…As UNIEC installs him Live Patron
BY SAM OTUONYE
Chief Barr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye, billionaire businessman, ardent philanthropist, and civilised politician, on Saturday, February 21, 2026, displayed an uncommon football skills culminating in a hatrick goal against the ‘Old School’ of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Akagburuonye combined the skills of Pele, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Kanu Nwankwo, J.J. Okocha, and Victor Osime, to mesmerise the mathematical Odegbami, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Mutiu Adepoju, Austin Equavon, Victor Ikpeba, Pat Ekeji, Felix Owolabi, Samson Siasia, Uche Okechukwu, Ike Shoromi, and Ifeanyi Udeze, in a novelty match played in the football bowl of Oke Uvuru Secondary School, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.
These football legends, which cut across five generations of Nigeria’s topnotch players, from the Green Eagles days, played against Hope Rising Football Team, otherwise known as Friends of Success, at Uvuru Mbaise, the home town of Akagburuonye, to honour him, as part of the events marking his 60th birthday celebration.
The illustrous son of Igboland, Nigeria and Africa, Engr. Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye was, the previous day, Friday, February 20, coronated as ‘Akaraugo of Igboland’, by the SouthEast Traditional Rulers, in recognition of his unassailable contributions to the development of the region.
Earlier, the United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide and the Igbo Think Home Investment and Development Limited, inducted Chief Barr. Success Akagburuonye as Live Patron and Board Chairman respectively, in recognition of his contributions towards the development of Igboland.
“The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide and Igbo Think Home Investment and Development Limited hereby place on permanent record their profound appreciation for the exemplary life and enduring contributions of Chief Dr. Barr. Engr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye, JP,” National Director, Media and Publicity, Prof. Obasi Igwe, stated.
Chief Akagburuonye thanked UNIEC for finding him worthy of the honour and trust and pledged to sustain his efforts to better the conditions of Igboland by “attracting anything good and valuable i see in any part of the world to Igboland.”
The Diamond Birthday, whose activities started on Thursday, February 19, would be rounded off on Sunday, February 22, with a global thanksgiving service at the Noah’s Ark, Assemblies of God Church, Ogbor Uvuru, Mbaise, Imo State, and a biographical book launch of Chief Akagburuonye’s existential journey.
The event will be chaired by former Nigeria’s President Obasanjo, as the President of Ghana, John Mahama, Gov. Hope Uzodimma, Billionaires Aliko Dangote and Chief Femi Otedola, among others, are expected to attend.
