Follow Us on Google
It is with immense pride and heartfelt joy that I extend my warmest congratulations to Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the distinguished Secretary to the Enugu State Government, on the prestigious honour conferred upon him by The Guardian newspaper. To be recognised as one of the best-performing Secretaries to the State Government in Nigeria is no ordinary achievement. It is a powerful affirmation of distinguished leadership, strategic public service, institutional innovation, and an outstanding contribution to the development of our beloved Enugu State.
Professor Onyia embodies the rare blend of intellectual depth and practical excellence that our nation so urgently needs. His academic journey, spanning Biological Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, Business Administration, Educational Leadership, and post-doctoral work in Education Policy at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, reflects a mind rigorously prepared for the complex demands of governance.
Yet what sets him apart is not merely the accumulation of credentials, but the manner in which he has consistently translated knowledge into transformative public value.
Before assuming the high office of Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Professor Onyia had already distinguished himself on the national and international stage. As Managing Director of the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Facility and Lead Strategy Adviser on the Federal Government’s Power Sector Recovery Programme in partnership with the World Bank Group, he demonstrated the capacity to navigate complex institutional landscapes and deliver results. His extensive engagements with the United Nations, the United States, and other global partners further underscore a career marked by over 25 years of strategic leadership, innovation, and institutional reform.
Since joining the administration of His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah, first as a member of the Transition Committee and later as Secretary to the State Government, Professor Onyia has elevated the office into a true coordinating nerve centre of governance. Under his stewardship, the SSG’s office has moved beyond conventional administrative functions to become a hub of implementation tracking, inter-MDA coordination, performance management, and institutional accountability.
Other News
The remarkable growth in Enugu’s internally generated revenue, the establishment and operationalisation of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the disciplined focus on project execution across infrastructure, water, household connections, and capital projects all bear the imprint of his systems-thinking approach.
What makes this honour particularly fitting is that it celebrates not a single project or statistic, but the architecture of delivery that Professor Onyia has helped build: the coordination mechanisms, the revenue systems, the institutional reforms, and the human capital development that will sustain Enugu’s progress long into the future. He has shown that the office of the Secretary to the Government can serve as a powerful instrument for translating vision into measurable outcomes while remaining firmly rooted in the principles of accountability and public service.
As the Federal Character Commissioner representing Enugu State, I take special pride in this recognition. Professor Chidiebere Onyia stands as a shining example of the calibre of leadership our state continues to produce in men and women of intellect, integrity, and proven capacity who elevate both our state and our nation. His honour is Enugu’s honour. It is a testament to the quiet, determined work of building institutions that work, systems that deliver, and a government that remains focused on the people.
I join the good people of Enugu State, colleagues across the public service, and all well-meaning Nigerians in celebrating this well-deserved national recognition. May this honour inspire even greater service, and may Professor Onyia continue to exemplify the highest standards of strategic public administration for the benefit of Enugu State and Nigeria at large. Once again, congratulations, Professor Chidiebere Onyia. Enugu is proud of you.
Hon. Peter Eze
Federal Commissioner Representing Enugu State
Federal Character Commission
