His Career And Family Background
Late Elder MIRACLE Chigozie Udensi Ozim was a respected veteran journalist who paid his due diligence in the field of information, education and entertainment journalism.
He was born on the 31st day of October, 1949.The first son of a polygamous Kumba, West Cameroon based successful businessman, Late Mazi Simon Nwafor Ozim; a native of Ndiamazuno Arondizuogu in Ideato North Local Government Area( L.G.A) of Imo State.
His Childhood Ordeal
Udeh, as he was fondly called among his clan, had an epic and peculiar childhood history. š„š„
He suffered so great ordeal right from the early age of his life. One of such was that he was only eight days old when a group of people in their clan connived against his grandfather and accused him of committing a heinous offence and was summoned by his clan to produce seven able bodied young men that should accompany him to swear an oath to prove his innocence.
This cataclysmic historical event is succinctly captured in the excerpt below taken from the Nwangwu Family’s tribute to the Late veteran journalist.
“He came when the family was in search of a man to complete the traditional method of Agogo Nsi. He was handy as an eight day old baby boy to complete the required number of men needed for the tradition.That was how the name āUdensiā came about. “…
As fate offered him, he was presented despite being an eight day old infant to complete the number of men required to carry out the oath because there was no available person to make up the number.
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Tragically, he had barely survived the incident, when his mother died three months afterwards. So,his mother died when he was only three months old.
However, with the help of the benevolent mothers in the village, he was nutured. After seven years, his father remarried. He was then raised by his ruthless stepmother who all through his life was a source of torment even till death.
Despite the fact that he was raised by such a cruel stepmother, he undoubtedly, enjoyed the tender care and warm affection from his endeared community which was his saving grace.
In all, God in His mercies preserved his life and career. God enabled him and upheld him to prevail over all.
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* Kindly drop your recommendations on how to handle such scenarios.
His Adulthood, Family Life And Career
He was married to Madam Eurel Agbakwurumchukwu Ozim, a fashion model, of blessed memory, who gave him seven children, five alive to the glory of God, all superstars in their chosen fields of human endeavours.
He was a pastmaster in technical Journalism and held great sway in effective writing of smooth flowing prose in elegant English.His foray into the profession of Journalism was not an accident of history in the early seventies as he delved three sixty degrees in to prolific writing, which the Media Houses of the time awaited and swallowed hook,line and sinker his arresting dramatic, suspenseful and pulsating intellectually captivating writeups on the burning issues of the day, all based on human angle stories.
Then came his moment of tutelage under the sound professional grooming of Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NUJ), Lagos, National Diploma Programme after clearing nine credits in West African School Certificate at the end of the Nigerian Civil War and three advanced level papers at London G.C.E.
Elder Ozim as a young journalist cut his journalism teeth at the end of the war at the Daily Times of Nigeria whose then Editor, Mr.Areoye Oyebola readily offered him appointment as senior journalist under Mr. Segun Osoba, then the News Editor. There he met and worked with some of his contemporaries like Columnist Alanko including Ben. Lawrence, Ray Ekpu, Steve Omojiofor, Onyema Ugochukwu, Gbolabo Ogunsawo, Felix Odiari, Tunde Elegbade, Prince Tony Momoh who then took over as Editor from Mr. Areoye Oyebola.
The creation of Imo State in 1976 threw up serious reportorial challenges for Late Elder Miracle Chigozie Udensi Ozim who had earlier been posted to Owerri. He deployed his masterful professional skills in reporting government activities and human angle stories through rugged journalism.
He manifested in full expression his professional dexterity and efficiency. Then Late Martin Iroabuchi came on board as the next Editor of Daily Times and rewarded Late Elder Ozim’s journalism skills and drafted to the Lagos Head office to beef up the operations.
However, it was not long after then that Chief Jim Nwaobodo, the then Governor of Anambra State, sent his recruitment team to bring in Late Elder Ozim to help to start the Satellite Newspapers from the scratch as its first Production Editor and he later rose to be the Editor Sunday Satellite Newspapers.
In his dynamism, he mobilised a five crop veteran journalists to found the New Nationalists Newspapers in the 90s as the Editor-in-Chief and in 2010, he helped an international organisation to found an international magazine “Renaissance” as the Editor.
His philanthropic drive to help the helpless which started in the Biafran Red Cross during the Civil War blossomed into his establishing the Sky Foundation in 2002 and was later evolved to Sky Foundation for Youths, Women and Child Development in 2012 to ameliorate human sufferings and provide jobs in his coperate outfits Global Informants and Fantasticat.
His Latter Age And Demise
In his late sixties, the late veteran journalist and philanthropist retired into Consultancy Services where he crafted out some books in his works to pen down his wealth of experience for the younger generation. However, with his unstoppable drive for impactful journalism and academic excellence, he joined a formidable team in early 2022 to establish Trending Gists and Communication Network (TGCN) as the Editor -in-Chief where he also mentored a group of media personalities until his demise which occurred on Thursday, the 20th of October, 2022, after battling with a protracted illness.
He was a devout Christian, neck deep into the service of God and Humanity. He remained a rugged pillar of Supernatural
Life Chapel Abuja for decades. He later became a baptised member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), until his death in 2022. He was a highly disciplined believer in best practices.
Indeed Late Elder Miracle Chigozie Udensi Ozim was an exceptional icon who poured himself totally out to the service of God and Humanity. He was a great father, grand father, mentor, nobleman, a humble servant of the Living God who promoted the spirit of hospitality and inclusion despite his social status and family background.The most impressive trait about Late Elder Ozim lies in the fact that he was an iconic emblem of peace.
We are particularly grateful to God that our father ended his race peacefully and successfully.
Sir, we cherish your exemplary leadership. We deeply value the memories of the times we shared with you. God be with you till we meet at Jesus’ feet!
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Dickson Chinma Ihejirika (Mrs),
Founding Editor, TGCN.
21/03/2024
