By Obinna F. Nwachukwu
On 29th January, 1965, the ancient city of Umuahia in Abia State, South-Eastern Nigeria witnessed the birth of a bundle of joy, a baby boy whom the parents, Elder Joseph Wogu and Mrs. Nnennaya Wogu, both of blessed memory, significantly named “Chukwuemeka”, meaning “God has done great things”, an indication of their depth of gratitude to the Almighty God.
Nwadiala Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, PhD, CON, FNIM completed his secondary education at Ngwa High School, Aba (1978–1980). He attended Imo State University (1982–1986) obtaining an LLB, and the Nigerian Law School (1986–1987) where he obtained a BL. In 1997, he established a private law firm, Emeka Wogu & Co. In his quest for more knowledge, he engaged in post-graduate studies which earned him the Master of Public Administration (2004) from University of Calabar and Master of Science in Political Science (2011) from Nasarawa State University and later Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree in Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2018. He capped these with a Certificate in Benchmarking Emerging Markets obtained in 2008 from S. P. Jain Institute of Management, Singapore.
Today, the name and fame of that young boy, now a fully grown-up man, father, politician and public administrator par excellence, transcends the precincts of a worthy indigene of Abia State to the celebration of an illustrious, detribalized Nigerian of no mean national accomplishments, a patriot per excellence and a cosmopolitan citizen of enviable stature.
His track-record is as intimidating as it is expansive, not only as a seasoned lawyer but a technocrat and an astute politician with an array of academic feats worthy of emulation.
Wogu was vice-chairman of the Aba South Local government Area in Abia State (1991–1993) and later the Chairman of the LGA in 1993. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. In 1999, he worked briefly as the Political Adviser to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, then Governor of Abia State. He represented Abia State for two terms as Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Upon his appointment as the Minister of Labour and Productivity on 6th April, 2010, Wogu immediately had to deal with a strike by federal civil servants across the country that was planned to start on 8 April 2010. After meeting with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, which represents the eight unions involved, they agreed to hold off until the end of April 2010 while their concerns were being addressed.
It is instructive to note that at a point, he was deemed competent to hold two ministerial posts at the same time, when in addition to being the Labour Minister, he was appointed as the Supervising Minister of Interior between April and May 2011.
And having served creditably in various national capacities, he contested for the gubernatorial candidacy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State but lost. Nevertheless, his statesmanship and patriotism have distinguished him in many respects and recently earned him pride of place as the pioneer Chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
His contributions to scholarship include numerous academic lectures such as guest lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan (UI); Nigerian Defence College (NDC); Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru; and other institutions in the country. Emeka Wogu’s impressive academic profile groomed him for impactful exploits in various fields of endeavour while his professional and academic feats earned him many meritorious awards and recognitions in law and related fields, among which are: Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Management (FNIM), Member of the International Bar Association (MIBA);Member, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (MADR) as well as Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club international. He was also honoured by the Federal government with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger ( CON).
He is a dedicated and committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he occupied the position of the Chairman APC Reconciliation Committee South- East zone and Member APC Reconciliation Committee South- South zone respectively .
Dr. Emeka Wogu holds several traditional titles including Omezuru of Ohazie, Kpakpando of Aba, Nwadiala of Aba and Amulutto of Oshogbo. He is happily married with children.