing that the Governor of the Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara, had demanded for his expertise, as a qualified architect and town planner, to return to Nigeria and take over from the departing expatriates. He was also tasked with using his expertise in the farm settlement programme of the then regional government.
He returned and was employed to understudy the Israeli architect, Y. Geron, who was then in charge of the Eastern Nigeria farm settlements programme. The young Onochie took over from Geron and led teams of engineers, surveyors, agriculturalists and horticulturists to design and implement the establishment of six farm settlements in Igbariam (Anambra), Uzo Uwani (Enugu), Erei, Boki (Cross River), Ohaji (Imo) and Ulonna (Abia).
He also developed the master plans for the Independence Layout in Enugu, Trans-Amadi Layout in Port Harcourt under Prof. Elon, another Israeli.
Despite the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the civil war in the country, Onochie continued his upward ascendency as a distinguished architect. In 1970, he was posted to the Town Planning Division in the then Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban
Development where he was appointed first Chief Town Planning Officer.
He led the team that was in charge of the urban planning programmes of the major towns in the then East Central states namely Enugu, Owerri, Onitsha, Awka, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Aba, Umuahia and Okigwe.
Recounting one of his most ingenious works, Onochie recalled how the administrator of the East Central States, Dr Ukpabi Asika, took him to the balcony overlooking the Three Arms zone.
He said: “Asika challenged me to review the original master plan of the zone in Independence Layout where the Governor’s Lodge and the House of Assembly sat respectively on a pinnacle. It was the highest point of the city linked directly by a six-lane axial road.
He said: “I was there and then challenged by the administrator to redesign the zone to incorporate the concept of open spaces. I obliged him and came up with what is today known as Okpara Square in Enugu.”
Onochie also carried out numerous other landmark designs across states of the South East and present day South South, some of which are: Afrinsure House, Uwani Central, Enugu, Local Government Commission, Uwani Enugu, Unisure House, Independence Layout, Capital Territory Master Plan Abakaliki and National Meteorology Institute, Enugu, among others.
Paying glowing tribute to the iconic architect, Chairman of NIA, Enugu State, Emeka Nwankwo, said the celebrant stands out in the history of the association in the state as he laid the foundation for all the chapters of the body in the South East.
“Sir Edmund Onochie, in the historical hierarchy of the Nigerian Institute of Architects Enugu State chapter, was the second chairman and longest serving chairman of the chapter.
“He served the chapter between 1975 and 1984 when it was known as the Nigerian Institute of Architects Eastern chapter with a leadership sphere of influence over Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states as we have them today.
“The documentary on the life and works of Sir Onochie could not have found a better time to be showcased to the community of architects, associates, friends and well wishers.
“As architects continue to look back at the eventful life of the celebrant and the role he played in civil service, architecture and town planning professions, he will remain a resource and inspiration to them,” Nwankwo said.
Representatives of NIA and ARCN presidents jointly presented the chapter’s plaque to Onochie.
Appreciating the Institute for the honour, he promised to continue to contribute to the growth of the profession.
“I want to thank the Nigerian Institute of Architects for this great honour accorded to me today. I must not forget how the NIA Enugu State chapter celebrated me on my birthday. May God bless all of you.
“I thank special guests and my family for gracing this occasion. I thank the almighty God for my life. These 90 years have had it all. I have had tribulations, successes and great joy. God has been with me. The body may not be as strong but I will continue to contribute to the growth of the profession,” he said.
Some architects who benefited from Onochie’s mentorship also spoke glowingly of the veteran.
Munachi Okorocha said: “I worked with him before my graduation on one of the most important projects he did. That is the Universal Insurance Building, now called Universal Hotel. That was what I worked on majorly in my penultimate year at the university. But not only that year, I was actually there as third year student, up to my final year at the University of Nigeria.
“I learnt a lot from him during practice. In fact, that was where I started practicing. His firm is where I started doing professional architecture. I was opportuned to work with him through somebody’s recommendation. That was my first professional taste of architecture. At that level, you begin to draw buildable things. The Universal Insurance Building was the first buildable thing I did. That was under Okechukwu Onochie.
“He is also a town planner and his skills reflect in his discipline, training and everything.
He expressed these traits professionally in terms of, not just the goodness of the design, but in terms of costing and all the things you have to be conscious of when you are handling such a project.”
Also, a Lagos-based practitioner, Badamosi Oluwatofarati, said he met Onochie while he was doing his masters at the University of Nigeria about 20 years ago.
“He was about 70 years old then but his dedication to duty was still worthy of emulation. We called him Papa back then. What a lot of people did not know is that Onochie is also a town planner. I worked with him on the master plan of one of the states in the South East.
“I also worked with him on some other architectural works in the region. He is such a humble man. Onochie is someone who is always willing to teach the younger ones. He has that patience to teach. I was the only Yoruba man with him then but he brought me close as a son and advised me to strive to stand out in whatever project I did. I learnt a lot from him.”/SHARE THIS
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All hail Ogbueshi Ezeonyeolu n’Obosi! All hail Sir EO Onochie!! All hail our Patriach!!!…OGBU-E-E-SHI!!!!!!
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