Igwe Angus Obike Ilonzeh the traditional rular of Abakana Kingdom from 1958 to 1989 and a business mogul was born at Abagana, Njikoka local government area of Anambra State in 1927. He was the first son of Chief Amalunweze Chukwukadibia Ilonzeh and wife Ngboye Mbanakwa who are both indigenes of Abagana.

Angus Obike Ilonzeh attended central school Abagana where he obtained the standard six certificates in 1994. He then proceeded to Washington Grammar school Onitsha where he had a year stint.

After spending a year at the Washington grammar school, Angus Obike did a little bit of farming at the Midwestern Nigeria which was a lucrative venture for Abagana indigenes at that time.

He later relocated to Enugu where he stayed for a while with late Chief Francis Anakwanze (Okofia Abagana) before late Chief Francis Nzekwe (Dunu Abagana).

A senior police officer helped him enlist into Nigerian police force.

Young Angus Obike left the police force in 1952 and launched himself into Building and Civil engineering.

He was one of the very few Nigerian who at the independence in 1960 had incorporated Limited liability company fashioned along expatriate managed enterprises such as Taylor Woodrow, Constain, George Wimpey, MT Micheletti, Julius Berger etc. The managerial skills he brought into the Angus Builders Company limited and his other business had all the advantages of a futuristic organization.

Whilst his charismatic disposition attracted him to numerous opportunities, he refused to be ensnared by the limitations that hardly allowed individuals of his generation to reach out for greater heights.

Undoubtedly, the success of Chief Angus in the construction industry saw emergence of many Abagana indigenes into trade.

Angus Builders indeed became a major employer of Abagana indigenes at all levels, including top managerial position.

He also had interest in Agriculture, Real Estate and Insurance.

He was one of the founding directors of NEMCO Ngeria Ltd, African Prudential Insurance Company LTD, and Checolite System Buildings of Kenya and United Kingdom. He was a onetime chairman of the Nigerian Association of Indigenous Contractors and Director Agricultural Development Bank .

Chief Angus Obike Ilonzeh was a resource person that made success out of all his endeavors.

No wonder the Abagana community unanimously choose him as their traditional ruler as the Igwe of Abagana in 1958.

His rise to the throne brought pump and pageantry to the institution Igweship in Igbo land.

In most parts of Ibo land it did not take him time to become the centre of attraction, as he was latter elected into the then Eastern House of Chiefs as the a first class chief in a highly contested election that saw him winning against Chief Nebe (the Ichie of Awka) and Igwe Michael Eze of Ukpo (Ezenukpo) both of whom later became his bosom friends and confidants.

Some of the innovation that brought colour and distinction to the personality and dignity of the Igwe was the dress code of long top regalia on a skirt.

He also introduced the local siren; i.e. ringing of bell to signify his arrival or presence.

His Royal Majesty up till the 1970’s doubled as the traditional ruler of Abba, a neighbouring town by popular acclaim and admiration.

During his tenure (1958 – 1989), Igwe Obike Ilonzeh’s quest to keep Abagana in the limelight remains unrivalled till date.

Along with other compatriots, he contributed immensely to the opening of the motorable access road into various wards and villages in Abagana, building of the first maternity hospital in Abagana, Post Office Abagana, St. Peter’s girls’ Secondary School, Nnamdi Azikiwe Grammar School.

He single handedly attracted two Political Party offices meant for Njikoka Local Government to be sited in Abagana, Not withstanding protests by other towns in Njikoka Local Government Area.

He ensured that the opportunity to have the University Teaching Hospital located at Abagana was not lost by providing a vast space of land for the project, inspite of protestation from other quarters.

kingdoms encroaching on Abagana’s land was unknown, as he was wont to sneer at such an affront.

That was Igwe Abagana for you.

Igwe Angus will forever be remembered for his patriotic zeal for Ndigbo and Abagana in particular.

During the civil war he provided vehicle for evacuation and indigenes of neighboring towns from arsenals of the invading Nigerian troops and kept them in his camps at Ezinifite, Achina and Ogboji.

Immediately after the war he provided vehicles that transported people from Abagana to Onitsha free of charge, thus easing the hardship of his people.

He was a very generous man who gave innumerable scholarships to the Abagana indigenes and other Nigerians.

He gave cars and cash gifts to his fellow Igwes to dignify the office of Igwe.

Without doubt, Chief Angus Obike Ilonzeh’s contribution to the development of the Nigerian economy is legendary.

He engaged the services of over 25 expatriates and over 2,000 Nigerian at various construction sites and business establishments yearly for quiet some time.

Chief Angus and his company were obviously doing something great for the economy of Nigeria.

Twenty two years thereafter, the company founded by him is still alive and well.

Igwe Angus was a repository of wisdom in the order of the Biblical Solomon and his sayings and words in general.

Igwe Angus Ilonzeh was a charismatic leader well beloved.

We cannot chronicle even a tenth of his interesting life but suffice it to say that the time of his demise he was overwhelming acknowledge Ndigbo as “Igwe Ka Ibie” i.e. Kings of Kings.

Finally, Igwe Angus Ilonzeh maintained a large family made up of his own children and that of his relatives and other less privileged people living in his compound.