Chief Dr Chukwudi Okparaku, a businessman and traditional leader, says faith in God, honesty, hard work and perseverance have been central to his journey from humble beginnings to business success.
Okparaku, who marks his 60th birthday on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, said his achievements across freight forwarding, manufacturing, transportation and logistics reflected divine grace, determination and commitment to his vision.
He spoke in an interview while reflecting on his personal journey, business experiences, cultural heritage, community service and hopes for Nigeria.
The businessman, who holds several traditional titles, including Eze Chukwukwadoro Ndi-Igbo, Bobaselu of Ikotunland and Eze Ndi-Igbo of Ikotun/Igando, said the values instilled in him by his parents had continued to guide his decisions.
He recalled that his entrepreneurial journey began in 1986, after leaving school in 1985, when he joined his father’s cosmetics trading business in Onitsha, Anambra.
According to him, he worked with his father for about two years before disagreements compelled him to leave and begin fending for himself in 1988.
“From 1988 till today, I have been on the block. It has not been easy, but being patient, consistent, hardworking and committed to my vision has brought me to where I am today,” he said.
Okparaku attributed his business growth to honesty, diligence and the importance of maintaining good relationships with clients.
“My parents taught me to be honest and truthful in whatever I do. Holding on to the word of God and His promises has helped me become who I am today.
“I take every job seriously because I understand that to build a brand, I must do every job given to me diligently,” he said.
He added that delivering quality services had helped him retain clients and attract new businesses through referrals.
Okparaku said his business interests had expanded beyond freight forwarding into manufacturing, including soap, cosmetics and tissue paper production, as well as the oil and gas sector.
He said the investments reflected his determination to contribute to Nigeria’s economic development despite the challenges facing businesses.
Culture, faith shape identity
The businessman said his attachment to Igbo culture and Christian faith was rooted in his upbringing and the influence of family elders and the Catholic Church.
Born in 1966, he said his father took him to their ancestral community in 1975 to learn the customs, traditions and values of the Igbo people.
According to him, his father believed that growing up solely in Onitsha would not adequately prepare him to understand his cultural heritage and responsibilities.
He said elderly relatives, some of whom were about 90 and 100 years old, subsequently taught him the traditions and customs of his people.
“My father believed strongly in culture, tradition and succession. He wanted me to understand our customs and know where I came from.
“Those elders inculcated the culture, customs and everything about our tradition in me. That is why I am culturally inclined, and I can die for the culture,” he said.
Okparaku said his Christian upbringing was equally influential, noting that he was baptised in the Catholic Church one month after his birth.
He recalled that after some of the elders who raised him died, his father took him to the first Catholic priest in his area, where he lived for several years.
He said the experience strengthened his Christian faith and commitment to service in the Church.
“I do not go to church to sit down. I go to church to work, all to the glory of God,” he said.
Okparaku said his cultural identity and Christian faith had helped shape his character, values and approach to life.
Community service, security intervention
Reflecting on the security crisis that affected his ancestral community, Okparaku said his attachment to his people motivated him to support efforts to restore peace after armed groups overran the area and residents fled their homes.
He said the sight of community members abandoning their ancestral homes and seeking refuge elsewhere prompted like-minded individuals to establish Odimmaosu, an organisation through which they mobilised resources to support peace efforts.
According to him, he emerged as the organisation’s leader and worked with other community members to engage the state government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
“That is the town where I was born. I am not a stranger there or in that local government. It is my ancestral home.
“When the community was overrun by bandits, people ran away. Watching my people go into exile was something I could not swallow,” he said.
Okparaku said the decision to intervene involved considerable personal risks and financial sacrifices by several men and women committed to reclaiming their community.
“People warned us not to go, but we said no. If we do not go, who will do it? Some of us emptied our pockets,” he said.
He recalled that when members of the group entered the area in 2023, roads were overgrown with weeds and the community appeared deserted.
Okparaku said several people had been killed during the violence, adding that the eventual return of normalcy resulted from divine intervention and the collective efforts of community members and security agencies.
“God used us. I was just an integral part of it. There were many gallant men and women that God used,” he said.
Okparaku expresses confidence in Nigeria
The businessman said his experiences abroad had not diminished his belief in Nigeria or his desire to contribute to its development.
He said the patriotism instilled in him during his elementary school years had remained a guiding principle throughout his life.
“At school, we were taught patriotism, to be proud of being Nigerians and to understand that we have no other country except Nigeria.
“I have been abroad and seen it all, but I understood that those countries did not belong to me. I am a Nigerian, and I carry my Nigerian passport with pride wherever I go,” he said.
Okparaku said he returned to Nigeria determined to apply the experience acquired abroad to build his businesses and contribute to the economy.
He, however, acknowledged the difficulties of operating in the maritime and freight forwarding sectors, citing harsh weather, business disappointments and frustrations involving regulatory and security agencies at the ports.
According to him, endurance and perseverance helped him navigate the challenges and establish his businesses.
“Despite the tough challenges and rough business terrain, I endured and persevered.
“That perseverance was what made us what we are today,” he said.
Okparaku expressed confidence in Nigeria’s future, saying the country had enormous potential but required effective leadership to realise it.
“I believe in Nigeria. Till today, I believe in Nigeria. Tomorrow, I will still believe in Nigeria.
“Yes, Nigeria is a great country. What is lacking is leadership, and I believe that someday we are going to get it right,” he said.
He said his continued investments in manufacturing and other sectors demonstrated his confidence in the country’s economic prospects.
The businessman added that he hoped to see a Nigeria whose leadership and economic conditions would attract people from across the world to work and invest.
60 years of lessons and gratitude
Reflecting on his life at 60, Okparaku said his greatest gratitude was to God for preserving him through the challenges and uncertainties he had encountered.
He described himself as a man who had faced difficulties but emerged stronger through faith, experience and determination.
Quoting the biblical passage on walking through the valley of the shadow of death, he said he believed God’s presence had sustained him through difficult periods.
“I can describe myself as a man who came, who saw and who conquered,” he said.
Okparaku acknowledged making mistakes in the past but said he preferred to regard them as lessons that contributed to his personal growth rather than reasons for regret.
According to him, his experiences had helped him develop the wisdom needed to navigate life’s challenges.
“Whatever happened in the past is a lesson that helped to nurture the person I am today. In Igbo land, we say you do not go backwards; you move forward,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said he hoped to live long enough to share his experience and wisdom with younger Nigerians, help them make informed decisions and contribute further to national development.
“I want to impact and impart the wisdom I have to this generation, help direct them and contribute to building the economy.
“Most importantly, I want God to help me live long enough to see a new Nigeria, which I know is possible,” he said.
Pays tribute to wife, business associates
Okparaku paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as a precious gift from God and a major pillar of his success.
He said their 25-year marriage had been sustained by prayer, sacrifice, patience and a shared determination to overcome difficult circumstances.
“My wife is a jewel of inestimable value. She is a wife given to me by God because He knew that I needed someone with patience and endurance by my side,” he said.
He recalled that the early years of their marriage were marked by financial hardship, including periods when they struggled to afford transportation and basic necessities.
According to him, they sometimes trekked from Ilasa-Maja to Ikotun because they could not afford transport fares.
He also recalled that his wife sometimes stayed awake until about 2 a.m. waiting for him to return from Tincan Island, where he conducted business.
Okparaku said he only recently learnt that his wife had sometimes visited her sister to obtain food during periods when the family struggled to meet its basic needs.
He said the discovery deepened his appreciation of her sacrifices throughout their journey.
“Behind every successful man, there is a good woman. That is why I renamed her Ezinne, meaning a good woman.
“She laboured with me. She stayed through thick and thin, in prayer. Every battle fought in this house has been fought with our nails,” he said.
The businessman also expressed appreciation to relatives, friends and associates who encouraged him during the early stages of his business.
He said he had learnt to turn opposition into motivation, adding that the difficulties he encountered had strengthened his resolve.
“Those who threw stones at us, we gathered the stones to build mansions,” he said.
Okparaku singled out a Pakistani business associate, Adnan, for special appreciation, describing him as one of the people God used to open doors for his business.
He said Adnan believed in him, referred him to clients and helped arrange opportunities involving United States companies that shipped containers for him to clear.
He also expressed gratitude to companies that had maintained business relationships with his group for more than two decades.
Okparaku said he could not disclose the names of some of the companies for security reasons but prayed for their continued growth and prosperity.
As he marks his 60th birthday, he said his overriding desire was to continue serving God, supporting his community, mentoring younger people and investing in Nigeria.
He reiterated that faith, honesty, patience, hard work and perseverance remained the principles that had sustained him through different stages of his life.
“To God alone be the glory, honour and adoration. Without Him, I would have been a dead man,” he said.
