TheCable

Michael Anyiam-Osigwe, the executive director of Anyiam-Osigwe Group, died in Lagos Sunday afternoon after failing to recover from bullet wounds suffered in a gun attack.

The multi-millionaire businessman, who was in his 50s, was on his way to an engagement in Nkwerre, his home town in Imo State, when suspected armed robbers attacked his car between Okada and Benin, Edo state.

He was initially thought to be dead, but doctors at EKO hospital in Lagos battled for hours to save his life on Sunday.

Plans had been concluded to fly him abroad if his condition stabilised, but he finally died.

An official statement from the family, signed by his brother, Charles, confirmed the tragedy.

Michael Anyiam-Osigwe (left) and his brother, Charles, at the launch of TheCable in April

The Anyiam-Osigwe Group is the parent company of Nuel Energy Limited and PSTI Oil and Gas Limited which are big players in the oil industry in Nigeria and several African countries.

Michael was the co-ordinator of the Anyiam-Osigwe Group and secretary to the Supervisory Board.

He studied economics and had a master’s degree in social anthropology and ethnomusicology from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

He was a member of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), was chairman of Imo cooperative Thrift and Loans Union and honorary consul-general of the Malawi to Nigeria.

He recently wrote an article, titled Lest Our Country Goes to Ruins, for TheCable, and had concluded arrangement to write on a regular basis before his death.

Commenting on his role as Malawi’s honorary consul-general to Nigeria in an interview with TheCable in June, he said: “We are exploring ways to activate a bilateral air services agreement between Malawi and Nigeria to facilitate  the movement of people and goods between the two countries.  Also there is an investment forum that is being planned that is targeted at attracting Nigerian investors.

“The proposed forum would be facilitated with the Nigerian mission in Malawi and related agencies. The Malawian agency charged with attracting  investments into Malawi is a well organised agency and will serve as a valuable resource in ensuring the success of the forum.”

The father, Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, was one of the first Nigerian investors in the oil sector.

The Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation holds an annual memorial lecture in honour of their father.

Some of key international figures who have delivered lectures include F. W. de Klerk, former South African president, Al Gore, former vice president of the US, John Major, former British prime minister, and Shimon Peres, former prime minister of Israel.

He is survived by his wife and five children as well as his 85-year-old mother, six brothers and a sister.

The sister, Peace, organises the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards.