Chief Louis Carter Onwugbenu at 70: A Life Of Hard Work, Faith, and Philanthropy

Chief Sir Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu KSG, popularly known as Louis Carter, is a Nigerian multi-billionaire Real Estate Guru, Industrialist, Philanthropist and the Chairman of Louis Carter Group Conglomerate.

Born into the family of late Augustine Onwugbenu and Mrs. Cecilia Onwugbenu of Ndi-Ojukwu village in Uruagu Nnewi. His date of birth was unique, because it coincided with the Assumption date (15th August), a day regarded as sacred amongst Catholics, when the body and soul of Mary, the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into the glory of heaven. Three weeks later (13th September 1953), he was baptized by the Irish Priest, Rev.Fr Louis Kettle who gave him the name Louis.

Louis Carter began his career by working with his parents in the palm kernel business, where he learned the basics of entrepreneurship, business strategy, and market dynamics. He also learned the art of perseverance, resilience, and tenacity from his early days, which set the tone for his future successes in the business world.

After the war in 1970, the horrible experiences some teenagers of his age went through discouraged them from furthering their education. It was at this point that Louis Carter thought deeply about their challenging family situation and decided to allow his younger siblings who were also academically brilliant to continue with their education while he joins the business world to pursue his dreams.

Between 1970-1973, Louis Carter served his uncle Raphael Ezimora through the apprenticeship system where he understudied the auto parts business.

In 1973, Louis Carter launched himself into the world of business when he established Louis Carter International Limited through a meager start-up capital which was provided from the little savings of his hardworking parents who were still into red oil milling

Because his initial capital was meager compared with what the motor spare parts demanded, he began his business with small items like plugs, oil filters, bolts and nuts and later graduated to selling pistons and engine blocks and top gaskets. He was never intimidated, and such small capital could not dissuade him.

Between 1973-1977, Louis Carter had already started distinguishing himself in the business world, shuttling to and fro Lagos three times a week in order to buy and sell his goods. Louis’ watchwords were honesty, hardwork and determination; these qualities earned him the favour of many who came in contact with him.

Gradually but steadily, Louis Carter international limited began to flourish. Hence, the young Carter began to expand and diversify the frontier into other lines of business ventures that much later metamorphosed into The Louis Carter Group Limited with subsidiary companies which includes;

– Louis Carter Industries Ltd with focus on Manufacturing.
– Carter Foods and Agro Industries Ltd with focus on- Agriculture, food processing
– Sticks and Stone with focus on Estate development and Management
– Louis Carter international limited which focused on General Merchandise
– Exotic Plastics Limited etc.n

Outside of his business interests, Chief Louis is also a known philanthropist and believer in God.

Following the joy and satisfaction he derived from God’s blessings upon him and his family, he desired to have a broader and wider reach to more indigent families and children.

On 15th August, 2013 during the celebration of his 60th birthday, he got an inspiration to float a Foundation that will wipe tears away from under privileged families. He founded the Louis Carter Foundation to alleviate the sufferings of the less privileged in the society and support human capital development, skills acquisition and empowerment to youths.

Despite the economic meltdown in the country, Louis Carter has kept adding more students annually to the Foundation because of his unquenchable love for education. The Louis Carter Foundation has grown in leaps and bounds.

In December 2021, Louis Carter Foundation massively empowered over 100 youths drawn from Nnewi and across the nation with seed capital of between N1m to N5m to boost their businesses. The beneficiaries who were never known to him further endorsed his detribalized nature. His generosity knows no bounds.

His other philanthropist ventures includes;

1. Building and donation of St. Louis Catholic Church Nnewi, Anambra State.
2. Chapel of Adoration Nnewi (built in memory of his parents, Augustine and Cecilia Onwugbenu)
3. St Louis Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools built and donated to the Catholic Church.
4. The Louis Carter Lecture Hall donated to the School of Nursing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH).

In celebrating his 70th Birthday, Chief Louis Carter Onwugbenu has decided to celebrate it with a Block Rosary crusade, where the poor and different charity homes drawn across Anambra state and beyond will be feted on that day and cash running into Hundreds of millions of Naira will also be handed over for their welfare at the occasion.

In an interview granted to Press men, Louis Carter states that he hope to put smiles on the faces of the less privilege especially at these extremely tough times, and offer them the highly needed hope to look forward steadfastly. “There are lots of premium packages that will be doled out”

Louis Carter further used the occasion of the interview to address the rumour that some criminal elements diabolically and dubiously coveted over N40b of his Estate investments recently in Abuja. According to Chief Onwugbenu “There’s truth on what you heard. Though simply unbelievable that some people will choose to reap from where they did not sow. These criminal elements have not only tampered with my investments worth billions but also are hell bent on destroying me and my family”.

“It’s quite funny but true. But the God that created me Has made it possible that ‘I’m born to win’, so nobody can destroy me. I will watch this devilish manipulations and conspiracy fall like pack of cards. The culprits will surely meet their Waterloo and lick their wounds because Justice will prevail at the end of the day. One cannot just wake up and want to fraudulently become a billionaire overnight, living a life of forgery and deceit”.

“God always fights my battles. And this one is no exception. O ji ihe nwata welie aka enu, aka lowa ya, o wetue ya( meaning that when you are having what doesn’t belong to you, at a time nature will force you to surrender it.)

So, the evil imaginations of these fraudsters can never prevail. I will recover my investments till the last kobo and everyone involved in this fraud will suffer for it.

For reasons, I wouldn’t want to dwell much more on this for now. Let’s wait for things to unfold more and at the appropriate time, we discuss extensively.

As I said earlier too, I have lived all my life for charity and God Has been so good to me, more than my expectations. So for me, celebrating with the needy is sacrosanct. Thanks a lot”.

As Chief Louis Carter celebrates his seventieth birthday, his life of hard work, faith, and philanthropy should serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for many young entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking to make a difference in their communities.