Bank professionals in the country must be counting their losses with the demise of one of their quintessential practitioners – Mazi Azubuike Okoro. Popularly known as Enyim by friends and close associates, his remains was buried on August 03, 2024 at his ancestral home, Amankwu village, Arockukwu, Abia State. No matter what the Holy Book says, death usually confronts us with a rude shock. This is particularly the case when it occurs without a prior knowledge of circumstances, such as ill-health. We are sad because of the vacuum created by his exit, yet we know that the Almighty allows events to occur in the fullness of their times. Close associates of Mazi Azubuike Okoro would readily admit that he was a personification of humility, simplicity, and open-mindedness. There were no age limitations as far as those attributes were concerned. He was utterly humble and open minded about his convictions, an impeccable character who believed more in good name, quality friendship and goodwill than earthly riches. With his exit, a yawning gap has been created in our professional circle. As a regulatory banker, he was very much sought after and he readily offered services that elevated his status amongst his esteemed peers. With his journey to eternity, ‘a scarce personality’ is no more. It will be impossible to recount events that stood him out as a quintessential gentleman and a true friend because they are too numerous. Suffice it to say, however, that true friendship meant everything to him. I can recall exactly that our relationship started in early ’90’s and blossomed quickly thereafter due to our intellectual orientations. But a particular incidence made our bonding stronger.
I always have namesakes, some not very close while a few were very closely associated with me. It was easier to manage, and a case of mistaken identity wouldn’t be an issue when a single name is involved. However, the situation becomes more complex and complicated when two or three names are identical. In a highly traditional society, such as Arochukwu, where certain prefixes, like Mazi, are earned, it adds to the complexity. It happened that two of my namesakes from Arochukwu also earned Maziship about the same period. Probably, I could be the youngest, but we were contemporaries, so our identities could easily be mistaken. In my village, Amuvi we were two until the demise of one. May Heaven continue to repose his gentle soul. So, the situation was easily dealt with by adding a suffix to our names. Therefore, we had Mazi Azubike Okoro (Zanga) and Mazi Azubike Okoro (Aro News). That was after the debut of Aro News publications which I founded in 1997. I vividly recall several occasions at St Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi where both us are members, when efforts would be made to properly identify who amongst us made certain donations or contributions until they resolved the challenge with the addition of suffixes to our names. But the situation with the other Mazi Azubuike Okoro was much more challenging because, aside from the fact that we were both regulatory/supervisory bankers, we also engage in literary works using the same names. Also, our professional affiliations cut across similar backgrounds, banking, human resource management, learning and development, etc. We never met or knew ourselves as hailing from Arochukwu until we were scheduled to attend a course together at the Central Bank of Nigeria training school, Satellite town, Lagos. The bank examiners professional courses were jointly organized for CBN and NDIC staff as at that time. It was a three-week residential course with several class and syndicate group assignments that usually brought participants face-to-face. Then, something happened (I can’t remember exactly what, but luckily it was something positive) and one of us was among the names listed on the board. When the name was called in the afternoon, I stood up but later I reported that the issue didn’t pertain to me. I was asked to identify myself and I did. My namesake wasn’t in the class that time. Identity theft was suspected but I denied it completely. The next day, an announcement was made in the class, it was a large class, and two of us stood up. We were instantly identified as genuine employees and our ID card numbers, instead of names, were utilized to differentiate us until the end of the course. That matter having been resolved, we warmly hugged ourselves and realized that we are both from Arochukwu, so became friends instantly. Subsequently, Nzuko Arochukwu adopted the style of adding our villages after our names to identify us until I earned doctorate degree. Our friendship was equally enhanced by the excellent relationship which developed between me and his senior brother, Mazi Ohiaeringwa George Okoro through my late uncle, Elder Jonathan Nwagba Orji. When he became the president general of Amankwu Development Union, I relied on his contacts in reaching out to our diaspora relations at Izuogu. In fact, he facilitated several of their trips to Ikeji festival for the three consecutive years that I served as Chair, Ikeji Arochukwu Organizing Committee. A true patriot, he usually provided logistics that made their stay interesting and the ceremony quite successful.
Over time, due to his love for the kingdom, he encouraged me so much for the excellent job Aro News was doing in community journalism and though never a full-time columnist, he occasionally contributed articles that enriched our brand. That Aro News celebrated 25th anniversary over two years ago, and is now a brand and an institution comprising of Aro News Newspaper, Aro Newsonline and Aro News Book Series, with four titles: Perspectives on Aro History and Civilization: The Splendor of a Great Past, Vols. 1, 2, 3 & 4 is attributable to the efforts of people like him.His published works in various volumes which are available in global libraries shall forever imortalize him and remain a credit and a memorial attesting to his professionalism, commitment and love for Arochukwu kingdom. Born 23rd September, 1953, he would have marked his 71st birthday this September. He was educated at the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu and the University of Ibadan and earned Higher National Diploma, Upper Credit in Banking as well as two Masters Degrees in Management and Psychology. Mazi Okoro also earned several professional affiliations and post graduate diploma certificates. He joined the services of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 1982 and served in various capacities and locations before earning his last promotion as pioneer Branch Controller, CBN, Awka, Anambra State. He retired meritoriously on September 23, 2013 into active consultancy and management services. A prolific writer, he has several publications to his credit and remained active in teaching at various institutes until death. Mazi was an active member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and is survived by his dear wife, Dr Charity A Okoro, sons and daughter, including grand sons and daughters, brother and sister, cousins and nephews, and others too numerous to mention. Often, communities are endowed with special species of humans that robustly contribute to its civilization and heritage. Such personalities come once in a long while, and they are always scarce, and go ahead of their peers in rare endeavors. My namesake, Mazi Azubuike Okoro, merited membership of this group. It’s not how long, but how well one lived and by what he shall be remembered. He etched his name in gold because he invested in quality friendship, intellectualism and touched many souls while alive. As Christians, we shall not tarry in sorrow. Now that it has dawned on us that another season of existence has arrived, we shall take solace in the unfailing love of the God that does not change. We thank the Almighty for His love and blessings in his life and for the times he shared with humanity. We love him and shall miss him forever. Adieu, my namesake, with a difference.
Dr Azubike Okoro, Ugwu Aro
Chair, Editorial Board, Aro News Publications Ltd
President, Aronewsonline
