PERISCOPING CHIEF CHRISTIAN CHUKWUMA ONOH’S STEWARDSHIP OF THE NIGERIAN COAL CORPORATION, 1959-1966

Abstract

Coal was discovered in Enugu-Ngwo by a team of geological exploration engineers led by Mr. Kiston in 1909. Since its discovery, no further effort was made at prospecting until 1914 with the outbreak of the First World War. The colonial government, because of the difficulties of obtaining European coal supplies as a result of the war moved quickly to carry out more prospecting on Enugu-Ngwo’s coal. They discovered that the coal field was a sub-bituminous one and suitable for steam raising purposes. In this regard, they commenced coal mining in Enugu-Ngwo in 1915 with the establishment of Enugu Colliery, the first in Nigeria. Since that time up till 1959, no Nigerian had been at the helm of affairs in the corporation until the emergence of Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh. In this paper, we will explore the circumstances that led to his emergence as chairman of the corporation, the challenges he faced at the inception of his stewardship and his contributions to national development through the corporation. Primary sources which include oral tradition granted by reliable informants and source materials acquired from National Archives Enugu; and secondary sources which include books, journal articles and other un-published woks will be historically analyzed using qualitative research methodology.