Ned Nwoko

Prince Ned Nwoko (born Chinedu Munir Nwoko on December 21, 1960)[1] is a Nigerian law graduate, politician and humanitarian.[2] He was a member of the House of Representatives (Nigeria) between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha North-South and Oshimili North-South.[3] He took his Malaria Awareness campaign to South Pole, Antarctica.[4] making him the first black African to visit the South Pole, Antarctica.

Ned Nwoko
House of Representatives (Nigeria)
In office
May 1999 – May 2003
ConstituencyAniocha North-South and Oshimili North-South
Personal details
Born
Chinedu Munir Nwoko

(1960-12-21) 21 December 1960
Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha-North Delta State Nigeria
Political partyPeople’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Alma materUniversity of Keele, King's College London
Websitehttps://prince-nednwoko.com/
Ned Nwoko with Nigerian Olympian, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, at the Ned Nwoko Golf Classic, Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State, Nigeria. May 20, 2017.

Early life and education

Ned Nwoko was born into the Nwoko royal family, Idumuje Ugboko kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. His early education was in Nigeria. He moved to the United Kingdom and got his first degree in law and history at the University of Keele, Staffordshire UK. He also attended King's College London,[5] culminating in a post graduate class with an LLM in Maritime and Commercial law. Nwoko was subsequently called to the English bar, at Lincoln's Inn.[6]

Career

Nwoko began his legal career as a prosecutor for the crown and qualified as a solicitor of the supreme court of England and Wales. He worked at Kumars Solicitors and Pascaldiers & Co Solicitors before establishing Ned Nwoko & Co Solicitors in London.

Nwoko was secretary general, Nigerian legal practitioners UK and was visiting adviser, citizens’ advice bureau, based in London. He received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Letters (D.Litt.) by Commonwealth University College, Belize and honorary doctorate degree in science by the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun FUPRE, Delta state.[7]

Nwoko returned to Nigeria in December 1998 to contribute to the enthronement of a viable democratic institution in the country following the military disengagement from power, after long years of military dictatorship.

Politics

Ned Nwoko made a remarkable entry into Nigeria's political turf when he was elected member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.[8] He represented Aniocha / Oshimili federal constituency, making an impressive showing in the legislative house.[9][10] He contested for the Delta State gubernatorial election and lost to James Ibori. In 2011, he also lost the Senatorial election to Ifeanyi Okowa.[11]

Ned Nwoko was part of those instrumental to the initiation of the London and Paris Club Loans into Nigeria. He authored the reports that led to Nigeria government’s discontinuation of monthly deductions from states’ allocations and commencement of refunds to States.[12]

Through his Law firm, Ned Nwoko Solicitors and his Company, he investigated the multinational creditors and discovered discrepancies in loan repayments, and this resulted in the refund of the first tranches of loan during Obasanjo administration.[13] He also charged the Federal government to court on behalf of 774 Local governments for the refund of illegal deductions and obtained judgment of $3.2billion for the local governments. The Federal government of Nigeria has started refunding the monies in line with the court judgment of 2013.

Nwoko also served on the Vision 2010 Committee and is a member of the capital market. He served as Chairman of the External Committee of Vision 2010. Nwoko is also the Chairman of Project Tourism Nigeria.[14]

Malaria eradication advocacy

Ned Nwoko is a strong advocate of Malaria eradication in Africa.[15] He is the initiator of the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Foundation.[16] He flagged off the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication campaign via a symbolic expedition to the Antarctica in January, 2020.[17] The Foundation is supporting the existing efforts of vaccine development by funding a research for the anti-malaria vaccine through a partnership with leading universities in Africa.[18][19]

Mount Delta

Nwoko is the founder of the tourism destination Mount Delta, one of 21 tourism sites approved by Delta state government.[20] The tourist site consists of museum, farm, zoo, fishponds, poultry and a 9-hole golf course.[21]

Philanthropy

Through his foundation, Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, he has contributed to the empowerment and education of youths of his constituency, senatorial district and state.[22] In 2019, he donated $273,000 (N100M) for the rehabilitation of failed portions of the road linking the South Eastern Nigeria to the nation’s capital, Abuja.[23] In 2019, he pledged the sum of $200,000 (about N71.6m) to UNESCO to support the development of sports in West Africa.[24][25]

Personal life

Ned Nwoko married Nigerian Nollywood actress Regina Daniels in 2019.[26] On the 31st of May 2020, Ned announced that he was expecting a baby boy with his current wife.

Awards and recognition
  • 2018: Africa Value Awards - Effective Leadership and Youth Empowerment [27]
  • 2019: Peace Achievers Awards [28]
  • 2019: Delta Role Model Awards - Humanitarian Services
  • 2019: Prime Excellence Recognition Awards - Man of the year [29]
  • 2019: Abuja AR Reporters Awards- Man of the year 2019 [30]
  • 2019: Suncity Champions of Democracy Awards - Humanitarian Services [31]
  • 2019: 5 stars awards for Tourism Development in Africa
  • 2019: University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria Philanthropy Awards [32]
  • 2019: Anti corruption crusader Awards
  • 2019: All Africa Music Awards AFRIMMA - Africa Community Impact Awards

References
  1. "Ned Nwoko Bio - Profile, Age, Wives, Net Worth & Pictures". May 2, 2019.
  2. Okogba, Emmanuel (February 20, 2020). "Africa: Ned Nwoko Set to Become Africa's Biggest Humanitarian". allAfrica.com.
  3. "Ned Nwoko: Biography, Achievements And Net Worth". August 27, 2019.
  4. "Antarctica: Ned Nwoko mounts Nigerian flag to create malaria eradication awareness (photos)". January 21, 2020.
  5. Ikeru, Austine (May 4, 2019). "Ned Nwoko Biography and Net Worth".
  6. "A Peep Into The Profile Of Prince Ned Nwoko, The Man Who "Ended" Nigeria's Recession". Gistmania. July 31, 2017.
  7. "Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation | Founder/President". nednwokofoundation.org.
  8. https://allafrica.com/stories/201007260271.html
  9. "Why Nigeria's politics is bad –Ned Nwoko". February 9, 2020.
  10. https://thenationonlineng.net/be-committed-to-nation-building-ex-rep-tells-aselgon/
  11. "Ned Nwoko Biography: Facts, career, wives, net worth, recognitions, philanthropy". Sidomex Entertainment. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  12. "2019 Public Service: Ned Nwoko, Paris Club refund facilitator, delivers UI Alumni Association Lecture". July 7, 2019.
  13. "StackPath". leadership.ng.
  14. Amuwa, Stellamaries. "Project Tourism To Showcase Nigeria's Hospitality Culture". Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  15. "Ned Nwoko, Wizkid partnering to eradicate malaria In Africa". December 17, 2019.
  16. "Ned Nwoko Foundation reiterates commitment to malaria eradication in..." February 14, 2020.
  17. https://guardian.ng/life/ned-nwoko-takes-war-against-malaria-to-antartica/
  18. "Malaria: FG backs Nwoko's planned fumigation of Nigeria". March 1, 2020.
  19. "Ali Modu Sheriff, Adamu Adamu endorses Ned Nwoko's Malaria Project". February 13, 2020.
  20. "I want to make Delta world's tourist centre –Nwoko". March 28, 2019.
  21. "A Walk For Tourism ––Ned Nwoko Foundation". June 26, 2018.
  22. "Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation | Homepage". nednwokofoundation.org.
  23. "Delta Sen-Elect Donates N100M for Rehabilitation of S/East-Abuja Road". News & Information You Need to Know from ROOTS TV. May 9, 2019.
  24. "Nwoko To Lift West African Sports With $200,000 »". December 23, 2019.
  25. "Nwoko to lift West African sports with $200,000".
  26. "Regina Daniels Relishing Romance with Ned Nwoko". May 4, 2019.
    • 2019: Delta Role Model Awards - Humanitarian Services
  28. "StackPath". leadership.ng.
  29. "Philanthropist Prince Nwoko Bags Man of the year Award". November 27, 2019.
  30. "DUBAI STANDS STILL AS NED NWOKO PICKS ANOTHER AWARD – Abuja Reporters". abujareporters.com.ng.
  31. "Hon. Dr. Ned Nwoko receives SuncityNews Champions of Democracy and Development award 2019". August 20, 2019.
  32. "Ned Nwoko bags UNN Icon Award". February 5, 2020.
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