By Ebuka Onyekwelu, PhD
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chisco Group, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, has made an endowment of at least ₦ 1 billion Naira, to the Department of Transport Management at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, which recently received accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC). This endowment will be rolled out on Thursday, October 29, 2026, marking the commencement of a new departmental building for the Transport Management Department, with the maiden Chidi Anyaegbu Annual Lecture series to be delivered by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti. The endowment at COOU by Chief Anyaegbu reflects Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s campaign on Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) as a viable development model for Anambra State.
On Tuesday, Chief Anyaegbu and his team, Ifeanyi Ezegamba, Esq., Hon. Uchenna Ochuba, Mr. Daniel-Scott Ofodeme, and others, paid a visit to COOU for an on-the-spot assessment ahead of the groundbreaking and maiden lecture on Thursday. Speaking during the visit on Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, while thanking Chief Anyaegbu, emphasized that the endowment by Chief Chidi Anyaegbu demonstrates the viability of Governor Soludo’s akuluo uno campaign. This, Professor Omenugha pointed out, is because “There is no university in the world where the government is left to be the lone source of funding for a university”. Professor Omenugha also observed that the collaboration between Chisco Group and COOU is a unification of theory and practice as well as an enduring legacy. “The MOU is a marriage of town and gown…this is a legacy he is giving us…students are going to gain experience, learn and be inspired,” Professor Omenugha said.
Narrating his motivation for the endowment, Chief Anyaegbu said he wanted a blend of his street informal education with formal university education for maximum benefit to society. According to the Chisco boss, it is also essential that successful people tell their stories without filters to help younger people find the courage to go through life and make their mark. “Telling the story of how you become successful is very important to our young ones,” Chief Anyaegbu said, stressing that a grass-to-grace story is a “sign of nobility.” However, he maintained that making it in life depends on the individual. “I came from nowhere and became a renowned person in the world. You too can do it,” Chief Anyaegbu assured.
Thanking the Vice-Chancellor and expressing his absolute confidence in her visionary leadership of the University, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu said he also expects that his endowment will attract more successful people to come to the university and contribute. “I want this to attract some of our successful people…I am here because of the VC…I have seen a lot of improvements,” Chief Anyaegbu said. He also promised to offer scholarships to students of the new Department of Transport at COOU to fly and maintain aircraft, as part of his contributions to better our society.
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