Education
He attended Street Augustine"s Primary School, Umunze.
He attended Street Augustine"s Primary School, Umunze.
A leading industrialist from the Eastern Region of Nigeria, he played a pioneering role in large scale manufacturing in the region. He was sometimes called by his alias, Ugobuzuo. His relationship with the vice president may have led to his detention under the administration of General Buhari.
Mathias Ugochukwu was born in Nsogwu Umunze in the present Orumba South L.G.A of Anambra state.
After completing his primary education, he left for Jos to work as a residential caretaker for Rufus "Ofor Jos" Ofor, an Igbo businessman from Enugwu-ukwu, Anambra State. However, hoping for more opportunity, he left Jos and joined the police force in present-day Anambra State.
Before joining the force, he was involved in minor trading. After collecting the sum, he found private enterprise more fulfilling and productive.
He entered business full-time.
As a businessman, he founded many firms, forming a strong conglomerate. He established a transport company, and formed a business venture with John Holt, later becoming the chairman of John Holt Incorporated. He also invested heavily in spare parts, textile importation and real estate development.
As a leading Igbo businessman, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the African Development Corporation, the board also had C.T Onyekwelu and Louis Ojukwu as members.
The company was part of a project to encourage African entrepreneurship and was supported by North.C.N.C. During the 1970s, he bought various subsidiaries of John Holt as part of an Indigenization decree. He was one of the few Igbo businessmen with enough capital to acquire shares in the multi-national firms of Nigeria.