One of the founding fathers of Ebonyi State, Senator Anyim Chukwu Ude is dead.
His first son, Nnanna Anyim Ude, issued a statement on behalf of the family, stating that their patriarch died on Monday, May 15.
Nnanna stated that the family will reveal the specifics of his memorial service, while they “seek your prayers for the repose of his soul to eternal life in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
An elder statesman; a respected member of the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) and Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as well as Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, the accomplished media manager represented Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2007 to 2011; where he among other assignments chaired the Senate Committee on Aviation.
Senator Ude was remarkable for the detailed manner his committee carried out the probe of the N19.5 billion Aviation Fund then.
As Chairman of the Senate’s Aviation Committee, he was at the centre of the successful effort to upgrade the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu to the status of an international airport, among other interventions.
Prior to becoming a senator, he had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Public Service spanning 42 years and rising through the ranks to the top of his chosen career. He was a veteran journalist, broadcaster and disciplined technocrat and administrator with vast experience and a solid track record in Public Service, especially in media matters.
He joined the public service of former Eastern Nigeria as a clerk in 1960 and later joined the Eastern Nigeria Information Service, printers and publishers of Nigerian Outlook; in May 1965 as a reporter. At the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, he trained as a journalist and broadcaster in Nigeria and overseas. He later worked in the East Central State Broadcasting Service (ECBS), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Imo Broadcasting Service (IBS) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Senator Ude was the first General Manager of Radio Nigeria, Owerri (1981 – 1985); first Director-General of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (1985 – 1991); first Director-General of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (1991 – 1996); first Chief Executive of Ebonyi Broadcasting Service; and first Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Tourism, Ebonyi State (1997-1999).
Senator Anyim Ude was for over 16 years, the Chief Executive of several Broadcasting Establishments, thus remaining the longest serving Chief Executive in Nigeria’s volatile broadcasting industry.
He was decorated a Member of the Order of the Niger by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 and was one of the six delegates that represented Ebonyi State at the 2005 National Political Reform Conference.
Born in 1941 at Amuzu-Ubegu, Iyioji, Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Senator Anyim Ude was a product of the famous Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar. Just like his mentor and role model, late Ezeogo Elder Dr. Akanu Ibiam, his record and testimonial in public service which he displayed in his dealings with people, was one of integrity, service and excellence.
Talking about his accidental plunge into politics during his 80th birthday celebration, Senator Ude had said: “In 2003, I decided to go home and rest. Suddenly in November 2006, I was conscripted to go to the Senate. I went there, did my best till 2011 when I decided to completely withdraw and live my private life and continued serving the church and society in my private capacity.”