Dr. Ifeanyi Uba : The Man And His Round Leather Visions, By Nebo Peter

From Left to Right — Igwe Orizu of Nnewi,  West Ham United vice president, Stephenson and Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah during the historic partnership between FC Ifeanyi Ubah and West Ham United FC, London in Nnewi on Thursday, 6th October 2016.
Photo Credit: Nnaemeka Ikerionwu for CFR magazine 

I am no blabber. I do not jabber unnecessarily, and my thoughts and magic pen are never spared of words and expressions to whosoever deserves their commendations and recommendations. 


I give respect to people to whom my respect is due. I chatter no ordinary and superficial course and I deride no one. Dr. Ifeanyi Uba (CEO Capital Oil and Gas), to me, has dealt a massive blow to one of the 3 decisive Gordian knots that had seen Nigerian League ridiculed over the years with the partnership deal he recently signed with West Ham FC London, a partnership that would definitely churn out millions and bring in billions. With Ifeanyi Uba’s new stadium also on the roll, I do not know if anyone is viewing from my own perspective. I see Anambra state becoming a one destination place of Football and sports entertainments in Nigeria. 

The economic, industrial and agricultural revolutions have started already. And should this deal with West Ham FC pull through extensively above every ‘drys’ and “wets’ I see Anambra state becoming the 'hotspot' of the nation. I see Nnewi with other municipalities of the Anambra Central becoming the new Taiwan of Nigeria. I see Anambra East and West also taking up their due places. 

Ndi Anambra, I think it is also time for some of our elites and well-to-do businessmen and technocrats abroad to also return and think home like Dr. Ifeanyi Uba. It is on this note that I must commend the fruitful gigantic visions of Dr. Godwin Mmaduka, a Nigerian-American billionaire doctor, in Umuchukwu Orumba South LGA Anambra state. Anyway, let me reserve his commendation for another day.

Honestly, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba has replicated in strong terms and dispositions that Pursuit for Excellence is the core basis of good leadership and governance. He has replicated in strong terms and bounds that wherever there is a strong vision there is always a provision. I’m a core entrepreneur myself. I run businesses and I know what it takes to open and to close a deal. I run businesses myself and I know what it takes to go beyond trivialities in pursuit of values and excellence. I know about the “staying power principle” and I know about the “negotiation power principle”. Dr. Ifeanyi ubah has exemplified beyond measure resilience and the great pioneering spirit with which the Ndi Anambra are known with, the pioneering spirit which in this time and season in the words of the philosopher Hegel is at its ‘uppermost stage’. He has shown beyond ordinariness that a man is truly regarded not by the number of cars in his fleet nor by the abracadabra of his lustful wantonness but by his vision and the number of people he imparts heavily by that vision; in fact his human resource empowerment: “ndi siri n’aka ya buru mmadu”.

Sincerely, before now I cogitated in my mind the number of Anambra talented youths and sportsmen who had gone moribund with their dreams and passions due to lack of guidance, proper foundational upbringing and financial supports. I remember the likes of Chigbor Offor, Ebere Nna, Pele, Agility, Ajibade Babalade, Kodo, et cetera who paraded the fields of St.John’s Odoakpu, Ugboghimili, Ohanugo Field, Chukwurah field, Government field Fegge and other parochial fields in Anambra, and who dazzled these fields with their scintillating and mind boggling performances. I remember also those who had met their football dreams cut short because they had nobody, I mean nobody, to support them. But now I can sing “Nunc Dimittis” because one man in the person of Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has risen to further to course of the un-championed champions and raise talent hunt and footballing expertise to a new level in Anambra. In fact, I see hopes of many young Anambra youths accomplished. With this Ifeanyi Uba FC partnership deal with West Ham United FC London I see many Kanu Nwankwo’s, Okocha’s, Igwe Arsenal, Ololo Madrid, Messi Barca et cetera arising from the great State of Anambra. I see Nigerian league coming alive once again. I see investors falling over themselves to have a piece of this sumptuous cake. 

Long Live IFeany Football FC. Long live Ndi Anambra. E kene mu unu! 

Nebo Peter is a motivational writer and entrepreneur