Enugu State has been thrown into jubilation as His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu (Igwe Ogadagidi) of Edemani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, the Enugu State Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, has emerged the Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers. Renowned for his humanitarian initiatives and diplomatic acumen, Igwe Ogadagidi succeeds HRM Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu in this prestigious role.
The announcement of Igwe Ogadagidi's election has sparked widespread celebrations across Enugu State and beyond. Goodwill messages have been pouring in from various royal fathers and dignitaries nationwide. Among the notable congratulatory messages was one from HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe CFR, a member of the prestigious National Institute (mni) and the Obi of Onitsha, who also serves as the Chairman of the Anambra Traditional Rulers Council. This endorsement highlights the significance of Igwe Ogadagidi's new position and the respect he commands among his peers.
The journey to Igwe Ogadagidi's new leadership role began on March 29, 2024, when the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Barr. Peter Mbah, approved the reconstitution of the 8th Council of Enugu State Traditional Rulers. This culminated in the appointment of HRM Igwe Dr. Samuel Asadu as the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, officially inaugurated by Governor Mbah on May 27, 2024.
COMMUNITY/HUMANITARIAN SERVICES
Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu’s rise to prominence is rooted in his commitment to community development and youth empowerment. He built and equipped an ultramodern, free twenty-bed hospital for the community, and pays monthly bill of over one million naira to doctors and other staff from 2019 till date. He recently constructed 2.1
kilometers asphalt road leading from Odenigbo Nsukka to Edem-ani, sponsored erosion control at Ugwu Aji and has donated up to N27,000,000 for reticulation of water in Edem ani. He has built eight houses for the widows and the indigents from Edem ani community. He donated 63 million Naira to Edem ani youth on January 2nd 2024. He also sponsored 24 persons from Akpa, Ozzi, Edem ani and Ugwunagbo to Abuja to seek for greener pastures.
In the area of security, he spent millions of Naira in procuring a Hilux Van, motorcycles, Walkie Talkie and other security gadgets to equip the Edem-Ani Neighborhood Watch to secure the community.
He recently sponsored solar lights in the whole of Edem ani and Ugwnagbo Community to the tune of N12,000,000. According to FountainCare Reporters, Igwe Ogadagidi recently donated a sienna bus to the youth wing of Edem ani Ogwugwu ancient kingdom.
In education and youth empowerment, he purchased Jamb forms for about 300 youths of Edem origin. He donated laptops and generators to four primary schools in Edem-ani; donated N5,000,000 to some Edem-Ani youths to start businesses; awarded scholarships to indigent University students; sponsored up to eight of Edem ani indigenes for masters degree programs abroad with a promise to pay for masters degree program abroad for any Edem ani indigene who made first class or second class upper in any Nigeria university.
He has sponsored 10 years of the Ogadagidi Children’s Party: a platform he uses to reward outstanding students from public primary schools in Edem-ani, Constructed the culverts that links Otobo Ubogidi, Obinagu Ubogidi and Ozalla Umuneje village.
Built a food bank that feeds up to 250 people on daily bases since 2022. As a result of these, his community a unanimously agreed to erect his status at the central place in the community which will be there in perpetuity. Igwe Ogadagidi’s philanthropic deeds cannot be enumerated in this episode.
These philanthropic initiatives have cemented Igwe Ogadagidi's reputation as a leader dedicated to the betterment of his people. His new role as Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers is expected to enhance his ability to champion the interests of traditional institutions and promote the socio-economic development of the region. While Enugu State and the broader South East region celebrate this new chapter in traditional leadership, expectations are high for Igwe Ogadagidi to continue his legacy of service, unity, and progress.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Born at Ozalla Edem-Ani, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State in the year 1966 to the family of Sir Samuel and Lady Fidelia Asadu of Ozalla Edem-Ani, Igwe Dr. Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu had his Primary School Education at Central School Edem-Ani, after which he proceeded to Boy’s High School Okpo Enugu Ezike as the first student to be admitted into the school in 1978. He finished his SSCE in 1983 and passed with an excellent result. Following his passion for humanitarian services, he applied for Nursing Sciences at School of Nursing, Iyienu Hospital Ogidi in the present day Anambra State. Young Samuel distinguished himself by passing out as the best Graduating Student of his set in 1988. He also attended School of Psychiatric Hospital Enugu from 1989 to 1990. He worked at the Ministry of Health Enugu for ten (10) years before travelling to the United State of America in 1997 for greener pasture. While in the United State of America, Samuel Asadu did not relent on his quest and love for excellence in his chosen career. He applied and gained admission into the prestigious Grand Canyon University Arizona, United State of America and obtained BSN in Nursing.
Samuel Asadu has several companies to his credit both home and abroad. Some of his companies include: Promptime Home Healthcare services, NNSP Holdings, Lakeview Primary Homecare etc. all in the United State of America. Back home, he is the owner of Nichole Place Hotel Ltd Enugu, Nichole Place Hotel at, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ezenwanyi Farms Ltd, Dallas Table Water among others. He is a member of peoples club of Nigeria ( USA) Branch. Samuel Asadu is a philanthropist per excellence who never forgets his root. He believes so much in Aku-Rue Ulo. Some of his notable projects both for his community and the state in general includes but not limited to: He has helped not less than 15 persons from his community and outside to travel to the United State of America and obtained green card. In which some of them are now American citizens, Building and equipping an Ultra-Modern free 20 Bedded hospital for his community that was commissioned by His Excellency, Rt. Hon Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi the Executive Governor of Enugu State on the 27th December, 2019. He handed over the hospital to the board of Directors who managed and supervises all the activities of the hospital. He made sure that all services like card, Surgery, diagnosis, laboratory services etc are free of charge. The hospital is open to all irrespective of where you are coming from. He continues to pay the salaries of staff worth over N800,000 monthly and continues to equip the pharmacy section with foreign drugs for the past one year. Samuel Asadu is blessed with four (4) wonderful brothers and a sister. He is also happily married to Mrs. Happiness Eberechukwu Asadu (Lolo Akudo) and the marriage is blessed with four (4) wonderful children. He currently doubles as the Chairman of Enugu State and South East Regional Council of Traditional Rulers. FountainCare Reporters.
