Stats: 3,174,194 members, 7,891,019 topics. Date: Tuesday, 16 July 2024 at 06:49 AM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Brief Background Of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Minister Of Science And Technology (1368 Views)
Ogbonnaya Onu Rides In A Wooden Car (Photos) / Buhari, Atiku At Ogbonnaya Onu’s Book Launch Today (Photos) / Ogbonnaya Onu's Views On The Appointment Of The SGF - Ajayi Temitope (2) (3) (4)
(1) (Reply)
Brief Background Of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Minister Of Science And Technology by ojsmscom(m): 7:05pm On Nov 12, 2015 |
A BRIEF PROFILE OF DR. OGBONNAYA ONU
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on December 1,
1951, to the family of His Royal Highness,
Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in
Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi
State in Nigeria.
He obtained grade one with distinction in his
West African School Certificate examination
at Izzi High School]], Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics
and Chemistry at the Higher School
Certificate examination at the College of
Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu,
graduating as the best overall student. By
1976, he graduated with a first class honours
degree in Chemical Engineering at the
University of Lagos. He later obtained his
Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical
Engineering (without passing through a
Masters degree) at the reputable University of
California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980,
where he did extensive work on coal
liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels
under mild conditions. He showed that it was
possible under relatively mild conditions to
produce synthetic fuels comparable with
crude oil.
While in the University of California, Berkeley,
Dr. Onu was the President of the African
Students Union; Member, Graduate Assembly
of the University of California at Berkeley and
also President of the Nigerian Association of
Northern California, Inc. Back home, he
served as President General of his alma-
mater, Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Old Boys
Association .
Coming out of higher school, Dr. Onu taught
at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ezzamgbo,
Ebonyi State. After completing his doctoral
studies in the USA , he returned to Nigeria at
the time when many others in his situation
preferred to stay back. On coming back from
overseas, he taught at the University of Port
Harcourt as the pioneer Head of the
Department of Chemical Engineering. On
several occasions, he served as Acting Dean
of the University’s Faculty of Engineering and
was also elected as a Member of the
Governing Council of the university. As a
pioneer staff in the Faculty of Engineering and
the first Head of the Department of Chemical
Engineering, he helped nurture the department
from scratch to a position of repute. As a
member of the Governing Council of the
University, he worked with others to provide
leadership in its search for excellence.
While in Port Harcourt , he became President
of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt and the
Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Chemical
Engineers of old Rivers, Cross River and Akwa
Ibom States’ Chapter. Dr. Onu was the
pioneer National President of the Raw
Materials Society of Nigeria. The Raw
Materials Society of Nigeria, RMSN, with the
sole aim of encouraging Nigerians to look
inwards in the sourcing and utilization of raw
materials, played a very important role in the
establishment of the Raw Materials Research
and Development Council, RMRDC , by the
Federal Government. He served as a member
of the First Board of Governors of the Federal
Government Raw Materials Research and
Development Council. By the establishment of
the RMRDC, there was no longer any need for
the RMSN to continue to exist since both of
them had the same function.
Dr. Onu is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of
Chemical Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian
Society of Engineers and Fellow of the
Nigerian Academy of Engineering. He was
also one of the longest served Directors of
the Nigeria Cement Company, Nigercem,
Nkalagu, Ebonyi State. He was the Visitor of
Abia State University, Uturu (1992-93), having
worked tirelessly to secure the University for
the State.
In 1991, Dr. Onu was elected the first
Governor of old Abia State. He was the first
Chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected
Governors , the first Nigerian ever to head a
forum of all governors. During his eventful
tenure as Governor, he emphasized the use of
technology as an important instrument for
national development by starting work in the
establishment of a Technology Village , as well
as towards introducing computers into
selected public schools. He introduced the
Free Maternal Health Care Programme which
enabled poor pregnant women to receive free
healthcare services as a measure to reduce
death during pregnancy and childbirth.
Security of lives and property were
considerably enhanced such that within a
single year, the Abia State Police Command
received two letters of commendation from
the Inspector General of Police. Also the
West African Examination Council (WAEC)
commended the State on her stand against all
forms of examination malpractice in her
schools.
Dr. Onu is a resolute believer in Nigeria’s unity
as an instrument for national integration and
development. As Governor, he abolished the
State of Origin Syndrome in Abia State and led
the way in appointing non-indigenes of the
State into top positions of responsibility in his
Administration.
Using the Abia Dream as a philosophy to
mobilize the people of the State to achieve
excellence in all spheres of human endeavour,
Dr. Onu founded the Abia State Polytechnic at
Aba. He also established the College of
Technical Education in Arochukwu and
attracted the Michael Okpara Federal
University of Agriculture at Umudike, near
Umuahia. In addition, Dr. Onu established the
Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State as
well as the National Ambassador Newspapers ,
which then won several awards as the best
State owned Newspaper in Nigeria. As a God
fearing leader, he christened Abia “God’s Own
State” and symbolized his noble dream for the
State by building the ‘Abia Tower of Peace’ .
In 1999, he emerged the first Presidential
Flagbearer of the then All Peoples Party, APP ,
which was later known as the All Nigeria
Peoples Party, ANPP . A true democrat and
committed party loyalist, Dr. Onu
demonstrated rare political discipline and
consistency, by remaining one of the very few
founding leaders of the opposition ANPP who
remained in the party since its inception in
1998 until it merged into a new political party
in 2013.
Little wonder, his fellow party men and
women in September 2010, in recognition of
his rare political fidelity, discipline,
steadfastness and exemplary commitment to
the party’s ideals, elected him their National
Chairman. As the Head of the leading
opposition political party, he was the Leader
of Opposition in the country. Dr. Onu remains
a worthy role model for young politicians who
are principled and put service and the
common good above all other considerations.
Just within a period of two years in office, as
National Chairman, he united the Party and
repositioned it for future electoral victory. Dr.
Onu upheld internal democracy, adhered
strictly to the Constitution of the Party and
also introduced reforms in the ANPP. He
initiated both a revised Manifesto and
Constitution for the Party. Through thoughtful
and fearless comments on issues of national
importance, Dr. Onu restored the lost glory of
the ANPP to become a credible opposition
Party in Nigeria. A man of ideas, he worked on
ways of positioning the ANPP to lead Nigeria
into issue-based and ideas-driven politics.
In 2010, as National Chairman of the defunct
ANPP, he initiated discussions with the
leadership of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) on how all the major opposition
political parties could work together to effect
change in the politics of the country. Later he
also initiated meetings with the National
Chairmen of all major opposition political
parties. All these efforts and many others,
finally resulted in the merger of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) , All Nigeria Peoples
Party (ANPP) , Congress for Progressive
Change, (CPC) , and groups from the All
Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) , and the
Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) . Hence on
July 31, 2013, the All Progressives Congress
(APC) came into existence. Dr. Onu and other
party leaders willingly gave up their positions
as Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) withdrew the registration of ACN,
ANPP and CPC. On November 26, 2013, the
new PDP, broke away from the ruling political
party and joined the APC. This helped make
the APC, the largest opposition political party
in the history of the country.
For over two decades, Dr. Onu delivered
thought provoking lectures on different
contemporary issues of national and global
importance both within and outside the
country. Some of the lectures include;
“Nigerians should not allow one party rule” at
the ANPP National Assembly Caucus, National
Assembly Complex, Abuja; “Upon this Rock
will Nigeria Arise” Special Session of the Kano
State House of Assembly; “It is time to stand
for Something”, Special Session of the Lagos
State House of Assembly and “The fist as
symbol of strength”, Special Session of the
Benue State House of Assembly .
Others are "Taking Nigerians for granted",
Special Session of the Yobe State House of
Assembly; "The Eagles Flight in the Global
Village", Special Session of the Kebbi State
House of Assembly and "The relevance of
Opposition Parties in deepening democracy in
Africa" , Maiden Republic Day lecture, Ghana
National Union of Polytechnic Students,
Accra.
Honoured with several awards and
recognitions both within and outside Nigeria,
Dr. Onu is The 2004 Man of the Year of the
reputable American Biographical Institute. He
was honoured with the Governor of the Year
(1992) Award and also the Star Governor
(1993) Award. He is a recipient of the Kwame
Nkrumah Leadership Award 2011/2012 by the
West African Students Union Parliament and
Honoured with “Vanguard of True Democracy”
award by the Pan African Students Union
Parliament. Conferred with honorary Doctor of
Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Abia State
University, Uturu, Abia State and also the
University of Lagos Golden Jubilee
Distinguished Alumni Award.
He is an honorary citizen of many cities in the
world, in addition to the State of Texas in the
United States of America. Dr. Onu also holds
many traditional chieftaincy titles, notably:
Ikeoha Uburu, Dike-Eji-Eme-Udo of Eastern
States, Akajiugo Nnewi, Ogbuagu Abiriba,
Ugochinyere Umuahia, Ozurumba Orlu,
Odiukonamba Eziudo Mbaise, Dikeora
Abagana, Ikemba Afikpo. He is also the Togbe
Kwami Vidza of Kpando District, Ghana. Dr.
Onu is a member of the ancient and noble
order of the Knights of St. John International
(KSJ).
He is the author of many books, notably:
“Technology and National Development”,
“Building a Modern Nigeria” and “A Footprint:
Memoirs of a Chief Servant”.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu is presently the Minister of
Science and Technology of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria; inaugurated on November
11, 2015.
A fine statesman, brilliant scholar, outstanding
intellectual, accomplished administrator,
prolific author and poet, a man of great ideas
and inventions as well as a distinguished man
of exceptional principle and exemplary
character. He is married to Dr. (Mrs) Chinyere
Onu, with children. |
Re: Brief Background Of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Minister Of Science And Technology by Luggi007(m): 7:13pm On Nov 12, 2015 |
. |
Re: Brief Background Of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Minister Of Science And Technology by palladin: 7:23pm On Nov 12, 2015 |
This guys profile long like Psalms 119. Wailers be like "we need technocrats" Which technocrat pass this one? |
(1) (Reply)
Petrol Sold At 600 Per Litre Under GEJ -punch. / Maitama Sule, Kwande, Ikedife To Meet Pro-biafran Agitators / Photos From The Car Robbery At Ilasa Maja, Lagos
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 34 |