Igwe Josiah Nnaji Orizu II (1902–1962) was the

19th 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics Nineteen is the eighth prime number. Number theory 19 forms a twin prime with 17, a cousin prime with 23, and a sexy prime with 13. ...

Obi of

Otolo Otolo is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Otolo is the premier quarter in Nnewi among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Umudim, Uruagu and Nnewichi Nnewichi is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State with villages such a ...

and

Igwe Igwe (meaning ''"Sky"''), is a royal title or method of addressing traditional rulers that control autonomous communities in Igboland. In other words, Igbos approximate the term to the HM style. An Igwe is therefore defined as a holder of a tit ...

of Nnewi kingdom. He took the ofo of Nnewi in 1924 after his father's death. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father

Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbonyamba) Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbonyamba; born 1881–1924) was the List of Igbo Nnewi Monarch, 18th Obi of Otolo and the Igwe of Nnewi kingdom, Igwe of Nnewi, Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo people, ...

. He was the first Igwe to officially become a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

, although the traditional rulers of Nnewi are the ofo holders and as such, preservers and upholders of Nnewi culture and traditions. He is the brother of Nigeria's first republic senate president and acting president, Prince

Nwafor Orizu Prince Akweke Abyssinia Nwafor Orizu (GCON)(; 17 July 1914 – 1999) was a Nigerian Politician, who served as President of the Nigerian Senate from 1963 to early 1966, during the Nigerian First Republic. Orizu was also Acting President of Nige ...

and the father of Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III his successor.

Early life

Igwe Josiah Orizu had strong missionary upbringing as ward to the Late Reverend Ibeneme of Obosi. His early education began at Primary School Arondizuogu. He later went to C.M.S Central School, Nkwo-Nnewi from where he went to

Hope Waddell Training institute The Hope Waddell Training Institution (HOWAD) is a school in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. It founded by missionaries from the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1895. It is named after the Reverend Hope Masterton Waddell. Establ ...

Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari, Cali and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language, as the Efik people dominate this area. The city is adjac ...

, where he remained until 1924. He was re-called home in 1924 at the death of his father, Igwe Orizu I. He was enthroned that same year the 19th Igwe of Nnewi.

Reign

During his reign, Igwe Josiah Orizu II set out with courage to work out a programme of

community development The United Nations defines community development as "a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems." It is a broad concept, applied to the practices of civic leaders, activist ...

. # He began with a palace dispensary where patients were treated freely. # He attracted the local Authority Treasury and Nnewi Postal Agency which were followed by a modern Post Office in 1951. # Working with the support of the

Nnewi Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest city in Anambra state after Onitsha . Nnewi as a metropolitan area has two local government area, which are Nnewi North and Nnewi South, a ...

patriotic Association; the Igwe brought about many local reforms that included recognition of twins. establishment of leprosy and yaws treatment clinics at Nnewi-Amichi border also was accomplished. # He has also served as president of the Nnewi district (Agbaja) customary court for a number of years and was until his death a traditional member of the

Onitsha Onitsha ( or simply ''Ọ̀nị̀chà'') is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the we ...

southern county council. # The native authority dispensary at Eme was given full recognition by the British colonial administration under his reign. # He streamlined

customs and traditions regardless of his strong Christian leaning. This led to the first celebration of the first yam festival in NNewi in 1932 known as Afia-Olu. Before then only

Uruagu Uruagu is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Uruagu is the second quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Umudim and Nnewichi Nnewichi is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State with villages such as Abubor, Odida ...

celebrated the festival. # With full support of the other three Obis, major roads leading to all four quarters of Nnewi were constructed with the assistance of the native authority administration. During his rule,

witnessed an unprecedented number of development projects, including the establishment of 20 primary schools, two teacher-training colleges, three secondary schools, a post office and a government general hospital. He was the first president General of the Eastern Chiefs conference which was founded in his palace at Nnewi in 1952. Igwe Orizu II was elected to the Eastern House of chiefs in 1959 the eve of Nigeria's Independence. In 1960 he became a foundation member of the Eastern house of chiefs.

Family

Until his death in 1962, Josiah Orizu leaves behind to mourn him 15 wives, 61 sons, 72 daughters and 107 grandchildren.

References

External links

Official Nnewi WebSite
* Hugh Trenchard in Nigeria
unn.edu.ng/
{{authority control Igbo monarchs Nnewi monarchs Nnewi 1902 births 1962 deaths