By Adadareporters
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has announced the death of another Igbo icon, Dr UK Kalu.
Kalu, former chairman of Union Bank, died at 88.
The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the pan-Igbo group received the news about Kalu’s death with shock.
He stated this in a release by Ohanaeze’s national publicity secretary, Alex Ogbonnia.
According to him, “It is with a rude shock the news of the passing on of yet another Igbo Titan, a pathfinder, visionary, erudite scholar, financial consultant, and a highly endowed chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Elder Dr U. K. Kalu.
The release said Chief Iwuanyanwu ‘was heart-broken on hearing the sad news from the family’.
According to the release, “Iwuanyanwu reminisced on his calm, thoughtful, cerebral mien and candour, his articulate and yet ineluctable eloquence and more importantly his dispositions for peace and sacrifice for the Igbo nation.”
The release praised Ohafia, country home of the deceased, adding that, “Ohafia Igbo extraction has not only recorded exploits in commerce and industry; it is also home to the famous Igbo war dance and several cerebral moderate, Marxist and stubborn intellectuals.
“Elder U K Kalu ranks high amongst the Ohafia intelligentisia, who have made their marks in Nigerian and world affairs. Others in his mold include Dr. Kalu Ezera, Prof. Eni Njoku (once described by Tai Solarin as the most intelligent man in Africa), Dr. Uma Eleazu, Professor Eme Awa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Justice Agwu Anya, Chief Okwara Osonwa, Prof. U. U. Uche, Rt Hon. Ojo Maduekwe, Rev. Uma Ukpai.”
The deceased was born on February 22, 1935 at Isiugwu, Ohafia, Abia State. He attended the Duke Town Secondary School, Calabar; Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar; and Kings College, the University of Durham, Newcastle.
Kalu served in different capacities as a lecturer and acting head, Department of Finance, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); acting head, Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Business Administration ( UNN).
Kalu’s death occurred about 24 hours after the death of Prof Ben Nwabueze was announced by Ohanaeze.
