Dr. Obiora Okonkwo
BIOGRAPHY Dr. Obiora Okonkwo was born in Gombe, north-eastern Nigeria on December 5, 1965. He is a native of Ogidi in Idemili north local government area of Anambra state. A businessman of repute, he sits of the board of several businesses including Solicom Engineering, N-Glory Development Limited, the owners and operators of The Dome Entertainment and Event Center in Abuja, Gistme Communications Limited, Sagemetrics Limited, CareerNation New York and Rokada Security Company. He has on his employ over 300 persons including Nigerians and nationals of other nations. He is also President and Founder of Nigeria-Belgium business Forum, Founder and Managing Director of F & Denzil Inc. Hong Kong as well as Executive Director of Linora International Limited. He has lived in Russia, United States of America, Belgium, and Hong Kong. He has toured Germany, France, Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine, Moldova, Malta, Bulgaria, and Slovakia for business and leisure. He has also visited China, Singapore, Indonesia, Ghana, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Republic of Benin, Algeria, Zambia, Mali and Zimbabwe for business.
EDUCATION He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Political Science, with distinction, from the Russian Academy of Science, Institute of World Economy and international Relations, Moscow. He earned a Master of Science Degree in Economics, also with distinction, from the Russian Peoples Friendship University in Moscow. He also achieved his first degree in economics, with first class, from the Russian Peoples Friendship University in Moscow. He had his early education in Nigeria obtaining his West African Schools Certificate from the Boys High School, Onitsha in Anambra state and his First school Leaving Certificate from Crowther Memorial Grammar School, also in Onitsha, Anambra state.
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS His work on The Role of Nigeria Civil Society in Transition to Civil Rule earned him a PhD in 1999 and became a reference study at the Russian Academy of Science, Institute of World Economy and international Relations in Moscow. His Masters Degree thesis was on Corporate Strategic Planning and Methods, published in Moscow in 1994. He also published Engaging the Nigerian Diaspora for National Development in New York, 2005, with another in 2007 titled Turning the Nigerian Brain Drain into Brain Gain, which was published in Accra, Ghana in 2007. In 2013, he published another work titled Citizen Election and Expectation: The Role of Religious Groups in Politics.
STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS Initiated the first ever visit of any Belgian Foreign minister to Nigeria Organised, in June 2004, a Presidential luncheon for European Union Top Business Executives with President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in Brussels, Belgium. Facilitated the negotiation and signing of bilateral trade promotion and investment protection agreements between Nigeria and Belgium. The agreement had been delayed for 20 years before he intervened. He led the implementation of Nigeria’s federal government-sponsored Youth Enterprise with Innovation (YOUWIN) programme in Kogi state. Coordinated action for a debt forgiveness for Nigeria by the Belgian government of $500m and thereafter included Nigeria on the Trade Favoured List of the Belgian government. This resulted in guarantees on investment and trade risk for Belgians investing in Nigeria. Attracted direct foreign investments into Nigeria using the Nigeria-Belgium Business Forum. The investments were worth millions of dollars. Organised Nigeria’s trade mission to Belgium on March 3, 2005. Nigeria’s President was on the mission. Facilitated the negotiation and signing of reciprocal Trade Promotion and Investment Protection agreement between Nigeria and Belgium. He is member of the Governing Council of League of Anambra Professionals (LAP) and also Chairs LAP Committee on Diaspora Liaison. He is Political and Economic Adviser to the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha
PHILANTHROPY Recognized by his people as a community leader for his philanthropy and honoured with the elevated title of High Chief Dikeora (Strength of The People). He was further decorated as the Ide Umuakwukwo (Doyen of Scholarship) for his love and support for education across the country. He is also the installed Leader, Nzuko Imeobi Idemili. He is founder of Dikeora Forum, a charity foundation through which he reaches out to the poor and less privileged by undertaking their healthcare and education burdens off them. He adopted Karu Motherless Babies Home, in Abuja, and made it his primary focus. He funds, and supports, international youth exchange programmes that encourage learning and entrepreneurship. Awards scholarships to deserving and qualified students to universities in Nigeria and overseas
MEMBERSHIP Board member, National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos Executive Committee member, Young World Leaders of New millennium, Russia Member, Strategic Committee of Anambra State Public Officers Forum Co-Founder/Chairman, Anambra Good Governance Forum Co-Founder/Chairman, Strategy Committee of Nkwado Igbo Member, Nigeria Students Union, Peoples Friendship University Moscow Russia Founder, Igwebuike Union (Association of all Igbo resident in Russia) Member, Steering Community of Abuja @ 30 celebration Member, Organizing committee for OPEC Gala Night in Abuja Labour Prefect, Boys High School, Onitsha. Founder/Coordinator, Ogidi Catholic Community Association Member, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Think-Tank Committee on National Dialogue Board member, Abuja Resorts Development and Management Limited Member, Knight of St. John International Member, National Executive Council, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Bazaar Planning Committee, St. Charles Boromeo Catholic Church, Onitsha
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS Medal of Honour by the King of Belgium Knight of the Order of King Leopold (Belgium’s highest national honour to foreigner) awarded by the King of Belgium The CareerNation Africa Brain Gain Award, New York, USA Leadership and Social Responsibilities Award by Igbo Union, Netherlands Vocational Service Awards by Rotary Club of Apo Patron, Ogidi Town Union Humanitarian Service Award by St. John the Baptist Association, Gwarimpa, Abuja Special Merit Award by Ohaneze (Apex Igbo Socio-Political group) in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Award of Excellence by Sputnik (Organisation of Nigerians trained in former USSR) Community Leadership Award by Fathers Club of Nigeria Selfless Service To Humanity Award by Ogidi Youth Association Best Work Of Life Award, Ogidi Youth Association
FELLOWSHIPS Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR) Fellow, Chartered Economists (FCE) Fellow, CareerNation Institute, New York
PATRONSHIP Grand Patron, Nigerian Economic Students Association Grand Patron, National Union of Anambra State Students Grand Patron, Catholic Association, Onitsha Archdiocese Grand Patron, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, Onitsha Archdiocese
SPOKEN LANGUAGES Speaks English, Russian, Igbo fluently with a good understanding of French
References[edit]
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