Nigerian Tycoon Arthur Eze Donates $12 Million To Anglican Church

Prince Arthur Eze (on the far left). Photo Credit: Courtesy The Nation

Arthur Eze, a Nigerian oilman and politician, has reportedly donated $12 million (1.8 billion Nairas) to fund the construction of an Anglican church-affiliated Youth Development Center in Nigeria.
Eze, who is the founder and Chairman of oil exploration company Atlas Oranto Petroleum, made the donation during a fundraising dinner on Saturday to the St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. Otuoke is the hometown of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan. Eze is usually referred to as Prince Arthur Eze because he is descended from tribal royalty.
The St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre in Bayelsa state will consist of formal educational training facilities, hospitals and a skill acquisition center where youths can learn trade skills and receive start-up capital, among other things.
An elated President Goodluck Jonathan, who was present at the event, thanked the organizers and donors and urged wealthy Nigerians to support the development of impoverished communities in the country and to empower the youths to make them useful towards national development.
He said the project for the St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre was dear to him because he wanted to make sure that the younger generation passed through a better system of education different from the one he experienced while growing up.
“I feel the only thing I can do is to make sure that from nursery school to primary and secondary school, there should be a standard educational facility and youth programme, so that it gives opportunity for the younger ones to grow. Even if we die in the next 100 years, people will remember that those before them have something for them,” he said.
Apart from Prince Arthur Eze, who was the largest individual donor, other wealthy Nigerians who were present during the event and donated generously include Jim Ovia, Oba Otudeko and Tony Elumelu. In total, about $38 million (N 6 billion) was raised for the center.
Eze’s Atlas Oranto Petroleum owns several producing and non-producing oil and gas assets across Nigeria, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and the Gambia. In 2010, Oranto Atlas sold a set of oil blocks in Liberia for a reported $250 million. Eze is believed to have pocketed $200 million from the sale. The Nigerian businessman is fast becoming one of Nigeria’s more recognizable philanthropists.  Last year, he donated $6.3 million (N1 billion) to flood relief efforts in Nigeria and also made donations to some Nigerian universities.