Otunabo Salutes Prince Arthur Eze at 77, Hails His Development Strides

Community leader and former General Secretary of Balogun Business Association (BBA), International Centre of Commerce (ICC), Lagos International Trade Fair complex,  Ogbuefi Emma Otunabo, has congratulated his Uncle and leading billionaire philanthropist, Prince Engr. Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze (OzoIgbondu), OFR for turning 77 years today, November 25, 2025.

Speaking in a goodwill message made available to Business Hilights in Lagos, Ogbuefi Otunabo, the CEO of Emalpha Ventures Ltd, said Prince Eze, who hails from Ukpo in Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State with him, has been a leading community contributor in development , who has positively changed the face of his community and still changing it for good till today.

Explaining more, he revealed that Eze n’Ukpo singlehandedly tarred all the roads in Ukpo. He also gave out scholarships to the community and outside the community.

Prince Engr. Eze singlehandedly built his village town hall, gave jobs to many people in the community and built community church.

Up till now, he regularly provides yearly financial budget for the community.

No doubt, Engr. Arthur Eze is a prominent Nigerian billionaire businessman, oil mogul, and philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest privately held African exploration and production company.

Born on November 25, 1948, in the royal family of Ukpo village in Anambra State, Nigeria, he holds the traditional title of “Ozoigbondu” of Igboland. He studied mechanical and chemical engineering at the California State University, Long Beach, graduating in 1978.

Career and Business Ventures

Atlas Oranto Petroleum: Founded in 1991, the company is the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa, with 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 different African countries, including Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and Gambia.

International Presence: Through a subsidiary, Venet Oranto, he has signed agreements with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company to develop significant natural gas fields.

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Aviation: He was also the founder of the now-defunct Triax Airlines.

National Philanthropy and Influence

Referred to as an “icon of philanthropy,” Arthur Eze is known for his extensive charitable contributions across Nigeria and beyond. His philanthropic activities include:

Donating significant funds for flood relief efforts, and for the construction of schools and churches.

Funding the construction of a medical research unit for Nnamdi Azikiwe University and modernizing local infrastructure, including road networks and an overhead bridge in Ebonyi State.

Providing substantial support to educational institutions; he was appointed the Chancellor of Azman University, Kano, and the Pro-Chancellor of Peaceland University, Enugu.

He is known to be a major donor to Nigeria’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and is a significant political figure.

Engr. Arthur Eze has received numerous accolades for his contributions, including the national honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) from former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.