HE is not a stranger to royalty. He grew up in it. He is also steeped in the ways and traditions of his Uvuru. The 27 December, 2025 celebration of the coronation of His Royal Highness Eze Sir Iheanacho Chinyereze Mbalewe as the Ezeoha III of Uvuru Autonomous Community in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, is holding on the community’s annual cultural day (Okwunakuwa Day), and days shy of the 45th anniversary of the coronation of Ezeoha I, the first traditional ruler of Uvuru Ikedinairi His Royal Highness Eze Reuben Ugwuegbulem Mbalewe, on 1 January 1980.
Ezeoha III is the sixth child of HRH Eze Reuben Ugwuegbulem Mbalewe, the late Ezeoha of Uvuru Ikedinairi and his wife, Ugoeze Patience Ahunna Mbalewe. Eze Sir Iheanacho Chinyereze Mbalewe is the sixth of Eze Reuben U. Mbalewe’s 18 children and the first of six sons.
What a great joy his birth brought to the large family that had to wait for the arrival of the heir to the throne. Mbalewes are from Umuorianu, Umuaghara Okwunakuwa, Uvuru. Young Acho, as Ezeoha III is popularly called, started his primary education at Municipal Council School, Orogbum, Port Harcourt, but completed it at All Saints’ Primary School, Uvuru, due to the relocation of the entire family to the village at the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. The new Eze received his secondary education at Ife Secondary School, Ife Ezinihitte and Presentation Secondary School, Ogbaku, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
He worked briefly with Union Bank in Lagos, before gaining admission to Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Economics. He proceeded to Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California for an MBA degree in Management. Ezeoha III participated in the National Youth Service Corps programme in Kaduna State.
He worked for many years with IMS Ltd, a subsidiary of SCOA Nigeria Limited and ABC Merchant Bank Limited, where he rose from Credit Analyst to Assistant Manager, and a Branch Manager, Onitsha, before he resigned. Eze Mbalewe made his second sojourn to the USA with his family, and worked in many reputable organisations, including Edison Parking Management, New York, NY; LISN INC. Rutherford, New Jersey, Sungold Realty, and City of New York.
For almost 40 years, HRH Eze Iheanacho Chinyereze Mbalewe played critical roles in diverse professional fields and economic sectors, including banking, car hiring/fleet management, real estate, and social/public services. He has attended several senior management courses, which have enhanced his versatility, sharpened his perspectives as a global leader and helped him to adopt best practices as a manager of people and other critical resources.
When the exalted seat of Ezeoha Uvuru was declared vacant, following the passing of HRH Eze Fidelis Elugwaraonu, the Ezeoha II, the community followed all constitutional and trafitional provisions and unanimously approached and selected HRH Eze Sir Iheanacho Chinyereze Mbalewe, who for over 22 years was a prominent member of the Ezeoha Uvuru Cabinet, holding the revered title of Nnanyereugo Obioha of Uvuru Ikedinairi.
Eze Sir Iheanacho Mbalewe is grounded in the local customs and traditions of his people. He has pioneered many development projects in the community and beyond. His greatest desire is the entrenchment of peace in Uvuru and sustained upliftment of the economic fortune of every citizen, especially the youth, for whom he has already developed a template.
Driven by an unquenchable passion to serve God with all the skills and resources at his disposal, Eze Mbalewe sees the throne as a veritable platform on which to extend his care for humanity. He builds bridges across age groups and social strata, thus uniting his subjects for the common good. He envisions an Uvuru Autonomous Community that is prosperous and progressive, “where our children make giant strides in education, sports and other endeavours, and where God, community and fellow citizens matter the most”.
A Knight of Saint Christopher, Eze Mbalewe is happily married to Ugoeze Lady Mary Chinyere Mbalewe, nee Nwalor. The union is blessed with two children, Prince Chijioke and Princess Onyinyechi.
Uvuru is an Autonomous Community in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. It is made up of 12 villages with an estimated population of over 5,100 people, according to the 2012 census projections. Its first traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Reuben Ugwuegbulem Mbalewe (JP), Ezeoha I, now late, was accorded official recognition on 01 January 1980, by the government of Imo State as Ezeoha I of Uvuru Ikedinairi.
Ezeoha III: Uvuru’s first Royal Son ascends the throne
