THE Major General Edward Nze has marked his 35 years of active service in the Nigerian Army.

Born in Ezere Awgu LGA of Enugu, Nze attended Central School.at Nkwe/Ezere. He started early to show traits of leadership, Right from childhood, his leadership virtues were obvious.

It became manifest when as a young boy, he
and one late Japhet Eze formed the Scout Movement in his community Ezere. It wasn’t long when he took up the patrol leader of the Eagle Platoon and made it a Unique Platoon in his Primary school days.

On completion of primary school, he passed his First Leaving School Certificate with credits, as it used to be called and set a record result because that was the first time in the
history of the community in those days.

He proceeded to Igwebuike Grammar School Awka for his Secondary Education. And even in Igwebuike Grammar School, Edward showed great skills of leadership; he was leader of many
societies and school clubs.

His leadership of the school Young Farmers Club, Boys Scout
Movement and French Club earned him accolades from the school authorities. He was also a member of the school football and handball teams.

Edward graduated from Igwebuike Grammar School Awka with Division one in West African School Certificate Examination
(WASC) in the year 1980, a feat that seemed impossible in the Education history of the community.

This excellent result earned Eddy, as he was fondly called immediate employment with the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) Kaduna Branch. Just after a year at WAEC he gained admission into the Prestigious Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna as a member of NDA Regular Combatant Course 32 in 1982 and passed out with the Rank of Second Lieutenant (2Lt) in 1985.

He steadily and progressively climbed to the Rank of Major
General in Nigerian Army.

A well decorated officer, He was laced with Forces Service Star
(FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Field Command Medal (FCM), General Staff Medal of Honour (GSMH) and Grand Service Star (GSS).

He attended the Staff College Jaji (Psc) and the Nigerian Defence College (fdc).

Though busy, Major General Nze never, never lagged in his obligations to his community, humanity and God. This led to his formation of the Task Force on the Development of Ezere Community in the year 1992.

That Task Force was responsible for the bulldozing of a new road linking Mgbidi Community and Ezere Community and Ezere
Community with Mbale Isuochi Community in Abia State among many other Developmental and Social projects.

He was not just concerned about the structural or physical well-being. He was also very concerned in the spirituality of people around him through his constant peacemeal welfarism to his people.

He was very concerned about the Education of the young ones, which made him to ensure the establishment of the first ever secondary school in Ezere Community.

Major General Nze was very concerned about the level of unemployment and did all he could to ensure he secured employment to as many as he could.

He ensured many youths in his community, Awgu local Government Area and indeed Enugu State and other Igbo Communities were employed both as Officers and Other Ranks.

As mentioned earlier, Major General Nze is a member of the 32 Regular Combatant Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna and was Commissioned Second Lieutenant on the 5th
of June 1985.

UNITS AND APPOINTMENT HE HELD

In the course of his well decorated career as a very distinguished Military Officer, He has held the following positions:

Second in command – Guards Brigade Signals, Officer Commanding Radio Squadron-57 Signal Command, Officer Commanding- Nigeria Army Signal Headquarter Squadron

Officer Commanding – B Squadron 55 Signal command,
Second in Command – 55 Signal Command, Senior Instructor – ATS Wing; Nigeria Army Signal School,
Chief Instructor – ATS Wing; Nigeria Army Signal School,
Commander – 58 Signal Command, Signal Rep – Nigerian Army Armoured Corps and School Bauchi, Deputy Director Electronic Warfare: Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Deputy Director Electronics Protective Measure – DHQ, commander 59 Div Signal – 81 Div NA, Deputy Director Training – DHQ,
Deputy Commandant – Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre Jaji, Director of Communication – DHQ, Director of Policy Nigeria Army

Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Nigeria Army, Deputy Commandant, Nigeria
Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Oshodi, Chief of Defence, Standard and Evaluation –DHQ.

Given that Major General Nze strongly believes in the inexhaustibility of knowledge and learning, he has repeatedly
beaten his own record by the numerous courses he attended and his insatiable quest for knowledge. He has attended among many other courses such as;

Young Officers Course in Nigeria Army Signal School
Young Officers Course Infantry in Nigeria
Army School of Infantry Anti-Tank Platoon Commanders Course in Nigeria Army School of Infantry 
Basic French Course in Nigeria Army School of Education Ilorin
Communication Management Course in Nigeria Army Signal School Apapa 
Junior Division Command and Staff College Jaji.
Senior Division Command and Staff College Jaji
Defence College Course in Abuja
Telecommunication Engineering Course in OAU Ile-Ife
Degree in Computer Engineering from Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Masters degree in Strategic Studies from University Of Ibadan.

He has attended seminars and workshops at local, national and international levels which include African Communication Interoperability Endeavor in Libraville – Gabon, International Telecommunication Union Preparatory Meeting Geneva, Disaster and Crisis Management Training in California USA and Global MILSATCOM Workshop in London in 2015. To say Major General Nze’s career is one adorned with medals and honours would be tantamount to simply stating the obvious, and as they say, who the cap fits, let him wear it. And he didn’t just wear them, he wore them humbly with a disposition that says I am but a willing tool in the hands of the Almighty and in the service of Mankind.

His Military Decorations includes, but not limited to these honour which are only symbolic of sterling performance he exuded in the face of adversity FSS, MSS, DSS, FCM, GSMH, Psc and fdc.
Major General Nze rose steadily in ranks.

He was a Lieutenant in June 1986, and promoted to a Captain effective June 1990, He was further promoted to the rank of a Major in June of 1994, a Lieutenant Colonel in June 2001 and a Colonel in June 2005. He became a Brigadier General in December 2012 and a Major General in November 2014. Well-deserved honours!

HIS HOBBIES INCLUDES:
Active participation in Community Development, Reading and Writing, Writing and appreciation of Poetry, Swimming, Lawn Tennis and Playing of Amateur Golf. He is a knight of Saint Mulumba (KSM) of the Roman Catholic Church. He is happily married to Mrs Rosemary Ada Nze and their marriage and union is blessed with 6 children.

Major General Edward Okechukwu Nze is a humanitarian, who has rendered numerous outstanding services to humanity in various spheres of life. It is on record that Major General Nze has helped many people secure admission into NDA and guiding them to graduate from Cadet to Officers into almost all Army Corps, and has immensely helped many others get recruited into the none officers cadre.

General Nze has also helped many people to get employments in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies at both federal and state levels. In his bid to empower people the more even at grass root level, he founded a Non-Governmental Organization known as Major General Edward Nze Help Foundation.

Through this foundation he has trained and empowered so many youths and women in skill acquisition and know how in the production of bar soap, liquid soap, hair shampoo, pomade, disinfectants etc. in all the communities in ANIKE CLAN.

In addition to the exposure to knowledge, participants in the training programs were given take off cash grants to enable them start their production and Glory to God they are all doing well as they use the proceeds to take care of themselves, the immediate and extended families.

General as he is fondly called was founder of the Taskforce on Ezere Roads/Development Projects way back in 1992 which aimed at the overall developmental activities of Ezere town. In deep appreciation of these efforts and because of the trust reposed in him by his Community, He was conferred by Ezere people and indeed the entire Anike clan the chieftaincy title of IKEMBA 1 of ANIKE, Awgu LGA of Enugu State.

A man of prayer, you cannot separate Major General Nze from his strong belief in God Almighty. This is also evidenced in his concern for the spiritual wellbeing of the people around him. This is noticeable in his effort to ensure a befitting church, worth of his God is erected for Ezere Community in St Paul Catholic Church Ezere which this epic thanksgiving is part of. General Nze is a knight of Saint Mulumber (KSM) of the Catholic Church.

He is a recipient of numerous awards which includes Merit Award from Awgu Youths. Distinguished Award from Awgu Aninri Youths, Merit Award from Enugu State, Development Union Lagos and Merit Award from Igwebuike Grammar School Awka Old Boys Association of Nigeria. Eddy believes that hardwork and prayer never fails. General Edward Nze may be retired but not tired.

To continue to generate employment and resources to help as many people as possible he is the Chief Executive Officer of GARIZEN SECURITY COMPANY LIMITED, GARIZEN FARMS OIL & GAS LIMITED, ZENBAR & SUITES LIMITED, MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD NZE HELP FOUNDATION AND AFRICAN LEADERSHIP
ENDEAVOUR