JAMES GREEN UGBAJA MBADIWE (1902 – 1980) philanthropist, industrialist, gold miner, hotelier, and creditor to the British Empire, showing great sartorial style as a young man in Kaduna.
J. G. Mbadiwe is Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe’s older brother (K.O. Mbadiwe) and held the title “Osuohia of Arondizuogu”. After his formal education in 1917, J.G worked with the Nigerian Railway Corporation for 10 years (1919- 1929) followed by a year with G.B. Ollivant. After his time at Ollivant, he set up a private business in Kaduna as a food supply contractor to the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Using the proceeds from his role as a contractor, he branched out to mining and hoteling where he prospered.
J.G provided financial support to the following young men in their higher education pursuit in the USA: George Mbadiwe, Kingsley Mbadiwe, Mbonu Ojike, Nwafor Orizu, Nwankwo Chukwuemeka, Okechukwu Ikejeani, Nnodu Okongwu, and J.B.C. Okala.
Mbadiwe also provided interest free loans to the British Government during World War 2 as part of the ‘Win-The-War Campaign’. Date: 1939