From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Igbo youths under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) and legal luminary, Chief Mike Ahamba, have congratulated the newly elected President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Fiedelis Ozichukwu Chukwu.
In separate statements, they acknowledged his election as well deserved.
President General of COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem, urged him to consolidate on the development strides of his immediate predecessor, late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
“We appreciate the Imeobi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, who took the pains and due process to elect a man of high pedigree, integrity and intellect, like Nze Chukwu to lead the apex sociocultural body of Ndigbo. He is truly the man the cap fits for the exalted position.
“We urge the new President General to consolidate on the legacy achievements of the immediate past PG, Chief Iwuanyanwu, who set an impressive roadmap and template for the development and growth of Igbo nation.
“We call on him to do his best to put the interest of Ndigbo first in all his endeavours, while ensuring that he works in synergy with all the Igbo that mean well for our people.
“We call on the Igbo at home and in the diaspora to rally round the new President General by giving him all the necessary support to achieve success in this all important assignment given to Nze Chukwu and his team.
“With Nze Chukwu on the saddle, we are confident that the interest of Ndigbo in the Nigerian polity will be protected and guarded jealously,” Ibem stated.
In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia, noted that Chukwu is to exhaust the Imo State balance of 27 days, which ends on January 10, 2025.
“By the application of a doctrine of necessity, Iwuanyanwu was sworn in on April 30, 2023. Unfortunately, Chief Iwuanyanwu died on July 25, 2024, and was buried on November 1.
“It is in line with the doctrine of necessity that the Imo State chapter of Ohanaeze, led by C.J Ihemedu, presented Nze Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of the four-year tenure allotted to Imo State. The motion for the adoption of Nze Chukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman, Imo Council of Elders, and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke (Ochendo).
“In moving the motion, Eze Ilomuanya stated that Chukwu is a cerebral thinker with sterling qualities.”
The statement described Chukwu as a Nigerian management executive and entrepreneurship development consultant, who attended prestigious institutions, such as Templeton College, Oxford University; Harvard University (Harvard Institute for International Development), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; University of Bristol’s School for Advanced Urban Studies (SAUS) and School of Policy Studies (SPS); the University of Lagos; Ogun State University (CETEP); and Galilee College, Tivon, Israel. He holds M.Sc and MBA degrees, among others.
Chukwu has served as a director at Inland Bank Plc and as Managing Director of Nigeria Merchant Bank (NMB) Plc. He is a founding member of the Technical Committee for Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
He was also Chairman of the Presidential Committee for the Reorganisation of the River Basin Development Authorities in Nigeria and a member of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference. Additionally, he served as National Vice Chairman/Chairman of the PDP South East Zone for eight years before returning to management consulting.
His contributions to the Catholic Church and society have earned him the Knighthood of St. Mulumba (KSM) and Papal Knighthood of Saint Sylvester (KSS). Nze Chukwu also received the Peace Award of the United Nations International Parliament for Safety and Peace in 2002.
He is a Chartered Management Consultant (CMC), a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) and a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).