By Princely Onyenwe, Imo
As the plan to conduct Ohanaeze Ndigbo election ticks close, the position of the president general has continued to gather momentum of the best candidate to secure the post.
One of the front line contenders, Okwuruoha Chris Asoluka hails from Imo state and has all it takes in his curriculum vitae and examplary leadership acumen to sail the ship of Ohaneze to an enviable height.
In his Christmas greetings to ndi Igbo world over, read him below;
My people, ndewonu!
I am pleased to inform you that after extensive consultations with a wide, inclusive range of concerned stakeholders in a bid to critically review the state of Ndigbo and chart the way forward for our people, I offer myself for election for the position of President General (PG) of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
As you are aware, it is the turn of Imo State to produce the next PG at the election scheduled to hold in
January 2021 in Enugu. On this date, Ndigbo will have the opportunity to choose a leadership that can unify our people. We, as a people have for too long been yearning for a leadership that will harmonize the aspirations of all generations of Ndigbo, mobilizing the ideas, energies and resources of all our people to forge and work for a shared vision.
These are indeed critical times for us as we are called upon once more to affirm our collective destiny in Nigeria and the world; the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be at the fore front of leading us on this journey. We cannot afford to neglect this clarion call, living in denial with enormous moral burden for the rest of our lives. I pledge my unalloyed commitment to continue to champion the noble cause of our people. I count on your valuable support, encouragement, and prayers for the road ahead.
Please find attached my profile.
Profile of Hon. Chris Chigoziri Asoluka, Ph.D.
Candidate For The Office Of The President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Dr. Chris Chigoziri Asoluka is a polymath with two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Law (Universities of Ibadan and London.), multiple Masters degrees in International Economic Relations (University of Lagos), Shipping Economics/Finance and International Trade (CASS Business School) and a Ph.D. degree in Policy Analysis (University of Ibadan). He is a respected management, development, and legislative strategy consultant (FIMC), who has played very important roles in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and politics. He is Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nipal Consulting Network, a multidisciplinary firm, which has successfully handled significant assignments for clients, including Federal and State Governments/Agencies, National Assemblies/States’ legislative Assemblies and multilateral/non-governmental institutions within and outside Nigeria.
Highlights of Service to Igbo Nation Include:
• Elected Honourable Member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman of Committee on Appropriations, National Assembly (NASS) 1992 and leader of the Bipartisan Caucus of NASS;
• He also served as Hon. Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Imo State (Nigeria), Chairman, Committee of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria, 1994 – 1996;
• Elected Unopposed as Foundation Secretary General, Aka Ikenga, 1988/1990 – he helped the institutionalisation of the Aka Ikenga secretariat and committees;
• Elected Unopposed twice as President of Aka Ikenga, 2004 -2008 – he spearheaded the closing of ranks among Ndigbo whether in Delta, Rivers and the South East States culminating in the Asaba Ndigbo Leadership Retreat and similar activities jointly hosted by Ohanaeze and Aka Ikenga (documented in a book Ndigbo in Search of New Standards, Njiko-Ka);
• Elected Foundation Co-Chairman (with Emmanuel Ijewere as Chair) SouthEast-SouthSouth Professionals (SESSP) – which piloted an economic development agenda for the two regions based on Prof. Utomi-led committee report on Lower Niger Development Basin 2006 -2008;
• Vice Chairman under Justice Oputa-led Imo State Transition Committee and Chairman Technical Committee On the New Face of Imo State, 2007;
• Public Policy Advisor/Consultant, Imo State Government, Nigeria, 2007- 2011;
• Conducted and developed Imo State Local Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (LEEDS) Studies for the entire 27 local government councils;
• Coordinated the 2009 Ahiajoku lecture in honour and as a befitting reception for African literary icon and great son of Ndigbo, Professor Chinua Achebe in celebration of 50 years of Things Fall Apart;
• Elected National Vice President General (Imo), Ohanaeze Ndigbo 2009-2013, where he headed several NEC Committees including the Election Committee, 2012/13; and Member Election Committee of Ohanaeze, 2016/17, which conducted the electoral process that led to the emergence of Nwodo-led NEC/Ohanaeze.
• Chairman, Imo State Government Projects Review Committee, under Ernst Ebi’s Imo State Transition Committee, 2019
He has also had an active professional service life, including:
• Chairman, Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), and elected Ambassador (Africa), World Free Zones Convention (WFZC), 2013-2015;
• Member, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping Governing Board, 2012 till date;
• Chairman Maritime Development Committee and Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Transport administrators till date;
• Served as Policy Advisor/Foundation Consultant on Finance, Appropriation and Transport to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees, 1999 – 2003;
• Member, Presidential Committee of Petroleum Affreightment, 2003;
• Policy Advisor/Consultant on Finance and Appropriation to Lagos State Assembly, 2004 – 2012;
• Senior Legislative Advisor to National Democratic Institute (NDI) on NASS, 2005 – 2007, DFID, USAID and PAK 2005 – 2007;
• Consultant/Facilitator, United Cities and Local Governments, Africa (UCLGA), Morocco, 2019-2021
• Expert/Consultant, European Commission on the European Cooperation Programming Process, 2021-2027
He has participated successfully in numerous public sector assignments including:
• Consultancy/Advisory Services to Association of Local Government Councils of Nigeria (ALGON), 2016 till date, and developed a Holistic Reform and Advocacy Plan (H-RAP);
• Led consortium of Maritime experts to restructure and refocus the then National Maritime Authority, NMA, 2001/2
• Advisor/Lead technical consultant in the formulation and passage of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003;
• Legislative Adviser in the passage of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act, 2007;
• Consultants/Facilitator in the passage of Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Bill 2006, Fiscal Responsibility Bill (FRB) 2007 and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) Bill (2007);
• Lagos State for amendment to the Local Government Administration Act;
• Capacity building programmes for various National/State Assemblies, National/State Governments/Agencies and Local Government Councils;
• Consultant o Proposed West African Chamber of Shipping.
Dr. Asoluka has written, edited, and published many books including Compilation of Nigerian Maritime Laws in two volumes (2003), Nigerian Maritime Resources Development: Issues and Challenges in two volumes (2003); and three volumes of Ndigbo: A Matter of Identity (2010). The later is a collection of seminal papers delivered by esteemed scholars of Igbo extraction at the Ahiajoku Lecture Series, 1979 to 2010. He has delivered several lead papers at conferences, seminars, workshops and keynote speeches within and outside Nigeria. In fact he was the special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker at World Igbo Congress Conventions in New Jersey (2005), Los Angeles (2006) and chairman of a breakout session in Detroit (2007).
Chief Chris Asoluka has received numerous religious recognitions (Knight of St. Christopher) and traditional titles including the revered traditional title of Okwuruoha; several academic and non-academic awards for distinction including the Second Best graduating student in the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, 1979, Alumni Achievement Award; Award as Role Model for the Youth, by University of Ibadan SUG 2006, Role Model Award Council of SUG Presidents South East of Nigeria 2011, etc. People’s perception of him centres on integrity and character but he unashamedly would first project himself as a committed teacher and mentor to the youths.
Merry Xmas and a most prosperous 2021.
May God bless you and yours.
Dr Chris Asoluka,
Okwuruoha.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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