Nwogu, Benjamin Enweghimadu (1894–2009)

Benjamin Enweghimadu Nwogu was a Bible teacher, a lay evangelist, and a philanthropist from Nigeria.

Early Life, Education, and Marriage

Benjamin Enweghimadu Nwogu was born into the family of Nwogu Onumadu and Nmaji Nwogu of Umuala Okpulo in Umugwu Abayi, Isi Ngwa Autonomous Community, during the year 1894.¹

Benjamin’s parents divorced in 1902, and his mother relocated him to her residence in Umuabi Umuode, Ihie Autonomous Community. As a result, he was raised by his stepfather Nwachukwu Nwamaghioha, his mother, his grandmother, and his brother Nwosu. This explains why Benjamin’s last name was Nwachukwu for the majority of his existence. As a consequence, the majority of his life endeavors took place in Umuode, Ihie Autonomous Community, his maternal home. Not much is known about him in his father’s village, Umuala Okplo, Umugwu, Abayi.² Dee Ben, as he was affectionately called by both old and young, did not have a formal education. However, due to his outstanding wisdom, those who had the privilege to interact with him would hardly believe that. He learned to read and write in the Church, as they were taught to read the book named Azu Ndu.³

In 1934, Nwogu married Emetuche Njoku. The marriage was blessed with a daughter. However, Dee Ben and his wife divorced shortly thereafter. In 1964, he married Comfort Njoku 30 years later. They had four children.⁴

Ministry

Nwogu was born into an Anglican family. He was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1937 through the ministry of Pastor A. A. Nzota, Pastor Jesse Clifford, his family, and other missionaries who worked in Ihie.⁵ Nwogu’s zeal for Christ was fueled by the joy of salvation that resulted from his conversion. On one occasion, he was in an evangelistic outreach in Ihie with Pastor Nzota, Pastor Jesse Clifford and his wife, Catherine, when members of the then Anglican-dominated community organized a protest against the preachers of the Advent Message. The protesters poured sand on the Adventist preachers and smashed the windshield of Pastor Clifford’s vehicle. Pastor Nzota, Pastor and Mrs. Clifford, and all those with them, including Nwogu, were later arrested and detained by police for several days. They were eventually released because no criminal charges could be established against them.⁶ Pastor Clifford encouraged his wife that the sand represented the multitude who will embrace the gospel in Ihie. His word was subsequently fulfilled as Ihie became a prominent center for Seventh-day Adventism and Seventh-day Adventist education through the Adventist High School. Currently, Ihie is the temporary site for the Clifford University, an institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church fittingly named after Pastor Jesse Clifford, the first missionary to Eastern Nigeria. This university provides quality Adventist education to the entire eastern region of Nigeria. Benjamin was one of those who worked with Pastor Jesse Clifford in those early days.⁷ He was among those who were persecuted and imprisoned because of the work of Christ and the spreading of the gospel.⁸

Prior to the establishment of a church in Ihie, Nwogu, Rowland Nzotta, S. Anosike, Timothy Ekpamuzo, Joseph Igbandu, and others attended services in Osusu. Every Sabbath, they traveled several kilometers to worship. Benjamin was one of the first members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ihie when the Church was built and organized.⁹ Nwogu served in several departments of the Church as deacon, Home Missionary leader, and Sabbath School teacher. He was ordained as an elder in 1968. During his tenure as the Home Missionary leader, he initiated the idea of building houses for members of the church and non-members who had no accommodation. He travelled far and wide on foot for the work of Christ.¹⁰

Due to the fact that native Adventists could not comprehend the language of the missionaries, it was necessary to effectively contextualize the messages among the new converts and to meet their needs. This resulted in the building of a prayer house in a strategic location within the Ihie community. Nwogu served as one of the local teachers due to his extensive knowledge of the Bible, and he was successful in his ministry.¹¹ Nwogu and Elder Sunday Anosike ensured that prayers were offered in the church every morning at 5:00 a.m. Eventually, the house of worship served as the hub for Home Missionary activities. Nwogu served as the group’s leader on multiple occasions.¹²

Although he had no formal education, Nwogu devotedly studied and understood the Bible. As a layman, he was an eloquent preacher and well-versed in questions regarding doctrinal matters¹³ and served as a spiritual mentor to many pastors, elders, deacons, and other church members.¹⁴

On October 7, 2007, Nwogu returned to his homeland of Umugwu Abayi, Isi Ngwa Autonomous Community. As a mark of respect, many Ihie people, particularly those from Umuode and Amaogwugwu, accompanied him to his home because of his exemplary and influential behavior during his years in his mother's household.¹⁵ Benjamin Nwogu died on December 30, 2009, at the age of 115.

Sources

Funeral Program for the burial service of Benjamin Enweghimadu Nwogu. Retrieved from Mrs. Oluchi Nwokoma. In the author’s private collection.

Notes