The late Engineer Ernest Madu Onyekwena, a distinguished Second Republic lawmaker and acclaimed agricultural engineer, will be honored by prominent figures during his burial ceremony, scheduled for August 30th and 31st, 2024, in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Tributes from Prominent Figures
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo will lead the tributes. They will be joined by other notable dignitaries, including the Minister of Health, Ali Pate; the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai; and the Speakers of both the Anambra and Enugu State Houses of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze and Hon. Uche Ugwu, respectively.
Legacy of Sir Ernest Onyekwena
Known affectionately as “Omekannaya 1 Ufuma,” the late Sir Ernest Onyekwena served as a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly in 1983 under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). During his tenure, he collaborated with influential leaders like the late President Shehu Shagari and Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
Onyekwena was also a pioneer in agricultural engineering, recognized as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE). His contributions to food security and agricultural infrastructure continue to impact Nigeria today.
The funeral rites will begin with a Service of Songs on August 23rd at his Enugu residence, according to a statement from his son, Dr. Obinna Onyekwena. The ceremony is expected to attract a wide array of dignitaries, traditional leaders, and individuals from across Nigeria and beyond.