GOVERNOR ORJI UZOR KALU
PROFILE OF
A QUINTESSENTIAL LEADER
|
|
|
Many authors have attempted/albeit unsuccessfully, to ascertain the reason behind the groundbreaking accomplishments of Orji Uzor Kalu. The most remarkable factor that has obviated the effort of these authors is their inability to decipher from which angle exactly to conduct a research into the awe-inspiring life of this quintessential, successful, yet unassuming leader. Orji Kalu has excelled in business, politics, and philanthropy, and attaining the apogee of his career with his ascendancy in 1999 as the Executive Governor of Abia State at thirty-nine (39).
Young, ebullient and enterprising Orji Kalu is an enigma-meaning different things to different people. His rise to national limelight was quite meteoric, making him one of the most visible politicians in Nigeria today.
Though not given to an arrogant display of intellectualism, his acuity is immeasurably perplexing. This is manifest in the deftness and adumbration with which he has accurately forecasted major events. No wonder some believe that he became a governor by a combination of adroit diplomacy and sheer good luck. He went through his academic career diligently and was at various times at Christ the King School, Aba for his primary education, Eziama High School, Aba; Government College, Umuahia; University of Maiduguri; Harvard University Graduate Business School (AMP 153) Boston, USA and Abia State University.
He holds a B.Sc. degree in Political Science of the Abia State University, Uturu, IEA Certificate by USAID, honorary doctorate degrees in Law by the University of Port Harcourt and Abia State University, Uturu, and City State University, Los Angeles, USA.
A member of many national and international organizations, Orji Kalu is widely traveled and has his fingers in many pies: banking, oil/telecommunication, import financing, insurance, publishing, real estate, shipping and manufacturing, with offices in Ghana, Benin Republic, Sierra-Leone, South Africa, Togo, South Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, the Gambia, Liberia, Botswana and Cote D'Ivoire.
He has a steel commitment to excel and has entrenched this philosophy into the running of the affairs of Abia State, thereby making the state a Mecca of sort to investors and politicians. Urbane and charismatic, Orji Kalu is an example to the younger generation who sees in him the face of the new Nigeria.
In business, he has recorded resounding successes. He created a record not yet equaled when he became the Chairman of Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited in 1987 at the age of 27, making him the youngest person till date to assume such an elevated position in Nigeria.
A thoroughbred man in commerce, industry and administration, he also became Chairman of Borno Water Board at a tender age of 25 years, where he initiated policies aimed at the provision of potable water for over 5 million Borno State indigenes in a guinea worm endemic area. He also served as the Chairman of Imo State Marketing and Supply Agency, where he evolved strategies for the formation of policies for the procurement and distribution of essential commodities. |
|
|
|
The success of our campaign depends on YOU |
|
|
|
