Category: Metro

The Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, has on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, Staff and the entire Students of the University congratulated a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in the University, Professor Okey Onuchuku, on his appointment as Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Vice Chancellor described the appointment of Professor Onuchuku by the Visitor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education as a clear testimony of Onuchuku’s high impact performance as a thoroughbred academic and expert in development economics.

Professor Georgewill commended the Visitor and Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, for appointing Professor Onuchuku, who was the immediate past Director of the University of Port Harcourt Business School as Acting Vice Chancellor.

“I am very hopeful that your coming on board as the Acting VC will witness the consolidation of the evident gains recorded on your previous positions of trust. The appointment will also consolidate on the giant strides left by the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Ozo-mekuri Ndimele,” says Professor Georgewill.

The UniPort VC said he has no doubt that Professor Onuchuku will take Ignatius Ajuru University of Education to greater heights in line with the vision of its founding fathers.

He wished him continued good health and the wisdom as he braces up to take on this renewed challenge that has been entrusted on his broad and capable shoulders.

The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), organizer of the African Human Rights Playwriting Prize, has announced the selection of two judges for the just concluded playwriting competition aimed at elevating public consciousness and understanding of human rights values through plays in order to guarantee the safeguarding of people’s rights in Africa. 

In a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Director of IHRAF in Africa, Wole Adedoyin disclosed that they have received outstanding entries from four different countries within Africa. The countries are: Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.

To evaluate and select outstanding entries for the top prizes in the competition, the organizer of the African Human Rights Essay Competition has unveiled two distinguished individuals with diverse experiences and expertise in playwriting.

The two selected judges are Marcus Ovie Ugboduma and Tom Block

Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others. He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has exhibited his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. www.tomblock.com

Marcus Ovie Ugboduma is a Nigerian graduate, who also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Teachers Institute Kaduna, and is a professional member of the Certified Institute of Purchasing and Supply Administration of Nigeria.

He is a Teacher, Creative thinker, a playwright, a poet Behavioral Coach and a custodian and promoter of the African Culture.

He is a playwright whose main focus is plays for teens, a decision he reached as a deliberate intention to correct social ills especially among teenagers. 

He is an adept lover of books and the founder of the Book Friendly Club of God’s Blessing Comprehensive College and has served as a role model, writing and staging plays, and encouraging young people to write plays and take roles in acting.

In 2006 his bi-lingual play “Ayanmo” was staged by students of Cambridge High School Ibadan as her entry at the Wale Ogunyemi Drama Festival (DRAFEST) for schools in Oyo State Organised by National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners

He is also Author of the play titles “Do Us No Harm” a play on Female Genital Mutilation which was staged by students of God’s Blessing Comprehensive College Ibadan and aired on Space FM Ibadan in 2017 on the International day of the girl child.

Two of his plays for screen have been produced into home videos. “The First Step” is a drama that promotes the need for   couples to know their health status especially HIV and AIDS before venturing into marriage. This drama featured his Poem ODO EMENAM An elegy to a friend who contracted the HIV virus and lost his life. His second drama produced into home videos is titled “Voice of the Prophets, it was produced in 2009 and sold out among Christian circle. In both dramas he was the producer and co-directed the plays with Ade Jerry Idris a film maker.

Also Marcus had a brief stint with scripting musical videos for the defunct Ibadan based Hip hop duo “The Love Boys”. their songs ” We living in the ghetto” and Onye Nkem were aired constantly on BCOS TV for close to two years and emerged as one of the most aired music videos in that year.

In the last 10 Years Marcus prepared students in casting them for roles helping  them in blocking their line, and co-directing several other plays with Directors such as Olabamiji Olaiya, Samson Akapo and Tolu Fagbure, He was part of the following plays staged by Students of Gods blessing Comprehensive college Ibadan from 2012 till date, they include, Ogbori Elemoso staged in 2012 Kunrunmi by Ola Rotimi, staged in 2013.

Farewell to A Carnival rage by Prof Femi Osofisam staged in 2014, Langbodo by Wale Ogunyemi staged in 2015.

Twingle Twangled, a twinnie tayle by Prof Femi Osofisan, Other plays staged by students of Gods blessing Comprehensive College at their Annual Valedictory service includes Afonja a play by Dr Saka Alliu staged in 2017,  Shadows on Arrival, a play by Prof Catherine Ezenwanebe staged in 2019.

The next play to be staged by his students in which he is also involved in the planning, casting staging is ‘Agbeloba’, a play on the farmers uprising in Ibadan in the sixties, the play is scheduled to be staged on the 17th day of November 2021 at Ibadan civic centre

Marcus over the years has prepared students whose plays poems and prose had featured and won the annual Fagunwa Day writing competition organised by the Association of young Nigerian writer’s.

Marcus has the following plays to his credit.

The masquerade will not dance (II) an extract from his novel made into a covid19 play, to show how the pandemic has affected our cultural life, was staged by students of Gods blessing Comprehensive college at the 2021, Cultural day celebration, The Chairman Oyo state council for Arts and culture was among dignitaries that attended the premiere of this play.

‘Regret has no medicine’ is another play aimed at correcting societal ills.

‘My destiny’ a play was also written and staged by students and pupils of Omotoyosi Model Group Of Schools, in 2019 while ‘Regret has no medicine’ was staged also by students and pupils of the same school in 2018.

His play “Ogunsoye” a play on charms for knowledge was staged in 2018 also by students of Gods blessing Comprehensive College

He was recently one of the three guest speakers at the Ibadan book club for her October 2021 reading where he spoke on the “importance of Poetry to every writer”

 Marcus has also featured in other fields of literature and creative works using reading and writing as a tool to correcting social ills and keeping teenager away from social vices and crime.

He had also  led students from Secondary Schools in Oyo state to Win the 2019 Children cultural quiz for secondary schools at the NATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE NAFEST EDO 2019.

His students also came overall forth position in Children Essay writing competition at NAFEST EDO 2019, and overall second position at the Children Arts category at NAFEST EDO 2019.

He also led his students to win the National Safety Quiz 2016 in Oyo state.

Marcus enjoys spending time with his students, and mentoring them in creative writing he loves travelling  and spending time with his family and when relaxed he reads religious books.

His most inspiring moments are when faced with challenges. and solving them.

His desire for young people is to help them  solve social problems and vices which has earned him the accolade the ” TOWN CRIER”  because of his penchant for writing poems and plays aimed at preserving our cultural heritage,  history and documenting political happenings.

Between 2003 and 2007 he was a Ward Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s party Ward 9 Mokola Ibadan.

He has been a community Leader of the Mokola Community in Ibadan serving as it’s secretary for several years.

He is also one of the founding fathers of the prestigious Mokola Carnival

Before venturing into Teaching he was a singer, rapper, disc Jockey song and script writer.

He is today an educationist, whose aim is to improve reading culture in Nigeria

He also mentored and presented students who have won prizes at three previous editions of the Fagunwa day celebration in areas of poetry, drama and prose.

His poems “The lamentation of an Aborted fetus” and “Okigbo in Biafra” were featured in the anthology of poems in honour of Prof Remi Raji @50.

He also co-edited the anthology of poems in honour of Senator Abiola Ajimobi with Wole Adedoyin.

15 Playwrights Make List

Fifteen Playwrights from across Africa have made the African Human Rights Playwriting Prize Long List.

The longlist was selected from more than forty English-language submissions. The selection of the longlist was done by Marcus Ovie Ugboduma. Follow the below link to read his profile. 

Entries were received from four different countries which include: Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Submissions were judged based on Theme, Voice and Style, Characterization, Plot, Dialogue, Appropriateness, Props and Costumes, Stage Direction and conformity to contest rules.

Find below the complete longlist:

1. Akwu Sunday Victor – Tegina: Broken Innocence
2. Ari-ajiaolanrewaju – A Dog Life
3. Victor Ola-matthew – Gunfire At Our Market
4. Alexander Nderitu – Freedom Corner
5. Abubakar Terkimbi Saidu – Tied Hands
6. Confidence Ode – The Egg Hatched
7. R. B. Pembroke – Men Who Live By Bread
8. Abughdyer Mwuese Stephanie – The Perfect Husband
9. Chigozie Mbadugha – I Should Have Been Enough
10. Onis Sampson – Babel Of Voices
11. Abigail Imoh – Because He’s A Man
12. Chidozie Chukwubuike – Formula Two
13. Kwaghkule Aondonengen Jacob – The Loners’ Street
14. Okwudiri Favour – Her Lawful Crime
15. Chukwu Precious Ugochukwu – My Uncle’s Love .

The shortlist will be announced tomorrow, Friday, November 19, 2021.

African Human Rights Playwriting Prize is an initiative of the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), USA aimed at elevating public consciousness and understanding of human rights values through plays in order to guarantee the safeguarding of people’s rights in Africa.

 

 

Rivers State Police command has paraded three suspects identified as Chibuzor Amadi, Kenneth Sylvanus and a herbalist Chijoike Ogbonna who allegedly  beheaded 9 year old Destiny Peter in Azunmini Isiokpo headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area. Parading the suspects at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in Port Harcourt the State capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni told Journalists that the boy’s aunty had reported his (Destiny’s) disappearance to the police on November 11.

Policemen, who were assisted by some youths swung into action that led to the discovery of the headless remains of Destiny in the bush behind an uncompleted building.

Omoni revealed that through intelligence gathering, one of the suspects Chibuzor Amadi was arrested who then led them to an uncompleted building where the second suspect identified as Kenneth Sylvanus was also arrested.

He said: ”In continuation of the investigation, men of the state CID , immediately took steps and went with the two suspects who gave clearer perspectives to the crime. They led the police to the bush where the dismembered head of the deceased was recovered behind an uncompleted building.”

Appealing for calmness, Omoni said the remains of the deceased had been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy and further investigation.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects, Kenneth Sylvanus who confessed to the crime explained that he had met the request of the herbalist, who wanted a human head.

The Herbalist and the other suspect, however denied any involvement, with the Herbalist insisting that his specialty is treatment of all kinds of ailments and sale of spiritual materials.

 

…Demands Reason For Exonerating Nigeria

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has kicked against the removal of Nigeria from the list of countries with religious concern, insisting that there are still cases of religious intolerance in Nigeria.

CAN, in a statement signed by its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Sunday, questioned the rationale behind the United States’ removal of Nigeria from the concern list as, according to him, available statistics has shown that there are still threats to religious tolerance in most parts of the country.

Nigeria was placed on the list alongside other countries during the regime of President Donald Trump in 2020 for engaging or tolerating “severe violations of religious freedom.”

However, on Wednesday, November 17, the United States removed Nigeria from the list of religious freedom violators during the visit of US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In the CAN statement, the body asked the US to disclose the statistics it relied on before taking the decision to remove Nigeria from the list of religious freedom violators.

The Christian body noted that the US decision was at “variance with the reality on ground” and challenged the President Joe Biden’s administration to provide more information in order to clear the doubts on the matter.

The CAN statement reads:  “The US government did not contact us when they were listing Nigeria among the countries of ‘Particular Concern’ on religious freedom, neither did they seek our opinion before removing Nigeria from the list.

“If they had done, we would have been able to compare the statistics, then and now, on the issue of freedom of religion in Nigeria.

“All right-thinking people would continue to ask the US government to let the world know what has changed on the issue of religious freedom and persecution the Christians are facing between the time they placed the country in the list of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ and now.

“CAN, in particular, will like to know. This is because all the factors that put Nigeria on the CPC list for the first time in 2020 are still there.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has acknowledged the receipt of the sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 (Nineteen Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Naira, Thirty-six Kobo) recovered the EFCC from the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc.

This effectively puts to rest the campaign of misinformation and unconscionable denials by the Kogi State Government that no fund was recovered from its bail out account.

The apex bank in a letter referenced, DFD/DIR/CON/ EXT/01/099 and dated 9th November, 2021 informed the Executive Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa that it has received the money.

The letter reads in part: “We refer to your letter dated November 5, 2021 with Ref. No: CR:3000/EFCC/LS/ CMU/REC-STE/VOL.4/047 on the above subject and wish to confirm the details of the receipt of the amount as stated below: Bank: Sterling Bank Plc; Amount:  N19, 333, 333,333.36; Date of receipt: 04 November, 2021”.

The return of the money to the apex bank is in compliance with the October 15, 2021 Order of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos directing the unfreezing of the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account to enable Sterling Bank to remit the balance in the account to the Central Ban of Nigeria. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke gave the Order pursuant to an application filed by the EFCC.

The Commission had told the court that the management of Sterling Bank Plc, where the account was domiciled had acknowledged the existence of the said account with the staggering sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 in its books.

The Commission further brought to the attention of the court that “The sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 is still standing in the credit of the account frozen”, adding that “the management of Sterling Bank PIc, has, pursuant to a letter dated 15 September, 2021, signed by its Managing Director, indicated intention to return the total sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 back to the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The EFCC prayed The court that it “is expedient for the instant suit to be discontinued and the account unfrozen to enable the management of Sterling Bank PIc effect the transfer/ return of the sum of the sum of N19, 333, 333, 333.36 back to the coffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria , where the said bailout funds was disbursed.”

The transfer has put paid to any further controversy regarding source and ownership of the funds and most importantly, aborted the funds dissipation.

On August 31, 2021, Justice Tijani Garba Ringim, a vacation Judge, had ordered the freezing of the account, following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC.

The EFCC, in a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte application, had stated that it received a credible and direct intelligence, which led to the tracing of the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in account No. 0073572696 domiciled in Sterling Bank, Plc with the name Kogi State Salary Bailout Account. 

After listening to the EFCC application, Justice Ringim on August 31, 2021, ordered the freezing of the account and directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper by the EFCC.

 

…As Nsirim Offers Huge Cash For Theme Song Writers

…Entry Begins Nov 15 – 29, 2021

The second part of the second phase of the Rivers State campaign, otherwise called OurStateOurResponsibility, has commenced with a Theme Song Competition amongst budding talents in the state.

Briefing Journalists in his office on Monday, Information and Communications Commissioner, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim announced that a whooping cash prize of N550,000 has been set aside for grabs by the overall champion, as well as the second and third placed winners.

According to him, N300,000 would go to the overall best while second-placed winner would get N150,000 with the third best going home with N100,000.

While still basking on the euphoria of the successful completion of the first part of the second phase of government’s #OurStateOurResponsibility advocacy campaign, Pastor Nsirim described the first phase of the campaign as a huge success and urged all stake holders, including journalists who gave the campaign wider publicity, to keep up the tempo.

He said the campaign, which threw up 18-year old Miss Sophia Arajibenem Oyibo as the winner of the Essay Competition has opened up a vista of hope that the advocacy campaign was gaining grounds among the youths of the state.

In his words: “I wish to publicly acknowledge the rare qualities of this young lady who within the few months of her being the Ambassador of the Ministry of Information and Communications, has continued to arouse the interest of the youths in Rivers State to understand and embrace the advocacy campaign”.

The Commissioner disclosed that Miss Oyibo would, in conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Communications, host a one-day sensitization program titled ‘The Wind of Change’ on November 25, 2021 at the Ministry of Women Affairs Auditorium in Port Harcourt.

He said the essence of the theme song competition is to roll out a theme song for the advocacy campaign, adding that the entry is open to all persons residing and doing business in the state.

“Our desire in rolling out this theme song competition is to ensure that our best and brightest creative minds are given the opportunity to be innovative.  We want our people to put their creative talents to work by searching for breakthrough ideas through thinking”, Nsirim said, adding that the theme song must align and match the hash tag, OurStateOurResponsibility.

“We expect the theme song to tell the people of Rivers State and others what to expect and what is expected of them.  We expect a theme song that people can have in their heads, something that is simple, catchy and easy to remember and establishes a connection with the listeners and should not exceed three minutes”, he said.

The commissioner noted that all the entries would be judged equally on four areas namely: content originality, content alignment with theme, production and sound quality (clarity, consistency of audio levels and lack of noise).

On the mode of participation, Nsirim requested interested contestants to download the entry forms, rules and regulations guiding the competition from the advocacy campaign website: www.ourstateourresponsibility.com on or before December 13, 2021 which is also the deadline for submission of entries.

He further requested that the completed entry forms and the signed acceptance form and other documents should be forwarded to the Ministry’s email address: rsministryofinformationandcoms@gmail.com.

Also present at the briefing was the brand ambassador, Miss Sophia Arajibenem Oyibo and the three-man judges for the competition namely, former Chairman of PMAN, Rivers State chapter, Lexy Mueka, On-Air Personality, Charles Baridam (Vitamin C) and one of Nigeria’s finest Disc Jockeys, Ofori Williams.

 

The Councillor representing Ward One Ogbodo in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State, Hon Caleb Orji has promised to support the improvement of the Educational Sector in the State by contributing to the passage of quality laws. He made the promise at Ogbodo during the public presentation of the book “the coming of Christianity to Ogbodo–the Anglican experience” written by Chief (Dr) Goodluck Nwobike and Solomon Amadi.

Hon Orji who is the chairman of the Education Comittee in the KELGA Legislative Assembly disclosed further that he wiil start by ensuring that his constituents are mobilized to wake up and improve their reading culture and as well make the youths develop interest in furthering their education. He used the opportunity to commend the authors for the feat, urging them not to rest on their oars.

Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion and former Commissioner for Finance in Rivers State, Dr Chamberlain Peterside commended the authors for their contributions to society especially in the Educational Sector and urged the audience to ensure that they pick one copy of the book for their family book shelves.  Represented by an illustrious son of the community and retired principal, Elder John Azu, the chairman commended the authors for tracing the history of the Anglican Church, Ogbodo district and urged those present to market the history of the church by picking copies of the book for themselves and others.

In his remarks, Ven. Asobi Chukuigwe (rtd) fondly recalled the contributions made by their late father especially in the religious circle  and thanked the authors for remembering him, adding that the book will be if immense help to the Anglican Communion and urge the crowd to patronize and encourage the authors to do more.

The book presenter, Engr Princewill I. Echeonwu in his remarks asked the Indigenes of Isiokpo to pay more attention to Human Capacity Development as according to him, it is the only way to produce leaders of tomorrow in the community and the nation at large.

He used the opportunity to thank the organizers for putting the record of the church development in Ogbodo, particularly the Anglican Communion in black and white.

A member of the Isiokpo Council of chiefs, Eze Mathew Nnaa Aleru in his speech commended the authors for contributing to knowledge, adding that the book is a must read to all lovers of history and church development. Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion includes HRM King Blessing Wagor, Wagidi XL, Paramount Ruler/Nyenweli Isiokpo Ancient Kingdom,  Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon Elloka Tasie Amadi, the Vice Chancellor, Abia State University, Prof Onyema M. Ogbulu, the book reviewer, Prof Joseph Onyema of the Rivers State University.

Other dignitaries who graced the book launch included, the National Network Newspaper publisher, pastor Jerry Needam, Mrs Christiana Peter whose late husband was featured in the book and Lady Rosa Wenah who while thanking the invitees also used the opportunity to invite the public to their church harvest on November 16,2021.

The chief hosts thanked all the invitees for making out time to honour the invitation.

 

A Pastor of a new generation church, Shalom Mercy Ministry located in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Chris Simon Amadi is now cooling his heels in police custody after he allegedly strangled his 30 years old wife, Solution Amadi to death and allegedly attempted to run away.

Family sources told Newsmen the incident happened on Tuesday in their home at Mbodo Community, Aluu after a disagreement over school fees payment in his wife’s school.

Findings revealed that troubled started when his wife, now deceased confronted him for driving some of her pupils from school for failing to pay on time, without first checking with her.

Her elder brother, Odinaka Opurum, said his now deceased sister felt embarrassed when affected parents started calling to complain about her husband’s action.

The school, Solution International School was reportedly established by the late Mrs. Solution Amadi before her marriage to the pastor in 2012.

“The husband went to the school (Tuesday November, 10) and started driving pupils away for failing to pay school fees. When parents now called the wife to ask why she drove their kids away even after paying, she appealed they should not be angry that she will find out from her husband.

“When she got to the house, they started quarreling again and the husband started beating her. He then started to strangle her to the point she collapsed and became unconscious.

When he saw she was no longer responding, he rushed her to a clinic close to their house, the clinic confirmed her dead and referred him to UPTH to be sure. Instead of taking her to UPTH as they advised, he took her to the house, covered her with wrapper, packed some clothes in a bag, locked all the doors and attempted to run away.”

 

Professor Okechukwu Onuchuku may not need an introduction, particularly to the academic community who are fully abreast with his exploits in the ivory towers. He has remained a leading light and beacon of hope in the education sector.

The acclaimed Professor of Quantitative and Public Sector Economics, scored another milestone with his appointment on Thursday, November 18, 2021 as Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said Professor Onuchuku takes over from Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele who was appointed Vice Chancellor of IAUE by Governor Wike on November 23, 2016.

A peep into the sterling profile of the distinguished Emohua-born academic heavyweight, reveals a warrior rearing to conquer more territories.

Through a humble beginning, Okechuku Onuchuku attended Sacred Heart State School, Diobu, Port Harcourt (1971 to 1976), Government Secondary School Eneka, Port Harcourt (1977 to 1982).

He had his higher education at University of Port Harcourt, Choba from 1986 to 1990 where he obtained B.Sc. (Hons.) in Economics with 2nd Class Upper Division. From 1995 to 1998, he obtained PhD in Economics from the same university and in 2009, he attended York University, Canada and Schulich School of Business Executive Education Centre, where he obtained Certificate in Performance Indicators in Government: Measurement and Management.

He started his working career in 1983 as a Clerk in National Population Commission, Port Harcourt. Between 1992 and 1995, he became an Assistant Lecturer in Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt.

In 1995, he moved over to the University of Port Harcourt also as an Assistant Lecturer. In 2010, he was appointed a Professor of Economics in University of Port Harcourt and is currently a member of the University Governing Council.

His area of specialization is Economic Theory and Policy and Quantitative Economics (Econometrics and Mathematical Economics). He is a life member of the Nigerian Economic Society and became its National Vice President in 2015.

A serial award winner, Prof. Onuchuku has authored many books, publications and articles in both Local and International journals.

He was appointed into the Board of U&C Microfinance Bank Ltd in September 2017 as a representative of the Uniport Governing Council, where he left indelible footprints and also added a lot of value to the Bank.

He was the Director, University of Port Harcourt, Business School, a position he earned through hard work, humility, and indefatigable virility for excellence. As his trademark, he brought his experience to bear by rebranding and transforming the University of Port Harcourt Business School to a World-Class Institution of Higher Learning. Hence, the University of Port Harcourt prides itself as one of the best Business Schools in Nigeria and Africa.

Prof Okey Onuchuku is a life-time Member of NES, and had occupied the position of Vice-President of the Southern region. Onuchuku’s research interest are on viz: public sector, monetary economics, macroeconomics, international finance, and Quantitative & econometrics. He teaches and provides cutting edge services to Multinational companies in Rivers State.

Okey Onuchuku is a seasoned administrator, and has occupied the position of Head of Department of Economics, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, and he is a visiting Professor of various Nigerian Universities in Nigeria.

He is a Team player, motivator, counsellor, a father and friend to all, he is a sports enthusiast and the goal keeper of the University of Port Harcourt soccer team in his first degree days. Onuchuku is a freethinker and loyal to constituted  authority.

Prof Onuchuku’s Inaugural Lecture focused on “War of Supremacy between Unemployment and Inflation, who is the loser?”.  He recommended the use of rural base economic system to create a diversified and robust economy where the twin macroeconomic problems of unemployment and inflation would be addressed.

He has been involved in NES and economic body that advises the government on the operational economic policies to drive the Nigerian economy. An advocate of Modular Refinery system, he believed that the system has the capacity to drive a blue economy.

He has remained loved and articulated, intellectually calibrated academician that helps the students (indigent) indigenes and non-indigenes, supervising on financial support to offset their research burden.

Onuchuku is a man that loves his people, the staff and non-academic staff. A patient and optimistic fellow of first principle. Through his monthly stipends he has been able to empower his community and people that have been privilege to meet him.

His impeccable charisma could be availed to transform Nigerian academic system. He has the capacity, character and commitment to operationalize the Buhari’s agenda on transforming quality education.

Like a gold fish that had no hiding place, no wonder this iconic and youthful professor had caught the attention of the pragmatic Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, to place him in the exalted position of Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.