Patrick Nwakamma Ottih
Quick Facts
Biography
Patrick Nwakamma Ottih (1918 – November 18, 2004) was a legendary entrepreneur and politician in Victoria City, Southern Cameroon, between 1932-1971, a leading member of the Casablanca Group bloc of the African Nationalist Movement and a foundation member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon's.
Early life and education
He was born in Awa, Oguta County Council, Eastern Nigeria, British colonial Nigeria, to Chief Ottih Okoronkwo and Mrs. Ejiatu Ottih of Ndi-Onyeagorom village of Aro Awa, in Awa-Izombe Community Council of Oguta County Council. Chief Ottih Okoronkwo (His father) was a customary court judge in Awa-Izombe community council of Oguta County Council, and the paramount chief of the British Empire in Oguta 11.
He attended elementary school education in Awomama and Mbieri, Eastern Nigeria, and undertook business apprenticeship in Aba, Eastern Nigeria, under the guardianship of his father's friend, during which he initiated correspondence college studies, and continued it through his initial entrepreneurial experiences in Southern Cameroon.
Career
Ottih was a famous entrepreneur and politician in Victoria City (Limbe) Southern Cameroon, (West Cameroon) 1932–1971, and Nigeria 1976–2004.
He was the Kamerun National Congress liaison officer to Eastern Nigeria, president of the Cameroon branch of Igbo State Union, Leader of the Biafran Movement and relief efforts in the Cameroon republic, Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta Local Government Councilor, Nigerian Peoples Party foundation member, and trustee member of the National Party of Nigeria Imo State of Nigeria.
He was a leading member of the Casablanca Group bloc of the African Nationalist Movement, a foundation member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, a member of Kamerun National Congress, Cameroon People's National Convention, Igbo State Union, Biafran Movement, relief efforts, SS Club, Victoria Club, Victoria City and Southern Cameroon Chambers of Commerce, and the Oguta County Council Leaders of Thought.
Humanitarian activities
Ottih donated to charitable organizations and community development efforts in the Southern Cameroon region, such as Bakwere Development Union and Victoria City Down Beach Revitalization Committee. He awarded educational scholarships to disadvantaged children in Catholic elementary school and Saker Baptist College in Victoria City, West Cameroon, and Awa Community Secondary School in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta local government council, Imo State, Nigeria. He afforded credits to small businesses who allied with the Cameroon branch of Igbo State Union and Awa Patriotic League, to assist their business ventures, and donated cups to elementary and secondary schools for soccer competition in Oguta county council and divisional council in Eastern Nigeria, and Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta local government council in Imo State of Nigeria. He pioneered the development of Oguta 11 in Oguta county council and divisional council in the early stages of the development of Eastern Nigeria, and Awa community through the establishment of Awa community secondary school in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta local government council, Imo State, Nigeria, and contributed to the overall development of Oguta local government council in Imo State of Nigeria.
Achievements
He facilitated African liberation struggles through membership in the Casablanca Group bloc of the African Nationalist Movement, played a fundamental role in Nigeria political development as a foundation member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon's, and was instrumental in the socioeconomic and political development of Southern Cameroon through membership in the Kamerun National Congress and Cameroon Peoples National Convention. He helped revitalize Victoria City business community at the end of the Second World War and participated in the development of Victoria City (now known as Limbe) through contributions to charitable organizations and community development efforts. He also held memberships in the SS club, Victoria club, Victoria City and Southern Cameroon chambers of commerce, and other business round-tables. He advocated for Southern Cameroon merger with Nigeria as liaison officer of the Kamerun National Congress to the colonial government of Eastern Nigeria.
He organized Igbo natives in the Cameroon republic during the Nigeria-Biafra war, converted the Cameroon branch of Igbo State Union to the Biafran Movement on the verge of the Nigeria-Biafra war, and led the Cameroon-based Biafran Movement to assist the Biafran republic.He financed Biafran diplomatic activities, led a Biafran delegation to Sao Tome and France, and actively participated in Biafran diplomatic activities by convincing West Cameroon authorities to allow their Air field to be used for Biafran diplomatic missions. He served as a councilor in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta Local Government Council in Nigeria's second republic, and fronted the development of Awa community in Imo State of Nigeria.
Recognition
He was awarded the title of Oka - Ome 1 of Awa / traditional prime minister of Awa Community