Dr Sir Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi: A Rare Nation-Builder and Champion of Human Development in Nigeria

By Igbojindu Frank, PhD

In a country where philanthropy is often episodic and community development left solely to government, the life and work of Dr Sir Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi (OFR), Group Managing Director of the Obijackson Group, stand out as a shining exception. He is widely recognized not just as an accomplished businessman, but as a transformational leader whose vision, compassion, and deep sense of responsibility have reshaped his hometown, Okija, and positively impacted communities across Nigeria.

With a career that spans energy, construction, power, marine services, and manufacturing, Obiejesi has proved that private enterprise can be a powerful engine for societal advancement. Yet, his most enduring legacy lies not in his corporate achievements but in his unparalleled commitment to human development.

Transforming Okija: A Personal Mission

For Dr Obiejesi, development begins at home. His love for Okija, a town he has turned into a model of modern community development is profound, practical, and visible.

Through his construction firm, Hammakopp Construction Company, he has spearheaded the construction of numerous high-quality roads across Okija, bringing ease of movement, commerce, and safety to residents. Streetlights, drainage systems, and modern community infrastructure now dot a town that once struggled with basic amenities.

His investments go far beyond infrastructure. He built the first commercial bank facility (Access Bank) in Okija, established town halls both in Okija and Lagos for civic engagement, and introduced the Keep Okija Clean Initiative, employing over a hundred sweepers and adding compactor trucks and waste bins to promote environmental sanitation. These interventions reflect a holistic approach to development, one that combines economic upliftment with civic dignity.

Raising Global-Standard Institutions in Education

Dr Obiejesi’s passion for education is one of the strongest pillars of his philanthropic identity. Together with his wife, he founded Gonzaga Jesuit College, Okija, a world-class educational institution run by the Jesuits, renowned for academic rigour and character formation. Hundreds of students from low-income backgrounds enjoy full scholarships through his support.

Beyond this, the Obijackson Foundation consistently funds scholarships for students across Nigeria, supports educational competitions, and invests in skill acquisition programmes for youths. His interventions have opened doors for countless young Nigerians who today stand tall because someone believed in their potential.

Healthcare Excellence: The Obijackson Women and Children’s Hospital

Perhaps the most compelling symbol of Dr. Obiejesi’s compassion is the Obijackson Women and Children’s Hospital, a highly subsidized, state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Okija regarded as one of the best mother-and-child hospitals in West Africa.

The hospital boasts an advanced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), ventilators for preterm babies, an oxygen plant, a modern diagnostic centre, and emergency care capabilities that rival urban medical centres. More remarkably, the hospital maintains a record of zero maternal mortality since inception, an achievement rarely matched anywhere in Africa.

Treatments for indigent patients are heavily subsidized or fully covered by the Foundation, ensuring that no mother or child is turned away because of poverty. Its services have become so reliable that neighbouring hospitals refer complicated cases, especially preterm infants for specialized care.

Empowering Communities Beyond Anambra

While Okija remains his emotional base, Dr Obiejesi’s philanthropy spans the entire nation.

Through the Obijackson Foundation:

Thousands of widows and vulnerable individuals have benefited from micro-credit and small business grants.

Numerous youths across the country have acquired vocational skills in fashion design, welding, computer technology, catering, and other trades.

Free medical outreaches have been conducted in multiple states, providing healthcare, medications, and surgeries to those who cannot afford them.

Feeding programmes have reached hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, particularly during economic downturns.

His compassion recognizes no boundaries of tribe, religion, or geography. It is simply humanitarian.

Corporate Leadership That Drives National Progress

As founder of the Obijackson Group, Dr Obiejesi leads one of Nigeria’s most respected indigenous conglomerates. Companies under the group, including Nestoil, Neconde Energy, B&Q Dredging, Energy Works Technology, Hammakopp Consortium, and Century Power, collectively employ thousands of Nigerians.

Through these companies, he has:

• Advanced local content in oil and gas.
• Delivered major pipeline and engineering projects.
• Expanded indigenous capabilities in dredging, fabrication, and heavy construction.
• Contributed significantly to Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure landscape.

His corporate achievements have earned both local and international honors, including recognition from the London Stock Exchange, which listed several Obijackson companies among “Companies to Inspire Africa.”

Defining a Rare Breed of Patriotism

Dr Sir Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi embodies a rare kind of patriotism, one that is expressed through service, responsibility, and long-term investment in people. He has built a model that many communities wish they could emulate, and his style of philanthropy strategic, institutional, and impactful sets him apart.

His life communicates a simple but profound truth: development is not only government’s work; it is everyone’s duty, and greatness is measured not by wealth, but by service.

A Man Worthy of Emulation

In an era where impactful philanthropy is urgently needed, Dr Obiejesi continues to raise the bar. His vision, enterprise, and generosity have directly touched lives and improved the human condition in ways that ripple across generations.

From building institutions to empowering the weak, supporting education, revolutionizing healthcare, and transforming infrastructure, he stands tall as a gift, not only to Okija or Anambra State, but to Nigeria at large.

Osuofia global as fondly called is, in every sense, a man many countries pray for.