Prince Arthur Eze was born on November 27, 1948 at Ukpo village, Dunukofia Local Government, Anambra State, Nigeria.
He is a Nigerian oil mogul, philanthropist, politician, and the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest Nigerian exploration and production group privately owned. He is being referred to by the Igbos as the Ozoigbondu of Igboland.
His firm, Atlas Oranto has regional offices and representatives across core investment locations in West Africa with it also has its technical base located in Lagos, and its headquarters at Abuja.
Prince Arthur was reported to be the 8th wealthiest man in Africa.
Arthur is from a royal family, that explains why the title “Prince” is attached to his name. His elder brother is even the traditional ruler (King) of Ukpo Village.
Arthur attend St. Augustin Secondary School, Nkwere, Imo State in 1970. After his secondary education, he furthered to California State University, Long Beach, California to study mechanical and chemical engineering, 1974-1978.
He is married with children. One of his children, Onyeka Eze is the founder and president of Prince Osisioma Foundation.
Atlas Oranto Petroleum was established in 1991 and it has about 22 oil and gas licenses for 12 places across Africa.
Prince Arthur has assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda and many more. Atlas Oranto blocks.
He is also the founder of Triax airlines which was established in 1992, after the deregulation of airlines in Nigeria. The airline which had its base at Enugu Airport got three B727s before it stopped operating in year 2000.
Prince Arthur has rendered notable and timely help to all and sundry. Some of the unforgettable philanthropic works are:
Donation of $12 million for the construction of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Center in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria in 2013.
Arthur Eze donated $800,000 for the construction of two primary schools in Yirol and Rumbek communities in central South Sudan.
10 million naira donated to the elderly people of the Ukpo community.
The Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), received the sum of N5 million for a standard sickle cell clinic at the Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State.
He was part of those that contributed to the relief needs of the victims of Boko Haram insurgencies, of which he donated the sum of $800,000 at a fundraiser in Abuja.
Arthur Eze gave 25 million naira of the total funds raised for the ‘Russia 2018’ FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Eze donated $6.3-million to the flood relief efforts in Nigeria in the year 2013.
A church in Abagana community benefited from his cheerful giving as he gave them the sum of 20 million naira for musical instruments and renovations in 2015.
Arthur singlehandedly built a medical research unit for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
He modernized the local market near the Ukpo palace and also created road networks linking the Dunukofia clan with neighbouring towns like Abba, Awkuzu, Ifite-Dunu, and Abagana.
Arthur singlehandedly constructed the overhead bridge in Ebonyi State.
Prince Arthur for his numerous good deeds has got a lot of awards, namely:
Patron of Ndigbo Lagos’ and adoption into the Ndigbo Lagos Patron Hall of Fame at his 70th birthday.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Umahi, named a major road after Arthur Eze, and also appointed him as the Chancellor of Ebonyi State University.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred him with the distinguished award of the ‘Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)’ in recognition of his contributions towards the development of the nation’s economy and humanitarian services to the Nigerian people at an event in Abuja on the 14th of November 2011.
Enugu City Centre Rotary District 9142 named him “Outstanding Citizen of the World” in 2015.
The Zik Prize in leadership awards honoured him with the ‘Zik Leadership Awards’ in the business category in 2018.
‘Africa Value Award’ by Value Reorientation and Developmental Initiative Africa (VARDIAFRICA) in 2018
