By Martins Uba Nwamadi
Many people describe death as extension of life. Others see it from another perspective. But Holy Sonnets, Divine Poems said this of death. “Death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so, for those whom you think’st thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.”
It was a bright day precisely Thursday, August 17, 2017 when the news filtered in from London that Mazi Bethel Chinweoke Njoku has dropped the pen, it was hard to believe the news until Uncle Joe Odocha, who was vacating in Dallas on hearing the state of his health travelled to United Kingdom and confirmed that the media guru is no more.
Njoku was born in 1934. After his secondary education in 1956 and due to his intelligence and knack for research he was engaged to teach at one of the elite schools in the East, Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. In 1957, he left for higher studies at the then University College Ibadan. In 1960, he graduated with honours degree in Geography and was recruited by Shell BP, in Port Harcourt as Personnel Officer. Again at Shell BP, Mazi Njoku exhibited his enthusiasm for excellence. The Management of Shell BP saw how meticulous, diligent, courageous the young Njoku exhibited and in 1964 he was promoted to the post of Personnel Manager, which necessitated to his cross posting to the parent company in Hague and then to Uganda as Head of Shell Uganda based in Kampala. In fact, the Civil War truncated his career profile with Shell BP, as he had to return home when the Civil War assumed a new dimension.
After the Civil War precisely in 1971, Njoku was hired by Daily Times Nigeria as Manpower Development Controller. And here again, the corporate czar exhibited his towering leadership qualities with the total transformation of Times Publications, Times Press, Niger Pack and other huge subsidiaries within the conglomerate.
Everyone, who knew him in Daily Times, had one testimony or the other to make about him, especially his impeccable philosophy to excel in whatever assignment that was given to him. Soon after a short stint at Kakawa, the Corporate Headquarters of the Media giant, he was posted to London as General Manager London Office of Daily Times Coordinating Europe and Caribbean countries. And here Brother Bethel Njoku showed his class. With prudent Management of resources and his administrative ingenuity, he opened a new vista for the conglomerate and cost of doing business was totally reduced. Daily Times posted heavy return on investment.
In 1981, the Board of Directors having noticed his career trajectory and management wizardry brought him back to Nigeria to become the Deputy Managing Director/Executive Director Administration so as to stabilise the gains already made in the industry; within the period he further commenced expansionist movement with the birth of Times Leisure Services and another trading subsidiary while the West African Magazine witnessed tremendous sales boost. With the advent of the military in 1984, he retired from the conglomerate and returned to London to begin a new life. While in London, Gemini News who has been following his rising profile in the Media World hired him as the Managing Director. He propelled the company to a greater height. On turning 70 in 2014, he bade farewell to active journalism and administration and retired to private life.
Mary Queen of Scots said: ”In my end is my beginning.” To those who know him well, we call him ‘Brother’ because of his strong character, modest simplicity and most importantly God given gift of massive energy, intellect, wisdom in body and mind. He was a role model and source of inspiration as most of us emulated his simplicity and amiable nature.
Beneath his exterior his identification mark is an Alfa’s goatee spiced with a clean-shaven hair to the skull, which even scared the lily levered away from him. He always stands out from the crowd.
He was excellent listener and a passionate leader. As his remains will be laid to rest in Owutu, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State on Saturday, October 20, 2017, let’s take solace in Rev. 21:4: ”God will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
And to my Sister, Dora, Bethel’s love for over 50 years, take heart because all love ends in sadness because death leaves one lover alone. Brother Bethel, the Good Man has dropped the pen.