There are globally accepted principles of wealth creation irrespective of geographic location, background and other factors, principles such as; personal motivation, a drive to create value, integrity, courage, utmost discipline, man management, building a supportive environment and a few others. If religiously put into practice these principles will surely drive you to business success, and wealth creation eventually, it’s really not rocket science as each step requires more than just willingness and a drive, but it is imperative to know that every single entrepreneurial great has over the years put the aforementioned principles into practice and the results are evident.
Although unfavourable policies might pose as stumbling blocks along the way, also uncontrollable circumstances like a pandemic, war, social and political crisis and a few other problems might threaten and even affect business operations but it is only a matter of time before a well structured business returns to normal.
In this article we take an in depth look into the life and entrepreneurial journey of Prince Arthur Eze, a celebrated business mogul and one of the major players in the oil and gas Industry on the African continent, a man known for his philanthropic gestures and regarded by sons and daughters of the Igbo ethnic nationality as the Ozoigbobdu of igboland. Prince Eze is known to have founded the largest holder of oil exploration in Africa, a recipient of numerous meritorious awards, one of which was given to him by the highest political authority in the land, In recognition of his contribution to National growth and human capacity development, he was honoured On 14th November 2011 by Former president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who conferred him with one of the highest honors in the land, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), in an elaborate event held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital. Prince Eze has his head held high amongst his peers as he is presently rated as the 8th richest man on the African continent with an estimated net worth of 5.8 billion dollars.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Born 27th November 1948, Arthur Eze upon completion of his primary education in 1970 was enrolled into St Augustine Secondary School resident in Nkwerre a community in Imo state to pursue his secondary education, after leaving secondary school in 1974 he proceeded to California USA where he studied mechanical and chemical engineering at the prestigious California state university, long beach and obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1978
JOURNEY INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
In 1991 Arthur ventured into private entrepreneurial practice by establishing Atlas, Oranto Oil, an oil and gas firm that would later grow into one of the most dominant players in the oil and gas sector, a year later after the deregulation of the Nigerian aviation sector by then head of state Gen Ibrahim Babangida, prince Eze went ahead to establish Triax Airlines with its operation base at the the Enugu Airport, the company would later go into administration in 2000
TRAILS
2 years after Prince Arthur Eze establish Atlas Oranto Oil Petroleum he went further to incorporate the company in line with the company and allied matters act of 1990 (CAMA 90), there by availing him the opportunity to spread his business operations across West Africa and even beyond.
SMALL SUCCESS
Few years after Prince Arthur Eze established and incorporated Atlas Oranto oil, the company’s operations started growing gradually across West Africa and gaining recognition as one of the dominant forces in the oil and gas industry.
ATLAS PETROLEUM INTERNATIONAL AND ORANTO PETROLEUM
Undoubtedly the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa, and Nigeria’s largest privately held, Africa-focused exploration and production group.
Atlas Oranto oil prides itself as an oil and gas exploration company with 22 oil and gas licences in 12 jurisdictions across the African continent with oil and gas assets in Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Liberia. The company’s technical base is situated in Lagos while its corporate headquarters is located in Nigeria’s federal capital Abuja.
IMPACT ON SOCIETY
Prince Arthur Eze is regarded as one of the greatest and most generous philanthropists of his generation, over the past years he has contributed millions of dollars to various courses and humanitarian projects in his home country Nigeria and even across different parts of Africa. At a fundraiser in Abuja, Prince Arthur Eze donated a whooping $800,000 to help alleviate the sufferings of victims of Boko-Haram insurgency, it is also in public knowledge that in 2018 Prince Eze contributed 25 million Naira to help push the Nigerian football team. In Yirol and Rumbek communities in Central South-Sudan he donated $800,000 for the construction of 2 State of the art primary schools. He is responsible for the modernization of the market near the Ukpo palace, changing the status of the market, he has also gone as far as constructing road networks connecting his home community the Dunukofia clan with neighbouring towns.
In 2013 Prince Eze donated $6.3million to help combat flooding in Nigeria, he has also been praised for single handedly building and equipping a medical research unit at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, he has gone further to contribute to the Association of People living with Sickle Cell (APLSCD), recently Prince Eze constructed a pedestrian bridge in Ebonyi state using his personal funds, these are just a few of the projects that Prince Arthur Eze has been a part of over the years
CONCLUSION
Having a minimally successful Entrepreneurial career and becoming a dominant force in business on a global scale are more distant than related, it takes something extra and the effective application of every single globally practiced principle of wealth creation to achieve that feat.
One important lesson to take from the entrepreneurial journey of Prince Eze is his ability to expand his business activities across new territories, many business men/women even successful ones still find it difficult to expand due to certain fears, though in an attempt to expand one must be careful so as to avoid making wrong decisions.
Lastly it is important to note that in our journey through life not only in business, we must employ utmost discipline and professionalism each step of the way to stand out and make a difference, also taking into consideration the globally accepted principles of growth either in business or otherwise.
