By Ingram Osigwe
Seventy is a magic number. This explains why stepping into the 7th floor calls for unflinching thanksgiving to the Almighty.
On Monday, January the 20th, 2025, Chief Albert Joseph Chidozie Orizu stepped into the 7th floor and he did so with grace, panache, good health, good heart, dignity and in appreciation to God who made it possible.
On Saturday, 25th of January, friends, associates and family will gather at Villa Park Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos celebrate and felicitate Orizu’s new age, his graceful ascension to the 7th floor.
And in recognition of the place of God in his salutary, examplenary and eventful life journey these 70 years, a Thanksgiving mass will be held at the Catholic Church of Visitation, Festac Town, Lagos on Saturday , 25th of January, 2025.
Indeed, joining the pantheon of Platinum Jubilee celebrants is no mean feat. At 70, Chief Orizu is the latest septuagenarian in town, freshly minted! The birthdays of great men are not days for long talks but moments to reflect on life journeys, the visctidutes, the obsufucations; and the triumphs, the wins and the smiles. However, the life of Chief Orizu itself is quite a bulky chapters of a book; how do you summarise such a book in a few sentences?
Here is a consummate Estate Suveyor, a thorough breed professional who has attained the pinnacle of his career, earning for himself laurels and accolades.
Born in Kano on January 20,1955 as the first child of the late Gregory Okonkwo Orizu( Akuzuluora1 of Nimo, Ochiliozu ) and Lolo Virginia Ukamaka Orizu ( Iruanadulu Ezigbonaluniyi), Chief Albert is the Principal Partner, Orizu and Company( A firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers).
He began his educational pursuits in 1960 when he was enrolled in St. Brigid Primary School, Asata, Enugu.In 1966, the young Orizu took common entrance examination to the famous College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu and was successful. However, the political/ military upheavals of that year which later culminated into the 30 months brutal civil war truncated Orizu’s resumption at the College.
At the end of the war in 1970, Orizu resumed at another famous school, Christ the King College, CKC, Onitsha, later transferring to the Government College, Afikpo.
His journey as Surveyor has a touch of divine direction for he took entrance examinations into both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Ife( now Obafemi Awolowo University) for Accountancy.The young Orizu however, opted for Ife and after one year, switched to Estate Management.
Graduating in 1980, and serving at Ogun State Housing Corporation for the mandatory one year National Youth Service, NYSC, Orizu’s career path was clearly marked out thus in 1981, shortly shortly after his NYSC, he joined the firm of Knight and Frank Nigeria Ltd( Estate Surveyors and Valuers).
Orizu rapidly rose in the cadre of the firm, attaining the pinnacle in 2014 as Senior Partner/ Chief Executive Officer.
In 2020, he retired from Knight Frank after 38 years of meritorious service and set up Orizu and Company( Estate Surveyors, Valuers and Real Estate Consultants).
Selfless, cerebral, urbane and unassuming, Chief Orizu has contributed immensely to the socio-economic and infrastructural development of his hometown, Nimo in Njikoka LGA of Anambra state.Despite his professional and social accomplishments, Chief Orizu’s hearts still beats for the less privileged and has in his own way over the years lend his shoulders as succour for others.His altruistic, calm, humble, amiable and genial nature is indeed his trademark.The kindness of Chief Orizu’s soul shines through in everything that he does.His inspiring, salutary life story is akin to a garden of endless harvests, a cavalcade of feats and heights attained.
A devout Catholic and cultural enthusiast, Chief Orizu was Chairman of the Dedication Committe of Church of Visitation, Festac Town, Lagos. He is also patron of Catholic Men Organisation, CMO, Festac Town Deanery.
In Nimo, he holds the chieftaincy titles of Akuzuluora 11 of Nimo and Kaliaozo Gbulugbulu Nimo.He also a member of the Igwe-in-council known as Owelle Nimo Royal cabinet.
Chief Orizu is a member of a number of social organisations, including Nwanneamaka social club, Peoples Club of Nigeria, Odiri social club of Nigeria among others.
An accomplished Surveyor, Chief Orizu belong to so many professional bodies among which are Senior Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers( FNIVS), Registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers( RSV), Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria(ESVABON) among others.
Chief Orizu is married to his delectable heartthrob, Lolo Isabelle Ucheamaka Orizu and they are blessed with five men- all working in Ireland.
Seventy fantastically looks good on Chief Orizu and as he marches energetically and gracefully along in rhythmic harmony in life’s journey, it is glaring that he is a personification of strength and success.
At 70, Chief Orizu has written his life story not with a pen but with dint of hard work, dedication, diligence, dexterity, integrity, purposefulness and above all the love and fear of God.
As he gracefully walks gratefully on to the 7th floor, it is pertinent to note that Chief Orizu’s enchanting life trajectory encapsulates Menachem Mendel Schennerson’s thought about persons born as special breeds of humans: “Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year; the same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again”
– Osigwe, a Media Consultant; Communication and Public Engagement strategist, lives in Lagos.