An accomplished Engineer, Administrator, Author and First Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu obtained his professional qualifications in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos, Nigeria (B.Sc. 1st Class) and University of California, Berkeley, USA. At Berkeley, he undertook extensive research on coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild conditions – demonstrating that it was possible under relatively mild conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil.
Dr. Onu was a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, Department of Chemical Engineering, where he later became the pioneer Head – helping to nurture the Department from scratch to a position of repute. He subsequently served as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and elected a Member of the Governing Council of the University.
In 1991, he contested the position of Governor of the old Abia State, and won to become the first Executive Governor of the State. He was also the first Chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected Governors. Sadly, his and his colleagues’ tenure was truncated by the then Military Government – thus denying the people of Abia and Nigeria at large, many dividends of his impressive programme of action. During this short tenure, he successfully abolished the State-of-Origin Syndrome in Abia State, founded the Abia State Polytechnic at Aba, and established the College of Technical Education in Arochukwu, the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State and National Ambassador Newspapers, which then won several awards as the best State-owned Newspaper.He also commenced the processes for the establishment of a Technology Village and introducing computers into selected public schools.
A bridge-builder and advocate of consensus, Dr. Onu was the Presidential flag-bearer for the All People’s Party in 1999 and Chairman of the party in 2010.An exceptional Politician, It is noteworthy that Dr Ogbonnaya Onu remained in opposition purely out of principle and never moved from one political party to another until he successfully led his party into a merger with some others to form the All Progressives Congress, which has been running the Federal and several State Governments since May 2015.
A two-term Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s tenure to date has witnessed tremendous initiatives designed to transform the sectors into major pillars of Nigeria’s sustainable development. He has led concerted efforts to reposition the Ministry’s research institutes and parastatals to enable them effectively fulfil their statutory mandates. He began the annual National Science & Technology Week in 2017 to showcase inventors and inventions as well as signed an MOU with some international companies to export indigenous technologies and food. In the same vein, he initiated the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award to encourage and develop the interest of Nigerian youths in science, technology and innovation (STI).
With his re-appointment as Minister for a second term, many stakeholders are optimistic that his programme of action for Nigeria’s science and technology sectors will yield the desired outcomes.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers & Academy of Engineering, Dr. Ogbonnaya is also a Certified Member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. He holds six patents and has written twelve books on different subject areas including philosophy, poetry, politics, developmental studies, biography, science and technology. He is married to Dr. (Mrs) Chinyere Onu with children and grandchildren.
Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu A fine statesman, strategist and brilliant scholar to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in Leadership and Good Governance.
Please accept our hearty congratulations!