Prince Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze, OFR is an outstanding Nigerian, a self-made man who rose to the pinnacle of success through hard work, integrity, self- discipline and accountability. He is a man who is living a “life of enterprise”, to quote a childhood friend of his- Chief AnayoEjem (IchieNnabuenyi) who wrote a special tribute on Eze during his birthday in November.
At the heat of COVID-19 pandemic in March, Eze used his life of enterprise to give lifelines to many Nigerians when he dispatched truck loads, upon truck loads of palliative materials to communities in the South-eastern and South-south states and beyond. He is thus one of the very few single individuals who played the roles of beingtheir brothers keepers. But he the most prominent role of being his brothers’ keeper. He made the largest single individual donation during that trying period, rescuing thousands from hunger and untimely death when even many state governments abandoned the poor and needy.
Chief Anay Ejem writing on Eze therefore captures the essence of this man.
“25th November is an important date for many Nigerians, especially the indigenes of Ukpo, for one reason. It is the birthday of one of Nigeria’s eminent citizens and an illustrious son of Ukpo, Prince Engr Arthur IkpechukwuEze, OFR. For his friends and kinsmen Arthur’s birthday is always a joyful occasion, which paradoxically presents a nagging problem: how do you celebrate a man whose life is itself a celebration? And what material gift can you give to someone who has everything?
Perhaps the only way to honor Arthur on his birthday should be to thank him for a lifetime of enterprise and selflessness, which then makes it mandatory for us to understand his exemplary humanity. Because when you see beyond the sobriquets, appellations and the high-sounding epithets; when you cast aside the fame, pomp and pageantry, you will behold one of the finest human beings ever created. Frankly, birthday or not, I think Nigerians should occasionally just thank Arthur, for being Arthur.”
Indeed, Prince Eze is a man with a proud and distinguished history of promoting investment, national content, homegrown companies and technology through his commitments to the country. He is also one of those great Nigerian business leaders who give the opportunity to continue telling the Africa story, notably energy story and to help our great continent attract the investments necessary to reaching its full potential. He is a Nigerian oil businessman, philanthropist, politician, and the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest Nigerian exploration and production group that one single individual operates.
Portraying businesswith such conviction, poise and élan that business men who study him and try to take after him, feel compelled to measure up to him, Eze is a rare example of a performer who is suave, daring, versatile and hasan iconic persona. He captivates people with his unmatchable jokes and fantastic presence, mixing with the high and powerful, yet not despising the presence of the common man. He is a man who is making much indelible mark in the history of business in Nigeria.
Eze has been in business for over forty years without a dent on his name. In 1991, founded OrantoAtlasOranto Petroleum. The company has 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 jurisdictions across Africa, with assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and several Atlas Oranto operated blocks. To date, the company is the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa.
Atlas Oranto has regional offices and representatives across core investment locations in West Africa with its technical base located in Lagos, while its headquarters is at Abuja. The chairman chose Abuja as its headquarters so, that the management of the company can have direct access to African policy-makers in the region. The Eze family has ownership of the company stock and all the shareholders are involved in the company’s operation.
He is an example of the imperative to shape a conducive legislative environment for incubating creative ideas and making the most of local talent. Also an example of why government should pay special attention to and support fast-growing companies, since such entities tend to increase their market value quickly, enhancing their ability to create jobs and contribute to GDP growth, which brings us closer to the economic diversification goals we need to achieve in building a brighter future.
Not only did Orascom build enormous brand equity through starting out in Nigeria and the neighbouring West African region and growing into other parts of the African continent, it also managed to put in billions of dollars’ worth of investment while dealing with global market leaders in many business deals. These deals are a testament to the good name, good thinking, market intelligence of Prince Eze who deploys his foresight to take advantage of the fast-paced economic changes sweeping the African region. Innovation is truly the fuel of our future, and he embraces it. Therefore it is possible for him to rapidly expand the business, deploying the tentacles of Oranto Atlas Petroleum across Africa, from Gabon through Equatorial Guinea and recently to places like South Sudan and Uganda.
In February 2017, Oranto Petroleum spread its tentacles to South Sudan’s oil and gas entrant landscape as a new player, putting in a $500-million investment in the process. That year, it began its exploration programme through an agreement with BGP Inc. South Sudan. The deal came just 8 months after Oranto signed its Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) with the South Sudanese government, committing $500 million to the development of the 24,415 km2 acreage, with the Oranto expected to kick off its three-year first exploration commitment period. Following a competitive tender process, geophysical specialist, BGP, was selected to perform an airborne gravity and magnetic survey of the contract area, Block B3. The block is believed to be highly prospective, with productive parts of the Muglad basin to the northwest and estimated reserves in place of more than three barrels of oil.
As soon as Oranto Petroleum announced that it had signed an exploration production sharing contract (EPSA) in Juba for the reserve-rich Block B3 and that it would invest as much as $500 million in South Sudan, it began work immediately. The EPSA that Oranto signed was the first to be signed in South Sudan since 2012.
Prince Arthur Eze, founder and executive chairman of Oranto Petroleum said “The development of our assigned contract area and fulfilment of our contractual obligations in South Sudan is a priority for Oranto. The government and the Ministry of Petroleum have been working very hard to create an enabling environment for investors and we are fortunate to benefit from their assistance. South Sudan is a nation with a great future, and we are proud to be a part of that, contributing with a purposeful, well-resourced exploration and development campaign.”
That investment in South Sudan was a God-sent rescue for that county at that time. This was because it happened at a period when the South Sudan government was looking for investments, trying to raise production in its oil output.
“We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast. To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto,” said Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel LolGatkuoth. “The government is working hard to reinvigorate the petroleum industry in South Sudan by creating an enabling environment for International oil and gas companies to invest and operate. It is up to the oil companies to come in, explore and produce.”
That same year, Oranto Petroleum also made its presence felt in Uganda, where it dipped its footing. In Octovber of that year, it signed two Production Sharing Agreements for the Ngassa Shallow and Deepwater Plays of Lake Albert in Uganda, holding a 100 percent stake in both licenses.
With that showing,Oranto itself as one of Africa’s strongest independents focused on frontier exploration. It entered that agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for the Republic of Uganda and committed to a first exploration period of two years. A second period would be for a maximum of two years, with a minimum work program for both periods that would include acquiring and reprocessing 2D and 3D seismic data and amplitude versus offset (AVO) studies. A renewal would also include drilling at least one exploration well.
“We are excited to enter this agreement with the Government of Uganda and look forward to a successful exploration period,” saidEze in a press release. “Lake Albert is home to some prime petroleum acreage and we hope to make a valuable contribution to the country and its people.”
The Ngassa Play, comprised of 410 square kilometers of both shallow and deepwater areas, is in the southern part of Lake Albert. Already, Lake Albert is home to major oil discoveries, with recoverable crude reserves estimated between 1.4 billion and 1.7 billion barrels of oil. The first discovery in Lake Albert was made in 2006 by Tullow Oil, and production is expected in 2020, after Uganda builds a pipeline to export the crude.
As a result of his massive investments and knowledge in the oil industry, Prince Eze washonoured with themembership of the Africa Oil & Power Advisory Board in 2018, along with such distinguished Africans like…..
Africa Oil & Power Advisory Board isa body of accomplished energy policy makers and business executives who will contribute valuable insights and experience in developing our program and content agenda. The Advisory Board represents the best of the industry in Africa, bringing the wisdom of life-long careers in energy and finance. Members of the board are chosen for their outstanding lifetime contributions to their field, and each individual is a champion of the African energy industry.
According to a statement from the company, “this board is composed of some infinitely knowledgeable and accomplished individuals who have committed their entire careers to championing Africa,” said Guillaume Doane, CEO of Africa Oil & Power. “Their collective body of experience in creating energy policy and striking deals will bring a powerful voice in shaping the conversation of Africa Oil & Power on and off the stage.”
A key function of the Advisory Board is to act as an effective vehicle for engaging African governments to help them promote and attract investment in their oil, gas and power sectors. The Board members will assist Africa Oil & Power in collaborating with government leaders and supporting African countries in organizing world-class events that enable investment, promote local content and technology, empower home-grown companies and give a voice to policy makers and thought leaders.
Over the years, Chief Arthur Eze has been making great things happen, as he embarked upon a remarkable quest for progress, fuelled by the pursuit of development, fully immersed in services to the nation, providing jobs for thousands of people directly and indirectly .
His insights have always earned him friends across the country. This explains his having friends spread across the country. It explains why he was able to influence the creation of a local government council .He also lobbied and brought the Police Zone 13 Headquarters to his hometown, Ukpo in Anambra State.
We measure love by its impact, especially on the less-privileged. Eze demonstrates this love is demonstrated by creating opportunities for the children of the poor become useful to themseleves, helping them create a sustainable future which is the common passport out of poverty. He ensures that nobody’s aspiration is circumscribed by social status. As a result of this quality, he was able to lobby and bring the Police Zone 13 Headquarters to his hometown, Ukpo in Anambra State
On this this fact, listen to his boyhood friend ChiefAnayoEjem:
“Arthur’s commitment to God and Ukpo runs deep. You can say without fear of contradiction that he has given his soul to Christ, and his life to NdiUkpo. Take the former, Arthur has been an extraordinary pillar (the corner-stone) of the Church of Christ, regardless of denomination. His transcendent assistance has enabled church and clergy to robustly continue to advance the Word.
Arthur has been phenomenal in all matters pertaining to Ukpo. Long ago, he fashioned the creation of Dunukofia Local Government, with headquarters in Ukpo, thereby bringing the entire Dunukofia Clan under one administrative structure. Through his instrumentality, the South Eastern Police Protection Unit, as well as a Police Secondary School were sited in Ukpo. Progressively, he is turning Ukpo into a work of fine art – refurbishing schools, market stalls, commercial buildings, roads and street lighting. Against significant odds, Arthur brought the headquarters of Zone 13 of the Nigerian Police to Ukpo, having command over all police formations in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States.”
This is true indeed. Eze loves his people his Ukpo town so dearly. He’s someone who is a leading voice in an area of great concern, especially in his home town of Ukpo. The town is something he has been passionate about for years. He thinks about doing some help for people in different ways to what some other feel – that’s the fun to him and part of worshipping God.
Chief Ezephilantrophist who gives without looking back. He is in the frontlines of philanthropy, providing for the sick, the poor and the needy in the society.His philantrophic gestures are in the areas of road network, peace, promoting education, healthcare, water, social harmony and community development. He has consistently done things to bring up many of his kinsmen into any public office wherever they contact him for such.
Some of his philanthropic activities include but not limited to the following
Donation of $12 million for the construction of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria in 2013; donation of $800,000 for the construction of two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in central South Sudan; donation of 10 million naira to the elderly people of the Ukpo community; donation of the sum of N5 million to the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), for a standard sickle cell clinic at the Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State; donation of $6.3-million to the flood relief efforts in Nigeria in the year 2013.
The people of the Abagana community benefited from his cheerful giving as he gave them the sum of 20 million naira for musical instruments and renovations of a church in 2015. Arthur singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. He was part of those that contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgencies, of which he donated the sum of $800,000 at a fundraiser in Abuja. He gave 25 million naira of the total funds raised for the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup in 2018. He modernized the local market near the Ukpo palace and also created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighboring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana. Equally, he constructed the overhead bridge in Ebonyi State with his funds, without asking for government intervention.
Who does not know about the legendary generosity of Arthur Eze? Not just in Anambra State, but in different parts of the country. Many people have been touched by the man’s philanthropy. As a result, he has been honored with many awards and Recognitions.
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