Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, and other dignitaries have celebrated renowned Professor of International Law, Nwachukwu Okeke, on his 85th birthday.
The celebration was held on Friday at the Law Auditorium of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu, alongside the presentation of a Festschrift titled International and Comparative Law in Honour of Okeke.
Okeke, who is the Traditional Ruler of Obinofia Ndiuno Ancient Kingdom in Ezeagu Local Government Area and Pro-Chancellor of GOUNI, was honoured by academics, legal practitioners, traditional rulers, government officials, clergy, former students and associates.
Bishop Onaga described Okeke as a committed academic who remained deeply connected to his people, while acknowledging his contributions to the establishment and growth of GOUNI.
He said Okeke had remained faithful to the university’s vision and mission from its formative years, stressing that while establishing an institution was difficult, sustaining it required greater commitment.
The Bishop congratulated him on attaining 85 and urged him to bring his experience and wisdom to bear on his role as a traditional ruler.
“My prayer for you is that God, who chose you, will always be by you as you rule the people and take care of them,” Onaga said.
He also urged traditional and political leaders to protect the people rather than use them as shields, stressing the importance of truth, justice and responsible leadership.
Representing Governor Mbah, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described Okeke as a personal friend of the governor whose contributions had positively influenced the state.
Mbah said the development of Enugu could not be discussed without acknowledging Okeke’s contributions in various areas.
He described the celebrant as a symbol of “strength, kindness and humility”, noting that despite his accomplishments, he remained approachable and unassuming.
“Nobody meets you and leaves without you sowing a seed in their life and you don’t do it with arrogance. That’s where humility comes in,” Mbah said.
The governor also described Okeke as an “effortless mentor” who had positively influenced people around him.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of GOUNI, Prof. Christian Anieke, said the nature of the celebration reflected Okeke’s multifaceted life and achievements.
Anieke said the event went beyond a birthday celebration to recognise a life shaped by scholarship, traditional leadership, religion, culture and service.
He recalled meeting Okeke as a young student studying in Austria after writing to him, saying the professor responded and later travelled by train from Stuttgart, Germany, to Austria to visit him.
The Vice-Chancellor attributed the longstanding relationship to Okeke’s kindness and thanked him for his contributions to GOUNI, particularly his guidance on policies and the university’s development.
The Editor-in-Chief of Renaissance Law Publications Ltd., Prof. Agu Gab Agu, described Okeke as “a pillar of legal education” with remarkable academic accomplishments.
Agu said the publisher was committed to documenting the contributions of distinguished personalities in the academia, Bar and Bench.
He said Okeke had taught and mentored generations of lawyers and academics and served as a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; founding Dean of the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; founding Dean and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology; and Emeritus Professor of ESUT.
Chairman of the event and Chairman of the GOUNI Board of Trustees, Prof. Barth Okolo, said the Festschrift was significant because many of its contributors were Okeke’s former students who had become accomplished legal scholars in different countries.
He described the publication as a monument to Okeke’s lifetime of scholarship and inspiration, noting that its chapters examined critical global legal issues and contemporary challenges.
The reviewer, Prof. Sam Nwatu, said almost all the contributors were former students of Okeke, including himself, describing the publication as a scholarly gift from accomplished academics to their former teacher.
Responding on behalf of the celebrant, legal practitioner Mr Ifeanyi Okoli, thanked Governor Mbah for his support towards the success of the event.
He also appreciated the management of GOUNI and other sister institutions, as well as dignitaries who travelled from different parts of the world to attend the celebration.
“The honour bestowed on His Royal Majesty would not be taken for granted,” Okoli said.
