Former Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Christopher Onu, was laid to rest in his hometown of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Friday, November 8, 2024. The burial attracted prominent political leaders, government officials, religious leaders, family members and other sympathisers who gathered to honour the late statesman.
Onu, who died on April 11, 2024, at the age of 72 following an illness, was Nigeria’s former Minister of Science and Technology and the first civilian governor of the old Abia State. His death marked the end of a political career that spanned several decades and included significant contributions to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governors, Former Ministers and Political Leaders Attend Onu’s Burial
The funeral service in Uburu brought together political leaders from different parties and levels of government, reflecting Onu’s influence in Nigerian politics and his relationships across political divides.
Among those who attended were Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah. Other prominent attendees included Minister of Works David Umahi, former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, former Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.
Other attendees included members of the National Assembly, Ebonyi State House of Assembly members, federal and state government officials, political party leaders, local government chairmen, clergy members and community representatives.
The gathering demonstrated the regard in which the late politician was held by colleagues and associates who had worked with him throughout his years in public service.
Catholic Funeral Service Held in Uburu
A Catholic funeral service was held in Uburu as family members, friends, political associates and residents gathered to bid farewell to the former governor and minister.
The religious ceremony featured prayers and tributes in honour of Onu’s life, professional accomplishments and service to Nigeria. Clergy members led the congregation in praying for the repose of his soul and offering comfort to the family he left behind.
For the people of Uburu and Ohaozara Local Government Area, the burial was also an occasion to celebrate the life of a prominent son of the community whose career took him from academia into state and federal government.
Tinubu Describes Ogbonnaya Onu as a Perfect Gentleman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent a condolence message to the Onu family, which was delivered at the funeral by Minister of Works David Umahi, who represented the President.
In his message, Tinubu described the late Onu as a gentleman and patriotic statesman whose commitment to Nigeria’s progress was remarkable. He acknowledged Onu’s role in the development of the APC and his contributions to the country’s political landscape.
The President also offered prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul and urged his family to find strength and comfort as they mourned their patriarch.
In an earlier statement issued on April 11, 2024, the Presidency described Onu as an accomplished scholar, first-class engineer and a key figure in the establishment of the APC. The official statement is available on the State House website.
David Umahi Announces Support for Church Building Project
During the funeral proceedings, Umahi also announced a financial contribution towards the completion of a church building project associated with the late Onu in his hometown.
The gesture was presented as a contribution in honour of the deceased and towards completing a project that had been important to him before his death. Reports published around the burial gave differing figures for the church donation, so the precise amount should be confirmed from an official statement before being quoted as definitive.
The announcement added another dimension to the tributes paid to Onu, whose public life included professional, political and religious commitments.
Ogbonnaya Onu’s Political Career and Achievements
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on December 1, 1951, in Uburu, in present-day Ebonyi State. He studied chemical engineering at the University of Lagos, graduating with first-class honours in 1976, before earning a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1980.
Before entering politics, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State. He later contested and won the governorship election in the old Abia State, becoming its first civilian governor in 1992. His tenure ended following the military takeover that disrupted Nigeria’s democratic transition in 1993.
Onu subsequently became a leading figure in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and played an important role in the negotiations that led to the formation of the APC in 2013.
In 2015, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Minister of Science and Technology. He continued in the role after Buhari’s re-election in 2019, before resigning in May 2022 to pursue his presidential ambition. He contested the APC presidential primary but lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
For more details about his early life, education, engineering career and political journey, read our related article on Ogbonnaya Onu’s biography.
Final Farewell to a Prominent Son of Ebonyi State
The burial of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu brought together people from different political, professional and religious backgrounds to celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
From his achievements as an engineer and university lecturer to his service as governor and federal minister, Onu occupied an important place in Nigeria’s political history. His participation in the formation of the APC also remains a notable part of his legacy.
His interment in Uburu marked the conclusion of the funeral rites for a statesman whose career connected Ebonyi State, Abia State and the national political scene.
May his soul rest in peace.
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External reference: Ogbonnaya Onu Foundation’s report on his burial in Ebonyi State.