Uche Nnaji is currently serving as the Minister of Innovation Science and Technology of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Profile Review
Full Name: Uche Nnaji Nwakaibie
Age
State of origin: Enugu State
Portfolio: Minister of Innovation Science and Technology
Biography
Chief & Mrs. Obed Nnaji of Akpugo Nkanu West LGA in Enugu State are the parents of Chief Nnaji.
He is the first of four kids.
He completed all of his academic work at Enugu State.
He attended the University of Nigeria’s Nsukka Campus, St. Patrick’s College in Emene, Enugu, and Santa Maria Primary School in Enugu (now Ziks Avenue Primary School).
Due to his upbringing, he was known as an authentic “Enugu Boy”.
In 1978, Nwakaibie’s father passed away.
Due to the abrupt death of his father, his mother was left to support the family financially, a role she carried out admirably.
She did a great job of handling her late husband’s estate and made sure that each of her kids had a special upbringing and a solid foundation.
Business Career
The purchase, installation, and commissioning of all specialized hospital-grade plumbing and sanitary wares for the then-NEW UNTH, ITUKU/OZALLA was one of the key contracts that established his reputation as a successful businessman.
He actively took part in the contracts for the installation and purchase of medical equipment.
He still keeps up a positive presence there.
He was in a strong entrepreneurial position because of his early involvement in the hospital and medical installation and procurement industries.
He gained from numerous contacts with much older senior executives, where he learned the value of patience and humility.
He also discovered that he was the youngest and first African to have a CT scan for Nigeria in the middle of the 1980s.
With these successes, the youthful Uche Nnaji (Nwakaibie) was drawn into politics and developed a passion for helping the disadvantaged group who lacked the financial means to fully participate in politics. He gave money to many of them to accomplish
Political Career
Nnaji was the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the concluded 2023 general elections.
Against the orders of the then-military administrator of Enugu State, Uche led his senatorial zone during the UNCP/GDM/DPN political era to guarantee that Chief Jim Nwobodo dealt Senator Ken Nnamani a crushing loss. Ken Nnamani of the UNCP had his first political prison baptism as a result of his defeat in the first Enugu East senatorial election. For ‘derailing’ the Abacha transition scheme and supporting opposition candidates in Enugu State,’ Nwakaibie served nearly four months in jail.
When General Abacha passed away, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the new Head of State, freed all political prisoners, allowing him to reclaim his freedom. Nwakaibie played a significant role in the establishment of the PDP in Enugu State at the beginning of party politics in 1998.
He was going to run for senator in the PDP’s Enugu East Senatorial Zone, but the party’s then-National Secretary, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, changed his name to Senator Ken Nnamani after he switched from the APP. Angered by the injustice, he switched to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) 72 hours before the election and defeated PDP candidate Senator Ken Nnamani in 65 out of 66 wards.
Nwakaibie’s accomplishments in politics during this time include:
• Won election as Senator, Enugu East Senatorial Zone 1999 (unconditionally relinquished seat to HE Chief Jim Nwobodo).
• Foundation Member–PDPSouth East Zone, 1998.
• Convener–PDPEnugu State, 1998.
• Caucus Member- PDPEnugu State, 1998.
