Engineer Prince Arthur Eze
By Cele Ogugua
Engineer Prince Arthur Eze was born on 27th November, 1948 in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, South East Nigeria.
He attended St. Augustine Secondary School in Nkwere, Imo State where he passed out successfully in 1970.
Afterwards, Prince Arthur Eze proceeded to California State University, Long Beach in the United States of America where he pursued a combined honours degree in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering from 1970 to 1978.
In 1991 Prince Arthur Eze founded Atlas Oranto Petroleum, an oil and gas firm which is now Nigeria’s largest privately owned company that specializes in oil production and exploration.
Atlas Oranto Petroleum has up to 22 oil and gas licenses in sundry parts of Africa. Aside being the largest privately owned oil company in Nigeria, the company is also the largest holder of oil exploration blocks.
Atlas Oranto Petroleum has the 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 jurisdictions across Africa. It has assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea United Kingdom and several Atlas Oranto’s operated blocks.
The company has regional offices and representatives across core investment locations in West Africa with its technical base located in Lagos, while its corporate headquarters is located in Abuja.
Apart from being the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, Prince Arthur Eze also founded the Triax airline in 1992 with three Boeing 727s aircrafts and was in operation until 2000.
Price Arthur Eze though a business mogul is also an authority in political matters. He is called the “god father” by most highly placed politicians in Anambra state.
He supports all political parties as long as he believes in the personality of the candidate. It is a common knowledge that he played a key role in the formation of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. He is still politically relevant in the current political equation of Nigeria.
As a Philanthropic personality, Prince Arthur Eze has been able to touch the lives of many souls. In 2013, he donated 6.3 million USD to the flood relief efforts in Nigeria. In 2015, the Prince donated 20 million to a church in Abagana community in Anambra state for musical instruments and renovation of the Church building.
He single-handedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi
Azikiwe University, Awka.
He also contributed to the construction of the overhead bridge in Ebonyi State in collaboration with his cronies and associates without seeking for government intervention.
He built two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in Central South Sudan at $800,000.
Prince Eze donated 10 million to the elderly people of the Ukpo community of Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State.
His philanthropic gestures also went to the association of people living with Sickle Cell Disorder (PLSCD) as ₦5 million was given to them for a standard Sickle Cell Clinic at Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra state.
Arthur Eze also gave 25 million naira of the total funds raised for the “Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup in 2018”.
He was also part of those that contributed to the relief needs of victims of Boko Harm insurgencies of which he donated the sum of $800, 000 at a fund raising event in Abuja.
In 2013, Prince Eze made a donation of $12 million for the construction of St Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria the country home of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR.
Only recently, Prince Eze donated ₦50 million for the unveiling of the new Okunerere Adoration Ground, Nsukka Enugu State.
Prince Arthur is presently providing palliatives to the needy and rendering financial supports to government of many African countries, during this Covid 19 pandemic.
He is a business mogul, politician, and philanthropist. He is said to be the 8th most influential business man in Africa
The Prince has severally been honored at different levels. On 11th November, 2011 he was honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR with a National award of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR in recognition of his contribution towards the development of the nation’s economy and humanitarian gestures to the Nigerian people.
In 2020, Prince Eze received the Africa’s most prestigious humanitarian award at the 8th edition of African Goodwill Ambassador Award AGAA tagged “Life Time Achievement Award”.
He is the Ozoigbondu of Igbo land, a traditional title that is well deserved.
He is happily married with only one wife and blessed with Children; one of his sons is Onyeka Eze, the founder and President of Prince Osisioma Foundation.
