A Brief History of His Royal Highness, Eze Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu – The Oldest newly Crown King in Igboland
A Brief History of His Royal Highness, Eze Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu – The Oldest newly Crown King in Igboland
His Royal Highness, Eze Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu, the newly crowned king of Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State. Born in 1940 at his grandfather’s house in Oferekpe Agbaja, Eze Ezekiel is the son of Chief Nwankpu Opoke (Ogbaribe Okposhike) and Chief Mrs. Nwofoke Nwankpu (Oteru anu gbajiru eku). His paternal grandmother was Nwambam Ebem.
Eze Nwifuru Nwankpu is the second son of Chief Nwankpu Opoke and Chief Mrs. Nwofoke Nwankpu. His elder brother, the late Nwaoga Nwankpu, passed away after their father. Tragically, his mother passed away when he was very young, leaving his father to care for him. Despite the challenges, he grew up to become a respected farmer and community leader.
A man of great familial and cultural legacy, Eze Nwifuru Nwankpu is married to 19 wives, with 17 currently living with him. Contrary to earlier reports, the king has 19 wives, not 25, with two no longer living with him. The names of his wives, listed in order of seniority, are:
1. Mrs. Nwankwo Nwifuru
2. Mrs. Nwophe Nwifuru
3. Mrs. Nwodom Nwifuru
4. Mrs. Okweru Nnenna Nwifuru
5. Mrs. Okemini Nwifuru
6. Mrs. Rose Nwifuru
7. Mrs. Nwanyigwe Nwifuru (K’ezia)
8. Mrs. Mbam Nwifuru
9. Mrs. Mary Nwifuru
10. Mrs. Augustina Nwifuru
11. Mrs. Grace Nwifuru
12. Mrs. Uzoma Nwifuru
13. Mrs. Nwanyigwe Nwifuru
14. Mrs. Roza Nwifuru
15. Mrs. Obioma Nwogbala Nwifuru
16. Mrs. Obiageli Nwifuru
17. Mrs. Marcelina Nwifuru
18. Mrs. Nneka Nwifuru
19. Mrs. Obioma Nwifuru
The king has 108 children, both male and female, one of whom is the current Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Prince Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
At the age of 84, His Royal Highness, Eze Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu, has recently been crowned the new king of Oferekpe Agbaja Autonomous Community, which consists of 17 villages. His ascension to the throne marks an important moment in the community’s history, as the people of Oferekpe, with their vibrant youth and strong leadership, have chosen him to serve as their monarch. Eze Nwifuru Nwankpu is now known as Chibugo 1 of Oferekpe Autonomous Community, a title that solidifies his enduring influence and leadership in the region.
