My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Limitednow: 10:02pm On May 23, 2017 |
IN 1971, after my primary school education, poverty drove me to Lagos to find something to do to help my poor mother and siblings. Civil War devastated my father’s thriving business in Onitsha and we all suffered from 1966 to 1970 when the war ended.
With four wives and 34 children, my parents could not cope any more. My brothers and sisters dropped out of school to learn a trade. Because I was a little ‘sharp’ in school, my father encouraged me to finish primary school.
It is needless here to recall how I and few of my siblings survived to finish our primary education. Consequently when my mates were taking Common Entrance Examination, I did not because there was no need to do so. No money, no three square meals a day, no good clothing, just nothing.
My mother encouraged me to travel with friends to Lagos. We landed at Sawmill Ebute Metta where I worked as a sawdust carrier at seven Shilling, six Pence a day. My job was to pack sawdust from the Machines to the Lagoon from 7am to 5 pm daily. I did this for nearly two years and later I became a danfo conductor plying Idioro/Ajegunle axis.
From there I joined my brother in a supermarket business at Ijesha Road, Surulere. I did this until I returned home during Christmas in December 1973. I came home to meet my friends I was beating academically in school trying to make me feel and look inferior. Again I also noticed while in Lagos that if I fail to go to school, I may end up doing menial jobs meant for illiterates till the end of age. I decided to go back to school to add values to my life. But where are the school fees? There was nothing. How I managed to get the first school fee to start and what happened thereafter will take a book to do the narrative.
In 1979 I left Okongwu Memorial Grammar School Nnewi with Division One and was the school Head Boy. I taught in the same school as an Auxiliary Teacher from 1979 – 1980. In 1980 I got admission to read Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and graduated in 1985. I did my Youth Service in Ogun State and thereafter I returned to Lagos in1986 to begin a journey to where I am today. I walked the streets of Lagos from 1986 – 1988 until the then military government headed by Gen Ibrahim Babangida set up the National Directorate of Employment, (NDE) to encourage graduates to start their own businesses. I got a loan of N27, 500, using my NYSC discharge Certificate and my Degree Certificate as collateral at 9% interest rate. I set up a Restaurant Business in Western Avenue, Lagos and hit an instant success. While doing this business, I spread my nets also to the auto spare parts market in Lawanson, Surulere where my brother thrives as a very successful importer. I opened a shop there and got a boy to take charge of the business. From there, I entered into Auto dealership in Western Avenue Surulere. I paid back that loan in full and collected back my certificates.
In 1995, I wrote my first book, Igbos: 25 Years After Biafra. I also established National Vision Newspapers in 1997. In 1999, I wrote my second book: Heroes of Democracy. In 2004 I co-authored 2007: The IBB Option with my good friend, Peter Claver Oparah. One thing led to another. I became an opinion molder, a public commentator, political analyst, writer and an advocate of the peoples’ cause. I bought my first car in 1990 and became a millionaire in 1995 after launching of my first book.
In 2006 the then Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu made me the pioneer General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure & Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA and I was there for almost 10years. I served Asiwaju’s government for the remainder of his days as Lagos Governor. I served His Excellency Governor Babatunde Fashola for 8years. In September 2015, His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode moved me to Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority Apapa as Chairman. I became the Publicity Secretary AC, ACN, and APC since late 2006 till date. By the grace of God I have been the Chairman of Conference of APC Publicity Secretaries (CAPS) in Nigeria since 2014.
These positions and exploits have put me in the limelight in Lagos and Nigeria since the early 90s and God has been kind to me. These offices have opened the doors of the rich and poor to me.
They have opened the inner ways,byways, subways, expressways and highways to the corridors of power in Nigeria. I have been connected to the pace setters, policy makers, the movers and shakers of blue chip companies, newsmakers and the powers that be in Lagos. The magic of Lagos, the beauty of Lagos, the dynamics of Lagos, the glory of Lagos, the momentum of Lagos, the capacity, capability and the strength of Lagos touched me in no uncertain terms since 1986(32years ago) till date…..and still counting.
My sojourn in Lagos for 32 years has also opened my eyes as a historian as to what Lagos has done for my people from South East. Today as I write this Igbo do not have a quarter of what they have in Lagos in the South East in terms of investments. As I write this book, Igbo are the second most populous ethnic group in Lagos. Today, Igbo exert tremendous influence and capacity in Lagos and its success story. Few years back two prominent sons of Nnewi told me in confidence that they did not know they have been wasting their time in Nnewi until they came to Lagos. They said Lagos opened doors for limitless opportunities and endless possibilities. I have seen people come from other parts of Nigeria to hit gold mine in Lagos.
I got married in 1990 and all my five kids are all Lagosians and so are millions of Igbo kids born in Lagos. They have lived most of their lives in Lagos, schooled in Lagos, worked in Lagos, made friends in Lagos and have keyed to the Lagos success story. They know any other place except Lagos. Lagos is their home. This is not limited to Igbo alone but all other ethnic groups and of course Yoruba from outside Lagos. Lagos is a melting point, a mega city, a cosmopolitan beehive. Lagos controls the heartbeat of Nigeria, its wealth, its influence and its strategic socio-economic and political hub. Lagos changed my thinking and original thoughts, Lagos emboldened me, Lagos motivated me, Lagos challenged me and Lagos made me. I can say no less. This is the story of Lagos, my Lagos. It is still unraveling, not for me alone but millions of other Nigerians, to the glory of God.
Joe Igbokwe, Lagos State publicity secretary of APC writes from Lagos. http://www.socialtimesng.net/2017/05/lagos-story-joe-igbokwe/ 1 Like 2 Shares |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Nobody: 10:08pm On May 23, 2017 |
Who cares Hoe Igbokwe is an efulefu 6 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Limitednow: 10:09pm On May 23, 2017 |
Tell us how you became a 'prince' you claimed sometime ago. 6 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Trailblazer1(m): 10:26pm On May 23, 2017 |
Ok |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by 989900: 10:51pm On May 23, 2017 |
Wow!!!!
A man that knows where his bread is being buttered.
Nice read.
Lasgidi FTW!!! 4 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by OkoNDOoBo: 11:05pm On May 23, 2017 |
only brain dead yeebos think they develop Lagos, instead Lagos made them what they become of today. 4 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by dolphinife: 11:06pm On May 23, 2017 |
To then imagine that despite what Lagos has done to a lot of people, including the politicians who have business stakes cut across the state, they refused to accord Lagos a special status....
That's absurd and incongruous 3 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Cjrane2: 11:49pm On May 23, 2017 |
5 Likes 1 Share |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Wantedmiller: 6:58am On May 24, 2017 |
nice one
but u need to write more on nnewi bros |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by CROWNWEALTH019(m): 7:00am On May 24, 2017 |
Yoruba man |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by ApolitiCal: 7:02am On May 24, 2017 |
The only Igbo with brain |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Pavore9: 7:07am On May 24, 2017 |
The Lagos experience is a beautiful one. |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by uglyafonja: 7:15am On May 24, 2017 |
who still listen to this man? |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by bakynes(m): 7:26am On May 24, 2017 |
Cjrane2:
Silly nnewi man wrote that long epistle just to claim Lagos?
Abegi, you are nnewi man from Anambra and Lagos belongs to Aworis and Egbas. Silly clowns Cool down, the man is not an ingrate like most Chest beating Igbos, he has always acknowledged Yoruba hospitality towards his people in Lagos. Correction * it is Aworis and Ijebus not Egbas. 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Omofunaab2: 7:30am On May 24, 2017 |
Lagos made many igbos , but our brothers will want us to believe they made lagos.
We are just too nice here 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by KidsNEXTdoor: 7:40am On May 24, 2017 |
Cjrane2:
Silly nnewi man wrote that long epistle just to claim Lagos?
Abegi, you are nnewi man from Anambra and Lagos belongs to Aworis and Egbas. Silly clowns Joe igbokwe Have you seen what they think of you Stay there and be yabbing Igbos while chanting your Lagos , your Nigeria One day.. There will deal with you And your eyes will be opened to reality My prayer for you and ur kids is let it not be too late for you 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Omofunaab2: 7:43am On May 24, 2017 |
bakynes:
Cool down, the man is not an ingrate like most Chest beating Igbos, he has always acknowledged Yoruba hospitality towards his people in Lagos.
Correction * it is Aworis and Ijebus not Egbas. Aworis, ijebus and egbas.. Abule egba, ifako-ijaye, iju-ishaga , agege are egba areas 2 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by Agumbankembu: 7:47am On May 24, 2017 |
Yoru-kwe, asikwa m, ka mme ka i nwee idea. Igboekweghi, Igbo ekweghi efulefu, aji gbakwa. |
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Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by wristbangle: 7:53am On May 24, 2017 |
bakynes:
Cool down, the man is not an ingrate like most Chest beating Igbos, he has always acknowledged Yoruba hospitality towards his people in Lagos.
Correction * it is Aworis and Ijebus not Egbas. It belongs to Aworis, Ijebus and Egbas. Abule Egba, Alagbado, Agege, Ikeja, Ogba, Iju Ishaga, Mushin are dominated by the Egbas Ijebus owns Ikorodu, mile 12, Epe, Ajah, Shomolu, Bariga, etc Aworis - Igando, Ojo, Amuwo Odofin, Orile, Agbara Estate, etc At topic, God bless Joe Igboekwe. He is a sensible and a great igbo man unlike the disgruntled IPOB youths 2 Likes |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by OkoNDOoBo: 8:00am On May 24, 2017 |
wristbangle:
It belongs to Aworis, Ijebus and Egbas.
Abule Egba, Alagbado, Agege, Ikeja Mushin are dominated by the Egbas
Ijebus owns Ikorodu, mile 12, Epe, Ajah, Shomolu, Bariga, etc
Aworis - Igando, Ojo, Amuwo Odofin, Agbara Estate, etc awori owns alimosho as a whole in short any where u see awori monarchs signifys their domain oniru, elegushi,olumegbon.oni ikoyi,oloto,e.t.c re aworis. 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by wristbangle: 8:07am On May 24, 2017 |
OkoNDOoBo: awori owns alimosho as a whole in short any where u see awori monarchs signifys their domain oniru, elegushi,olumegbon.oni ikoyi,oloto,e.t.c re aworis. U are right! Aworis people are kind of intertwined. They egbados mixed with borders of people from Benin republic. Just let's say they are border people in Nigeria and Benin republic. They speak Egun, Yoruba, English and French fluently from some of their learned people |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by PFRB: 8:12am On May 24, 2017 |
dolphinife: To then imagine that despite what Lagos has done to a lot of people, including the politicians who have business stakes cut across the state, they refused to accord Lagos a special status....
That's absurd and incongruous Did Joe Igbokwe say that he did not provide service in Lagos. This Joe Igbokwe is talking like a street man. |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by OkoNDOoBo: 8:14am On May 24, 2017 |
wristbangle:
U are right! Aworis people are kind of intertwined. They egbados mixed with borders of people from Benin republic. Just let's say they are border people in Nigeria and Benin republic. They speak Egun, Yoruba, English and French fluently from some of their learned people yeah I think the egbados re the minority in Lagos indigenous populations. 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by bakynes(m): 8:33am On May 24, 2017 |
wristbangle:
It belongs to Aworis, Ijebus and Egbas.
Abule Egba, Alagbado, Agege, Ikeja, Ogba, Iju Ishaga, Mushin are dominated by the Egbas
Ijebus owns Ikorodu, mile 12, Epe, Ajah, Shomolu, Bariga, etc
Aworis - Igando, Ojo, Amuwo Odofin, Orile, Agbara Estate, etc
At topic, God bless Joe Igboekwe. He is a sensible and a great igbo man unlike the disgruntled IPOB youths Thanks for the correction,we are all Yorubas, God bless the Yoruba Nation. 1 Like |
Re: My Lagos, My Story, By Joe Igbokwe by wristbangle: 8:48am On May 24, 2017 |
bakynes:
Thanks for the correction,we are all Yorubas, God bless the Yoruba Nation. Amen boss |