Chief (Engr.) Heron Onyekwere Donatus Okeahialam CEng FIET (UDEMBA 1 OF OTULU), December 1933 – March 2021
Published: Tue 6 Apr 2021
Born into the family of Mr Paul and Eugenia Elizabeth Chileguka Okeahialam Onuberekwu of Ihitte-Otulu Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise of Imo State on December 14, 1933 at St. Lukes Hospital Annua Uyo, Heron became the second child of the family.
At age 2, his father enrolled him at Ikot Ekpene nursery-primary school but shortly after that his whole family relocated to Cameroun.
So, my father was enrolled in a government primary school and later completed his primary education and first school leaving certificate at Sacred Heart Primary school Kumba in 1948.
In 1949, Heron was enlisted as one of the successful “freshmen” into the prestigious St. Joseph’s College, Sasse, Buea having met the requirements.
Heron later graduated with a Cambridge grade 2 in 1953.
At age 20, armed with his Cambridge Certificate, he wasted no time in the pursuit of his career life to enable him to sustain his dreams and consolidate his father’s vision of a united front by assisting his younger siblings.
He sat for the Civil Service Examination and passed in the “A” list, which entitled him a job at Nigerian Broadcasting Service in 1954.
An experience, he said broadened his horizons and set him on a clear path of his professional ambition.
In line with his father’s vision of having professionals in the family and, bearing in mind that his elder brother had chosen the medical line, his goal became definitive in the engineering field.
After 3 years of working at NBS, he saved enough funds to see himself through school; so then came 1957, he gained admission into Yaba Technical College to study a course in engineering, at completion in 1959, he graduated with a distinction and won a scholarship prize to major in a specific aspect of Engineering in the United Kingdom.
On arrival, he was admitted into Southampton University College (presently Southampton University) and settled in, with the swift assistance of the colonial mission.
Dad eventually qualified as an Engineer in Electrical and Electronics from the institution.
In that year he qualified-1962, the institution deployed him to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in line with her statutory requirements for qualification processes and, to provide young professionals in the same discipline opportunity to gain practical and relevant knowledge.
He indeed had a brilliant time and stood out as a result of his excellent performance during this period.
This could be attested by the strong recommendations both the University and BBC made in his favour.
Engr. Heron Okeahialam returned to Nigeria in 1963 to take up an appointment at Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation - as a Senior Trainee Engineer and Program Officer - a position he held until the outbreak of Nigeria Civil War, which caused lots of families from Igbo and southern province race back home for safety.
This led to a sudden disruption in his career path.
However, at the peak of the unfortunate crisis, tracing 1967-1968, he was tasked to bring his expertise to bear in the design and crafting of a radio system and with the support of the defunct Biafran Government.
He and his team had to redesign and convert the fixed outreaching communication systems to short waves from medium waves for a wider range using mobile units to navigate various locations, disguised with palm leaves, hence, making aerial surveillance capturing, almost impossible.
At the end of the civil war, Heron was recruited into the Ministry of Education of then East Central State administration as an Inspector of Education and later became one of the pioneer lecturers of the then College of Technology - (currently Institute of Management and Technology).
An institution formed out of dire necessity to meet the concerns raised.
It is instructive to mention that he went on to head the engineering dept, a position which rhymed with his initials – HOD.
Between 1973 & 1974, the then administration decided to establish the East Central State Broadcasting Service (ECBS), once more his service was needed in that regard.
He was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Information and with the solid contribution of other seasoned engineers, the radio and TV station came on the air.
The station was a relief venture that would help reduce life’s tension as a result of the psychological impact the crisis had on the people.
It was a milestone achievement for them and a feat they were all passionate and proud of, given the fact this was a healing period for the region, having suffered great loss both in human and material measures.
For this reason, so many humour-based programs and advertorials were put together to bring succour and laughter tp the lives of the people of the once-troubled zone.
Imo Broadcasting service {IBS} was established with him as the only appointee as Chief Engineer.
Other appointments came shortly after, but he was allowed a free hand to choose his team in the Engineering Department.
Heron designed and oversaw the use of the first OB (outdoor broadcasting) van which enabled the sophistication and reliability of the station.
So, in 1981, having conducted a self-evaluation on the opportunities the present dispensation provided, he applied for a study leave to pursue his MSc in E/E at the University of Syracuse in USA.
However, shortly after his return, dad was promoted to Director of Engineering and a direct channel was established between him and the government house.
Engineer Heron held that position until his retirement in 1985.
Afterwards, he went into private business with a friend and opened a company called Hervin International Nig Ltd responsible for the design and installation of FM Studios in Plateau-Jos, Delta-Asaba.
In the year 2000, he was Imo State Government consultant that supervised the refurbishment of IBC Transmitters and revamping of commutation installations.
In 2005, he retired to family life as his health deteriorated.
Engr. HOD Okeahialam had quite an eventful, yet accomplished career from the foregoing.
Dad passed away peacefully on 19 March 2021 and the funeral will take place on 23 April 2021.
He is survived by his wife, six children and eleven grandchildren.
Brilliant engineer, British trained, Chartered Engineer, Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow Institute of Engineering Technology, Devout Catholic and a Chief in his community, he was a man of pure integrity. Above all, a loving and caring father. His memories remain evergreen in our minds and his legacies shall endure amongst us all. Daddy we forever cherish and love you till eternity…. ADIEU H.O.D.