07/10/2025
THE MAN WHO BROUGHT STOCKFISH TO NIGERIA
NZE DR G N IHEAKU
(Omenkeahurunanya 1 of Osina) (1936-2022)
Nze Sir (Dr) Godson Nwosu Iheaku hailed from Osina town, in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State.
This quintessential business mogul, who brought to the zenith, east of the Niger, the trade in stockfish, popular and revered in Igboland as “Okporoko,” was one of Osina’s First-Eleven earliest wealthy men, business moguls and captains of industry who brought the town into the limelight.
Apart from Sir Iheaku, this league of great men, Osina’s First-Eleven, includes Sir Chief D.U. Nsudum (Akwaja Ahuogu 1 of Osina), Chief G.O. Offor (Omeokachie), Sir Peter Umeh, Sir Augustine Umeh, Nze F.I. Onwadike (Omereoha 1), Sir B.U. Ohanugo (Onwa), Chief Benniah Ume (Agubata) and Chief R.O. Nwabueze.
The common denominator here is that all these great men have all gone to be with their creator long before Sir Iheaku joined them in that celestial journey.
He was born on September 10, 1936, as the first son of the family of Nze Iheakubiara Agwunobi Nwaebube and Mrs. Akuoma Iheaku (nee Umezurike), both of blessed memory. The family belongs to Umuokearukwa kindred in Akpaka-na-Ezeala Village, Idima Autonomous Community (formerly, Of-eke Osina), Ideato North LGA of Imo State, Nigeria.
Growing up, the young Godson was imbued with uncanny intellect. He was a brilliant pupil who dazzled all with electrifying academic performances that stood him on a pedestal for higher educational pursuits.
Had the interplay of factors not collaborated to eventually steer his life trajectory towards trading, Sir Iheaku would have ended up an erudite scholar with loud academic accomplishments. In fact, during his lifetime, Sir Iheaku was often referred to as “the Academic Giant” Osina never had.
However, the laurels and glories that he would have garnered in the academic world, Sir Iheaku got in the arena of trading and merchandising.
Thus, from 1951, when he ventured into business as a merchandise trainee/apprentice, till he breathed his last, Sir Iheaku was on a steady upward swing of success, conquering and dominating the business environment with his trademark importation of stockfish.
Indeed, the dutiful young Godson, who started life in 1951 as a simple apprentice trader, had, before his departure
metamorphosed into a world-class business giant. Notedly, in addition to stockfish merchandising, Iheaku also veered into agriculture and allied ventures, birthing in the process many business subsidiaries.
Before his death, Sir Godson Iheaku was the chairman and chief executive of a Mega Group of Limited Liability Companies, including: G.N. Iheaku and Co. Ltd; Gincolin Associates Ltd; United Fish Merchants Ltd; ICCI International Ltd; and Integrated Fisheries Ltd.
A large-hearted man, Sir Iheaku trained and mentored several young men from different parts of Nigeria in trading. Many of them are today successful businessmen in their rights.
There is hardly a stockfish trader in Nigeria that does not have a business relationship with him, directly or indirectly.
His impact on the stockfish business has been so profound that his former apprentices and business beneficiaries go as far as almost unionizing to keep alive his business legacy. His business footprints will surely remain indelible in the sands of time.
What do you know about
Chief G.N Iheaku the Omenkeahurunanya of Osina?
