Chief Mrs. Anyiam-Osigwe OON presenting her Living Legend Award Trophy to President President Muhammadu Buhari at a reception at the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa.
Chief Anyiam-Osigwe was one of the African Union LIVING LEGEND awardees.
She was among the five recipients so honoured along side former president of Malawi Joyce Banda, Ellen Johnson Serlief, President of Liberia and the first female Head of State on the African continent,
Dhlamini Zuma, Current African Union Chairperson, and Winnie Mandela, South African antiapartheid heroine and wife of former President of South African President Nelson Mandela.
Chief Mrs. Dorothy Chinyere Anyiam-Osigwe started off as a professional schoolteacher after having undergone “teacher’s training”.
She later married her husband Chief Emmanuel Onyechere Anyiam-Osigwe, who became a highly respected International businessman with businesses originating out of Nigeria. Together, the duo built up a Corporate Empire that was later to be largely known as the Anyiam-Osigwe Group of companies; whose interests span; Mining and Quarrying, Shipping, Oil and gas, Real Estate, Publishing, Legal Services, International Trade, Entertainment, with interests in some Financial institutions. They are blessed with nine (9) children, (7) of who are still surviving. All of who have individually and collectively contributed immensely to the Group’s successes and stature today. Their way of life, their very close knit relationship and their collective contribution to society has earned the family deep and enviable respect globally. Credit of which must go to the efforts of both her husband of Blessed memory and Chief Mrs. Dorothy Anyiam-Osiwge. This was of course inspired by both their passion for Family, respect for family values and emphasis on the collective rather than the individual, a most unique and significant quality that characterises the Family till date.
Following the transition of her husband to higher glory in 1998, Chief Mrs. Dorothy Anyiam-Osigwe kept herself additionally very busy with keenly promoting her husband’s quest for truth when he was alive, being himself an erudite scholar and thinker, who wrote extensively on several issues of the day which agitated his mind, such as; poverty alleviation, gender empowerment and equality, developmental issues, human rights, democratic values and peace, freedoms, economic, political and social and education via a thought process which he collectively referred to as a “Holistic Approach to Human Existence and Development” with the establishment of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation which she Chairs. This body of work generated by her husband of blessed memory, though not published at the time; was to later witness rigorous scrutiny and research efforts at the University of Ibadan, yielding great outcome; where he was later to be honoured, though post humously, with the Odera Oruka Award by the Nigeria Philosophical Association as a Sage Philosopher. He has since been recognised and acknowledged by philosophers around the world as an African Philosopher of original thought. This ground breaking Philosophy “The Holistic Approach to Human Existence and Development” would not have come to light without the singular efforts of this special lady. Presently, she is co-authoring a biography of her husband.
With over 45 years of International business experience behind her, Chief (Mrs.) Dorothy Chinyere Anyiam-Osigwe is currently the Vice Chairman of the Anyiam-Osigwe Group of Companies. A very accomplished lady, both in the family and corporate world; her acute sense of love for all and passion for philanthropy and her skill sets as a woman in multi-tasking, inspired and spurred her to champion several laudable causes, particularly championed on the platform of the Foundation founded 18 years ago with the object of propagating the philosophical thoughts of Chief Emmanuel Onyechere Anyiam-Osigwe, focusing on areas which include; several poverty alleviation programmes, self-help projects and career/life/family counseling services, gender equality and empowerment, community infrastructural development, education, leadership training, advancement of democratic values under the Mission for Democracy Initiative of the Foundation.
In the past several years and till date, as part of her contribution to society and development and in a bid to witness a better Nigeria and positively influence the African continent, the Foundation continues to champion several of its causes and to this end, continues to attract several world leaders, both serving and past, (some of whom have included; H.E FW De-Klerk, former President of South Africa; His Hon Albert Gore of the U.S; H.E Vaclacv Klaus, President of the Czech Republic; then serving at the time; His Hon Helmut Kohl, the former German Chancellor; H.E Simon Peres, the former President of Israel; His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Spiritual Head of the People of Tibet; The Rt. Hon John Major, former British Prime Minister , H.E Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E Perves Musharraf, former President of Pakistan; H.E Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi; then serving at the time, amongst several others), who have come to deliver Key Note Lectures in Nigeria on areas of her husband’s thoughts and philosophies and on topical issues of concern and engagement for any well-meaning individual.
She is presently on several International and local Boards of Companies and institutions, which include; the President of the Nkwerre Area Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria and Chairman of ACS West Africa Ltd- A Honeywell International USA JV Company with one of the companies within the stable of the Anyiam-Osigwe group of Companies. Given her role and contributions to society, she has been conferred with several Titles and traditional Titles, which include; the National Awards of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), then conferred on her by the Government of Nigeria under the leadership of His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR); Ogarambadiugwu I of Nkwerre; Lolo Chinyere Ugoh; and Yeye Aladewura of Lagos. This is, amongst several others from different Religious denominations spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for which she remains ever so grateful to the almighty God for such blessings.
Given her successes, life experiences and her passion to spread love and support to all and sundry, she continues to offer her services in teaching, counseling and in mentoring; organisations, families and individuals alike right across the globe.
She remains quite active. She is an avid reader, keen writer and Columnist regularly contributing to print and online media on topical issues she is passionate about.
2 Comments
More Grace to her elbow
She remains an epitome of good morals, and a model. May God continue to bless her and bestow His grace upon her always.