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Enugu 2023 Guber Race: Profile of Likely Candidates-2

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As the race to the Lion Building of Enugu State come 2023 commences, The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine X-rays the profile of likely contenders from Enugu East Senatorial Zone, as already published in the 2021 Independence edition of the Magazine.

Chief Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji – Nwakaibie

Chief Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (Nwakaibie) was born to very wealthy Business Parents – Late Chief Obed Nnaji & a living healthy Mother – Chief Mrs. Monica Nnaji. He is from Amugo-Agu Village, Amugo Autonomous Community, Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, Enugu State. His Secondary education was at St. Patrick Secondary School Emene, Enugu. He later went on to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he read Microbiology/Biochemistry.

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Nnaji’s political life and desire to serve led him to join the Peoples Democratic Party as one of its founding members. At the time, he was prevailed upon to run for the Governorship Election in 1999 but declined for His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani as his elder brother from Nkanuland. He instead ran for Senate and won but still stepped down for His Excelllency, Sen. Dr. Jim Nwobodo who was an elder statesman and foundation leader of PDP in Nkanuland, Enugu State and Nigeria. He was later appointed Member of FCDA Board by President Olusegun Obasanjo where he became the Chairman of Finance Committee of the Board.

Nwakibie is an International Business Man, Industrialist and Contractor. It is reported that his Rice Mill factory in his hometown Akpugo is currently at 80% completion. He has a huge verifiable record of Philanthropy, Human Development and Political Patronage both at the Ward, Local Government, various States & Federal Level.

He is married with 4 Children (One girl & Three boys).

Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa (CEO)

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Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, popularly known as CEO due to his initials, hails from Amorji, Akpugo in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State. He was born on March 13, 1984. He holds a BSc. in Medical Microbiology and a Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

CEO is a Social Entrepreneur and a Public Affairs Analyst. He is a School Administrator and the Convener of #YouthDecide2019. CEO is the brain behind the One Nigeria Reality Project, endorsed by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the project lead, ADA 042 Tourism and Cultural pageant.

As an SME enthusiast, he has been involved as a Mentor in projects such as the Youth Empowered by Coca-Cola and the Boost Your Business training powered by Facebook. He is the Convener of the Annual Employability and Entrepreneurship Summit (EES) since 2015 in Enugu State and the Author of the classic THINK GLOBAL. He is the Executive Director of LEAD NETWORK, Principal Partner at H-Formance Consulting and the founder of CEO Media Agency.

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A happily married man, Okenwa has been appointed twice as a YALI Network Influencer in Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Leadership Course in Criminal and Security Intelligence Management (Defence Intelligence College, Abuja). Okenwa is equally a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and a Fellow of the International Security Management Course.

Rt. Hon. (Prince) Ofor Chukwuegbo

Hon. Prince Gregory Oforbuike Chukwuegbo was born on August 23, 1971 into the family of Igwe Vincent Van Chukwuegbo and Lolo Dorathy Chukwuegbo family of Umunuzi Kindred, Ndiaga, Amechi Uwani, Enugu South LGA of Enugu State. He is the seventh of nine children of his mother.

Hon. Chukwuegbo attended St Jude’s Primary School, Amechi Uwani, the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree. After his graduation, he worked as Operations Manager at Private Network Ltd, the leading analogue telephone company. He was to rise to the position of Chief Executive Officer, in merited recognition of his leadership and resourcefulness. He went on to set up many other businesses; Wireless Point Communications, Private Concept Limited and BYK Fishing Company; before he heeded the call of his people to join politics.

In 2003, Ofor Chukwuegbo contested and won election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into the State House of Assembly, representing the people of Enugu South Urban Constituency where he served as Chairman, House Committee on Works, Housing and Transport.

His political stock which was in steady ascendency rose even further in 2007 as he got elected into the Federal House of Representatives where he served creditably for an initial two terms. His transition from State to Federal Law Maker in record time, earned him the sobriquet – “Ochuko Mgbada Zogbuo Enyi”. He represented Enugu North and South Federal Constituency. In 2015, Ofor couldn’t return back to the green chambers until 2019 when he won another election to the House of Reps, to continue his representation and service to the people of Enugu North and South Federal Constituency. Prince Chukwuegbo was Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Police affairs in the 6th Assembly (2007-2011) and Chairman House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in the 7th assembly (2011-2015). He is currently Member, Governing Council, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja, Chairman House Committee on Abandoned Projects in the Ministry of Water Resources, and a member of several other committees.

His privileged upbringing notwithstanding, Ofor has managed, by pure personal endeavor, to distinguish himself as a shrewd investor, and an astute entrepreneur. As the MD/CEO of Lit Group, he has managed to grow the hitherto little-known business, with modest investment at inception few years ago, into an international competitive brand. Lit has interests in Hospitality, Apartment Development, Leasing, and Lifestyle. Health Trust Pharmacy and Stores is the newest addition to the Group.

Prince Chukwuegbo, a devout Catholic, is happily married to Lolo Ngozi Chukwuegbo (Nee Okechukwu), his wife of over 20 years and they are blessed with children, some of whom are already young adults.

Dr. Surv. Victor Chukwuemeka Nnam

Victor Chukwuemeka Nnam was born into the family of Chief John Okwor Nnam and Mrs Florence Nnam of Amechi in Enugu South LGA of Enugu state on 23rd February 1984. He attended Robinson Primary School, Uwani, Enugu, from where he proceeded to UNEC Secondary School and later Enugu State University of Science and technology where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Geoinformatics in 2007. Nnam holds an M.Sc in Geoinformatics and Surveying. In 2019, he obtained a PhD in the same course.

Victor Nnam is a registered surveyor, a member of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and was a Lecturer in the department of Surveying and Geoinformatics in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. In 2019, he was appointed as the Enugu State Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a position he holds till date. He has also been a member of the Enugu State Boundary Committee, Office of the Deputy Governor and has attended several international conferences and trainings, with a lot of academic research work and publications to his name.

A recipient of several awards, Victor Nnam is a devout Christian, a champion of youth advancement and a detribalized man. He is married and has three children.

To be continued….