Distinguished scholar, elder statesman, former Minister of Health, and respected political leader, Prof. Alphonsus Bosah Chukwurah (A.B.C.) Nwosu, popularly known as Osighere Mkpume Nnewi, has been celebrated on the occasion of his 82nd birthday, with glowing tributes highlighting his decades of service to Nigeria and his enduring impact on generations of leaders.
Among those paying tribute is Obunike Ohaegbu (Nwa Miss), who described Prof. Nwosu as a rare leader whose influence extends far beyond the public offices he occupied, citing his exceptional record as an administrator, scholar, mentor, and father figure.
According to Ohaegbu, Prof. Nwosu first earned national recognition during his tenure as Commissioner in the old Anambra State, where his commitment to discipline, excellence, and effective governance established him as one of the state’s most respected public servants. His performance later earned him the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket during Nigeria’s 1998 political transition, although the election did not produce the expected outcome.
Despite that setback, Prof. Nwosu went on to serve Nigeria in key national positions, first as Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and later as Honourable Minister of Health, where he was credited with bringing integrity, professionalism, and visionary leadership to public service.
Reflecting on his personal relationship with the elder statesman, Ohaegbu recounted how their paths crossed around 2016 during the formation of the Anambra Union in Abuja. At the Union’s inaugural meeting, held at Prof. Nwosu’s residence, he was unanimously appointed Secretary while Prof. Nwosu served as Convener and Leader.
He described the appointment as a life-changing moment that evolved into years of close mentorship, during which he worked almost daily alongside the former minister, eventually becoming his unofficial personal secretary.
According to him, the experience provided invaluable lessons in leadership, humility, discipline, fairness, compassion, and public administration.
Ohaegbu also recalled working closely with Prof. Nwosu during the 2017 Anambra State governorship election, when the PDP appointed him Chairman of its Caretaker Committee. Before accepting the assignment, Prof. Nwosu reportedly requested that Ohaegbu accompany him throughout the exercise.
The pair subsequently relocated to Awka, operating from JoGold Hotel for nearly three months as they coordinated party activities ahead of the election.
He noted that the period exposed him to political organisation, strategic planning, negotiation, crisis management, and governance, adding that many stakeholders in Anambra politics at the time simply referred to him as “Obum Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu,” a title he said he proudly embraced.
Beyond celebrating Prof. Nwosu’s birthday, Ohaegbu used the occasion to appeal to Ndi Igbo, historians, scholars, and lovers of history to support the completion and publication of an unfinished book on the Nigerian Civil War and Biafra, a project Prof. Nwosu began with the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
He described the manuscript as an important historical work capable of preserving firsthand accounts of one of Nigeria’s defining periods, stressing that completing the project would serve future generations and deepen understanding of the nation’s history.
Offering prayers for the elder statesman, Ohaegbu wished Prof. Nwosu continued good health, wisdom, peace, and many more years of service, describing him as a mentor whose legacy of excellence, patriotism, and selfless leadership will continue to inspire generations of Nigerians.
Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu’s 82nd birthday has become not only a celebration of longevity but also a reflection on a lifetime dedicated to scholarship, public service, mentorship, and nation-building.
