MEET BARRISTER ALLEN IFECHUKWU ONYEMA 100% OWNER OF AIR PEACE AIRLINE IN NIGERIA

A study of a self made man is always an interesting one, giving you insight into the possibility of turning disadvantages to advantages with great rewards, many atimes coming with great wealth. It teaches the discerning one that patience, perseverance, hard work, etc are virtues which if applied properly can get you to where you want to be ... the zenith of life.

Then welcome to the world of Barrister Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace Airline. His story is sure one to teach anyone what it takes to be self made.

BARRISTER ALLEN IFECHUKWU ONYEMA

Here is someone from Mbosi town in Anambra State, Nigeria who read law at the University of Ibadan, finished law school and in 1989 was called to the Nigeria Bar at the age of 23. He then set out on his own into a world of self discovery in Lagos rather than do his parent's will and today that journey has paid off real big.

He got into Lagos without a kobo to his name and with no where to work, he moved by train in search of a livelihood. He got a break sort of when he was 'employed' in a law chamber owned by the late Chief Vincent Amobi Nwizugbo, this work was without pay but he took it up to learn the ropes of the profession and have a reason to leave home every day.

His big break, however, would come when he was commissioned to sell over 300 plots of land in Lagos and with his profit bought a good portion of the land and others including a greater part of the Lekki Peninsula. He also spread his real estate holdings to Abuja. Not satisfied, Barrister Onyema got into wholesale trading of fridges which he imported in containers and sold off making more profit ... in millions.

WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VP BIDEN

Though business was really engaging for him, he did not forget his love for peace and tried to preach it everywhere including the troubled Niger Delta even before the Federal Government introduced the Amnesty Program. He was there with his Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) with his idea of Nonviolence Education. This would eventually get him involved in the Ex-Militants reformation, training 30,000 of them in Obubra, Cross River State, Nigeria. Again this brought him more money, he however, spent a great chunk of his money to push his ideals.

AIR PEACE AIRCRAFT

One of his ideals and the height of his venture in business is his establishment of Air Peace Airline on October 24, 2014, which recently celebrated its first year anniversary recently. As usual it is a success story creating employment for many and bringing peace to many.

All these for a young boy who left home for Lagos without a kobo. Now married with 4 children, he ascribes his success to God.

This is truly a life of someone worth looking up to as a mentor.