THE COMPANY
The company UCHEKINZE Nigeria Limited was registered in 1990 as a trading company. It has developed over time into a big business concern with business associations around the world. Trading in Plumbing, Kitchen, Bathroom, Sanitary and Water engineering equipment.The company has excellence in service as its watchword and this has resulted in huge customer base across the nation, and good business relationships in Europe, South America, Asia and the United States. Excellence in customer relations has also brought recognitions from corporate, government , the press and non governmental organizations in terms of awards ( see AWARDS below). Most importantly it has made the company the people’s choice.
HISTORY
The life story of Isaac Kinze Okonkwo Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Board, is an excellent study in hard work wrapped in great intelligence and humility. Born in March 1960 to the Okonkwo-Ogudo family of Amichi Nnewi South Local Government Area (then Onitsha province) of Anambra State, young Isaac knew that he had to carve a niche for himself on the proverbial sands of time. But the dream almost died as a result of the hardship that befell his family during and after the notorious fratricidal (civil) war of 1966-70. Feeding was hellish not to talk of education. This was how the young man was persuaded by the family to pick up a trade to allow others in the family who had already started higher education to continue. Undaunted , Kinze came to Ibadan to learn the trade in textiles , apprenticed to a master of eastern Nigeria origin. Armed with only Primary School Leaving Certificate our man faced his new found trade with a passion and an unquenchable thirst for success which he achieved within a short spell. at Old Gbagi Market in Ibadan. His meteoric rise over and above his seniors in 1975 was no surprise to customers and avid observers of his progress chart. And as destiny would have it, the textile business ran into troubled waters in 1978. This for him created a scenario which presented a challenge on the one hand and a life-time opportunity on the other. His master chose diversification into Building and Plumbing materials and deployed him as Assistant Manager in charge of this new area. He took the business from zero level to a lofty height at Oginni House Ekotedo area Ibadan. This again fired the interest of the master in the young man and when a reason arose in 1980 for expansion and migration to Iwo Road , Ibadan to establish a new shop named Ambuche Trading Company , Isaac was chosen as the Manager. He as expected gave a resounding account of himself.
Meanwhile, Isaac kinze not losing sight of the fact that knowledge is power got his childhood friends who were then at the University of Ibadan to give him evening lessons in the English language, Mathematics and general knowledge. He studied hard and assimilated very fast. Today, unless you knew anything about his academic past, his level of awareness is such that you’ll think he’s a graduate who veered into Plumbing business.
The volumes of reading materials in his private library will make some professors go green with envy.
Isaac’s time to be on his own came in 1981, and the master was unwilling to let him go because of his prowess in the Plumbing and Building business. Overtures were made to his people and he was begged to stay on with his master but with the proviso that he got N9,000.00 to start his own business on the side. The business being capital intensive hardworking Isaac finally got his due in 1985 from his master. This signaled point of departure from the boss and a new beginning for UCHEKINZE a company which he registered as an enterprise. The company grew from strength to strength and is now the numero uno ,that is number 1 in his line of business in the south-west ex-Lagos. This is because UCHEKINZE symbolizes quality.
Then it was time to marry in 1986. The marriage which was to his heartthrob Rose Kinze Okonkwo (nee ANUMBA ) is blessed with 4 children 3 girls, 1 boy. Loving and delectable Chika Kinze the youngest of the girls went to be with the Lord early April 2006 after an brief illness at UCH Ibadan (May the Lord rest her soul in perfect peace).
COMMUNITY SERVICE & PHILANTROPY
Isaac Kinze Okonkwo knew the bad effects of poverty and so he had made up his mind on his way up that if God blessed him he will use his position to better other people’s lot.
To this, he has committed a huge amount of resources. He helps individuals and charitable organizations without publicity. Among others, he helped in facilitating the school of Nursing UCH Public Health Project in Olorunda-Abaa, Lagelu Local Government Oyo State. His company helped to train and raise at least 10 millionaires in business, seven of them resident in Ibadan. He has trained so many others at different levels of success in their businesses setting them up financially without receiving a kobo for their training. He is presently with 22 apprentices who sleep and wake in his house and are being maintained apart from being trained on the trade by him. Many other workers earn their salaries working for his organization where quality is the watchword.
He has served as exco member in some of the best social / professional clubs in Amichi and Ibadan. His club in Amichi built the ultra-modern post office for the use of the people during his time as financial secretary and handed over to government.
AWARDS
In 1998 NTA and FAI MEDIAVISION an international Public Relations company selected Chief Isaac Kinze Okonkwo after thorough research about his activities for Business excellence Award. The company has also been recognized by DUNLOP Nigeria for outstanding performance. KGM Industries Ltd, the manufacturer of STOREX TANKS honoured the UCHEKINZE for excellence. UCHEKINZE has also been published among successful businesses in Nigeria by several newspapers. He is a Trustee of God-Will-do-It Ministries. The newest addition to his long list of Awards is the Award of excellence for philanthropy by Rotary Club of AKURE District 9130 Nigeria.
In the East, UCHEKINZE’s M.D. was honoured with the popular Ozo title of Igboland in Amichi as Nwakanma the 1st of Amichi – meaning :
Child is honourable.
Generally speaking, Isaac Kinze Okonkwo M.D., UCHEKINZE is amiable, pleasant to be with, humble almost to a fault, a devout Christian who allowed his religion to reflect in his business and family life. He is a counselor ,
de – tribalised peace lover and disciplinarian.
Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tution ullam corper suscipit lobortis nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
