Prof Joe Irukwu

By Ngozi Onyeakusi—Insurance guru Prof. Joe Irukwu died yesterday at the age of 89.

This was disclosed in a statement by Prince Harrison Eze Okorie, President General, Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, said: “The Amaokwe Item Welfare Union on behalf of entire Amaba Ukwu kindred and the immediate family hereby announce the glorious but painful demise of our great patron, father, grandfather, son and brother, PROF (CHIEF)JOSEPH OGBONNAYA IRUKWU,SAN, CFR.
The Union on behalf Amaokwe Community, commiserate with the family and pray to God to grant his soul peaceful rest.
“The Union enjoin all Amaokwe sons and daughters to mourn the exit of this giant as we also remember to uphold his family in prayers in this moment of grief.”

Irukwu, a lawyer, lecturer, author and insurance guru, was the founding managing director of Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation.
He founded African Development Insurance Company thereafter, which was later sold to Diamond Bank.

Irukwu obtained a degree in Law and Insurance from a British university in 1962.

He was one of the leading lights in the African insurance landscape and was instrumental to the formation of bodies such as: African insurance Organization (AIO); West African insurance Association (WAICA) and more

In Nigeria, he was a former Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA); President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) amongst others.

President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Edwin Igbiti, said a hero has gone and his contributions would be greatly missed.

He noted that Irukwu was the only Professor the institute had and that he greatly contributed to the growth and development of the institute