H.R.H (SIR) ENGR. BENNETT ADELE WORGU

(J.P), EZE CHORLU VII/ EZE NVU-IKE 1 OF

RUMUOKWURUSI.

Although royalty runs in their family, when little Bennett Adele Worgu was born on 23rd August, 1945 into the family of late chief and lolo Gabriel Nna Ohakwe Worgu of Rumuchorlu, Rumuokwurusi community in Obio/Akpor local Government area of Rivers State, there was no comet heralding his birth cr signifying that he would be a great man. Little Bennett achieved success and prominence by dent of hard work, which was as a result  of disciplined upbringing/training his late father, chief Gabriel and mother, late Lolo Racheal Nna Worgu, nee (Ehichanya) gave him.
The disciplined training he obtained from his parents achieved three things for the young Bennett: humility, respect for traditional values and constituted authority as well as love /care for humanity. These were the attributes which made his immediate family, Rumuchorlu to confer on him the title of Eze N.C.O. Nlerum. These same leadership qualities were also why the entire Rumuokwurusi people came together on december10, 2015 and crowned him, Eze Okwurusi Nvu-Ike l cr Nyechieli Nvu-Ike Rumuokwurusi.
A short while after his birth in 1945, H.R.H Eze (Sir) Engr. Bennett Adele Worgu Eze Chorlu VII/Eze Okwurusi Nvu-Ike1 was baptised in 1957 at all saints Anglican Church, Rumuokwurusi by Rt. Rev Y.A. Fubara and was confirmed in 1962 at Government College Umuahia by Bishop Bara Hart, becoming a licensed lay reader in the Anglican communion in 1992. His Royal Highness was one of those who attended the citizenship/leadership training of the great Anglican Revival team in 2000.
Eze Chorlu had his primary education at all saint School Rumuokwurusi between 1950 and 1957, obtaining distinction in first school leaving certificate examination. Thereafter, he enrolled at the famous Government College Umuahia in 1959 and obtained Grade2 in West Africa School Certificate Examination in 1963. After obtaining his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in Mathematics and Physics in 1965, the highly intelligent and brilliant Eze Worgu went to Germany, enrolled at Goethe Institute Arolsen, Germany in 1972. It was at Goethe institute that His Highness engineering ingenuity started manifesting and in order to horn his skills more on the subject, he again enrolled at Henschel Berufschule Kassel, Germany in 1972/1973 and secured REFA certificate in 1974. These chains of certificate was not enough for him to begin  his engineering  practice, hence he enrolled again into one of the most prestigious universities, reputed to produce world class engineers, (Universita”t Kassel) Gesamthochschule Kassel (GHK). He was at the institution between 1973 and 1976, bagging (BSC Mechanical Engineering) in 1976. Not done yet with the number of degrees he needed to stand out in his chosen profession, Engineering, the Rumuokwurusi Paramount Ruler went further and enrolled at Welding and Research Institute Stuttgart, Germany, obtaining SFI (Schweissfachingeneur), an engineering degree certificate considered very rare in Germany. He obtained this rare certificate in 1976.
His Highness’ wide range of educational qualification has been of immense benefit to his people of Rumuokwurusi, Obio/Akpor, Rivers State and Nigeria generally.
These benefits could be seen in his work experiences which spanned many years and spread across various communities, companies, local government areas and Rivers State. Before reeling out these work experiences, let’s first list the seminars Eze Chorlu VII attended.
The first seminar the foremost Engineer attended was in 1981 and it was called “Management Seminar in the 80s” organized by the late business Mongul, M.K.O Abiola at the university of Port Harcourt. That seminar lasted for two days, from 1st -3rd April, 1981. Between 29th- 31st October, 1986. The German Trained Engineer attended another management Seminar for small scale industrialists, capping it up by attending seminar and visiting programme organized by CDA and Minister of Economics of the Federal state of Badenwurttemberg, Stuttgart, West Germany between 7th April -9th May, 1987.
As already pointed out, Eze Bennett Worgu’s work experience spanned many years and spread across communities, companies, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers and Germany. First of all, he worked as office/ tea boy at Taylor Woodrow Nigeria Ltd in 1958. He was Draughtsman, Shell BP I.A. Rumuobiakani between January and July 1966. Between August 1966 and June 1969, His Highness taught Mathematics& physics at Obuzor High school during the Biafra/Nigeria Civil War period. Later on he moved over to the civil service where he served as Assistant Statistical Officer between June 1969 – December 1971. Between December 1971-September 1976-1977, he was a pupil Engineer at the Rivers State Ministry of Works. Eze Worgu worked as shipbuilding Engineer at the Nigerian Ship Builders LTD between 1977 &1980. As at today, the Eze Okwurusi Nvu-Ike l is the Managing Director, Adekoson Services LTD.
Other important positions the amiable paramount ruler were; Class Monitor 1950-1956, General School Monitor 1957, House Captain, Fisher House, Government College, Umuahia 1965, Ist Chairman, Okwurusi ‘80’ Age Grade Meeting 1980-1990, Treasurer, Rumuokwurusi Town Council 1985-1987, Chairman, Rumuokwurusi Town Council (RTC) (three times) between 1988-1992, 1993-1995 and 1998-1999. Eze Chorlu VII was made Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of Rumuokwurusi Town Council (RTC) on 23rd October, 1996 and is still the chairman. He was a councillor on zero party level, PHALGA between 1988-1989 and became the pioneer chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council in 1989. Eze Chorlu was the Diocesan Engineer, Diocese of the Niger Delta North between 2002-2009 as well as Diocesan Engineer, Diocese of Evo between 2009-2012.
His Royal Highness was conferred with the Knighthood of Good Shepherd (KSC) of the Anglican Communion in April 2004. He bagged the Chieftaincy Title of Eze Omenkal of Oro-Esara became a member of Esara Council of Chiefs. On April 13, 2004, Engr. Bennett Worgu was crowned Eze Chorlu VII and on 10th December, 2015, the entire Rumuokwurusi people installed him Eze Okwurusi Nvu-Ike l of Rumuokwurusi/ Paramount Ruler Rumuokwurusi Community. Again, few days after his coronation, as Rumuokwurusi Paramount Ruler, his maternal home people of Umuobiakwa village in Umuahia, Abia state on 30th December, 2015 conferred on His Highness the Chieftaincy Title of Aka JI Mbal of Umuobiakwa.
Eze Chorlu recorded a lot of achievements for his Rumuokwurusi community. Among these achievements were: Design and erection of all Saints (Ang) Church Belfery Tower in 1981, establishment of Rumuokwurusi Oil Mill market in 1978, the building of the Community Comprehensive Secondary School in 1988, the establishment of Rumuokwurusi Health centre in 1989, and the establishment of Rumuokwurusi Model Health Centre in 2011. His Highness also played a prominent role in the establishment of Evo community Bank in 1992 and was a board member of the Bank between 1992-1993 and 1999-2010. Eze Okwurusi Nvu-Ike 1 could be described as a linguist as he speaks various indigenous and foreign languages, including; Ikwerre, Igbo, English and German.
Eze Engr. Worgu is a sportsman par excellence, excelling in Athletics, Hockey, Cricket and Football. These sporting activities have enabled His Highness to remain healthy and look younger than his age. His effective participation in sports activities and his excellent performances in them garnered laurels for him both at school and outside of school. He was a leading team member in Athletics, Hockey, Cricket and football during his college days. Inspite of his age, Eze Chorlu has carried on with some of his sporting activities. Every morning and some evenings, he takes a long ride in his German-made sport bicycle, an exercise that has enabled him keep fit. In 2011, His Highness was part of the team that participated in a cycling competition organized by Lifestyle Cycling Club. He and his team mates had rode from Port Harcourt to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, to calabar and back to Port Harcourt. Again on January 18, 2016, Eze Nvu-Ike 1 of Rumuokwurusi rode from Port Harcourt to Etche and back to Port Harcourt within 6hours, a fit young cyclist could not achieve very easily. Being as fit as a fiddle, His Highness could compete successfully with top class athletes like Usain Bolt and Gebrilla Selesie in long distance races.
Eze Chorlu VII is happily married to Stella Nkechi Boms and the marriage which was consummated in 1971, was blessed with five wonderful children; Nkala Worgu, Oroma Worgu, Azunda Worgu, Nnenda Worgu and Ichechika Worgu.