Gab Osuagwu-Iheukwumere; Nigerian journalist. Gab was also an author, broadcaster, publisher, educationist, theologian, administrator and public relations expert. He was a recipient of the Queen’s Medal Award in Best African Reporter category. Gab authored two captivating books, including The Second Coming Of The Military In Nigeria. This and his other intellectual endeavors earned him academic prizes. He died August 7, 2013, age 90.
Origin
Iheukwumere was a member of the Uhuenwere (Enwere family) in Umuawa-Alaocha, Umuahia, Abia State. He was born in 1923 to was born on December 12,1923, in Umuawa- Alaocha, Umuahia, now in Abia State to father, Mr. Osuagwu Awazie and mother, Mrs. Ahuekwe Osuagwu. Gab was married to Nneoma Comfort Chinyere Iheukwumere (nee Amiaka) with whom he raised his children.
Education
Gab studied at the prominent Methodist Missionary College, Uzuakoli in Abia State. Thereafter, he took to teaching and accepted a call into the Training and Ministry of the Methodist Church. He left for the Methodist Theological College, Calver, Sheffield, United Kingdom, obtaining the Bachelor of Divinity of London University in the end. Gab also studied Mass Communication at California State University, San Francisco, obtaining Bachelor of Arts (B. A), and Master of Arts (M. A). He went ahead yet to gather more qualifications in Europe.
Affiliations
Gab was a student of Advanced Staff College Of Nigeria (ASCON). He was also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. He was a deeply spiritual and committed member of the Methodist Church.
Contemporaries
With some of his colleagues such as Dr. Chuks Osuji with whom he received renowned novelist, Chinua Achebe in 1982, Gab shared a affinity for history.
Journalist Gab
When Gab returned to Nigeria he was employed by the United States Information Service (USIS) and posted to Enugu, Eastern Nigeria as Deputy Public Affairs Officer. After two and half years of service there, he moved to Eastern Nigeria Information Service (ENIS) as Editor of tire Nigeria Outlook, a government-owned national paper.
At the end of the Nigerian Civil war, Gab was transferred to East Central State Radio/TV Broadcasting Corporation as Senior Editor, News and Current Affairs. When Imo State was created in 1976, he became Director, News and Current Affairs, Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Owerri, from where he proceeded to London for a top BBC Management and Human Resource Course. On his return, he held the combined post of Director of News and Current Affairs/Deputy Director General, Imo Broadcasting Corporation. Gab was conferred justice of the Peace (JP) by the colonial Governor of the then Eastern Nigeria for his investigative journalism[i].
[i] Guardian November 2, 2013