The wake-keep of Chief Ethelbert C. ILOH (Ozo Ochiri Ozuo)

BIOGRAPHY

Chief Ethelbert Chukwuemeka Iloh, was born on 12th February 1958 in Jos, Plateau State to Late Mr. Sydney Onyeama Iloh and Ezinne (Mrs.) Felicia Chinyere Iloh. He was the first child of his parent’s blissful marriage. Ethelbert was born with a silver spoon and loved by all and sundry.

The Nigerian civil war dealt a great blow to him and his siblings as they lost their father to the gruesome war. This ugly and bitter experience however, made our dad an automatic and instant father to his other siblings, thereby moulding him into the great icon he was.

He started his primary school at a tender age at Barakin-Ladi, Jos, Plateau State which was abruptly interrupted by Nigerian Civil War of 1966 – 1970. Ethelbert later continued his primary education/school at Central School Isikwe Achi, Enugu State, but completed at New Bethel Primary School, Onitsha, Anambra State. He had his high school at Washington Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Anambra State. Ethelbert was very brilliant and aced all his subjects. He loved football, played in school, and was held in high admiration by all, especially by ladies (smiles).
After secondary school, Ethelbert worked at the then Anambra State Co-operative Wholesale Association (ACWA), Onitsha, as a Sales Representative. His love for education and to acquire higher knowledge made him to enrol for a distant learning programme with London School of Business Studies, London, Britain, where he majored in Salesmanship/Marketing, and graduated with a distinction grade.

In 1980, armed with Salesmanship/Marketing professional certificate, he made a quest for greener pasture and travelled to Makurdi, Benue State, where he got an employment with BENIMO NIGERIA LIMITED as a Sales Manager. The company was into supply and installation of Aluminium roofing sheets, Aluminium profiles, and Accessories. There our dad mastered the skill and business so well, and this led him to been sent to Abuja to open a new branch office in 1981. He became the Branch Manager of the new office and grew the business significantly.

In 1982, he and a colleague ventured out and set up a joint company. The company excelled greatly, as Ethelbert was the brain behind the wheels. He was very sound with calculations, estimations, and quotations. Later same year, our dad took the bull by the horn and founded his own company – STANCAL NIGERIA LIMITED. He built the company and by 1985 our dad had incorporated fabrications and installation of aluminium doors and windows into the business.

STANCAL NIGERIA LIMITED became a household name, with several branches for all supply, fabrication and installation of aluminium sheets, aluminium profiles, doors, and windows in the new developing capital, Abuja. Suffice it to say that Ethelbert was one of the most successful young men of his time. Under this company, he had over twenty-five(25) employees and trained several young men who are still in the line of business and making impact. Quite a number of his apprentice was from his community.

This gesture and many other philanthropic acts later earned him one of the most prestigious chieftaincy titles in Igbo land. He was given a chieftaincy title of Ozo Ochiri Ozuo 1 of Isikwe Achi, Oji-River L.G.A, Enugu State on 1st January 1991.

Ethelbert got wedded to Mrs. Racheal N. Iloh (Nee Nzeakor) on 6th March, 1982 at St James Anglican Church, Suleja, Niger State. This union was blessed with five(5) children. Over the years, he also took a second wife-Mrs. Cecelia C. Iloh (Nee Agu) in 1986, and the marriage was blessed with six(6) children. All his children are educated, as Chief had a knack for education and success. Among his children are Engineers, Architects, Educationist, Medical Practitioners, Businessmen and Women.

Chief (as he fondly called by his northern friends) was one of the first Achi man that started living in Suleja, Niger State and Abuja environs. His house was a home to Achi people and others from Oji-River Local Government Area. He was accommodating and providing to them as brothers and sisters regardless of one’s village or town. Ethelbert was the pioneer chairman of Achi Improvement Union and Oji-River L.G.A meeting in Suleja, Niger State/Abuja. For a long time, both meetings were held in his large compound at Suleja.

Ethelbert hobbies include playing football (early years), watching football and movies, and driving. He was a God fearing man and always stood for justice to all and sundry. He loved Almighty God unshakably. Chief Iloh was a dedicated and committed Christian. He rendered services to God & humanity.

Chief departed this life on 29th November 2021. He survived by Mother, seven(7) siblings, two(2) wives, eleven(11) children, eleven(11) grandchildren and several In-laws.
BROTHERS

Mr Murphy Oforbuike Iloh
Barr. Kingsley Iloh

SISTERS

Mrs Eme Helen C. (Nee Iloh)
Prophetess (Mrs.) Nnenne J. Okoye (Nee Iloh)
Dr. Nkiruka J. Ilo-Mbazor (Nee Iloh)
Ogochukwu Iloh
Tochukwu Iloh