In the first part of this article, we reeled out names of political heavyweights and some with potentials capable of flying the flag of any political party in the state come Anambra 2021.
The details below are the second part of the topic. Just like the first part, the names represented here are in no particular order.
6. Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor
Hon. Nonso Okafor is the current lawmaker representing Nnewi North in Anambra State House of Assembly.
Popularly known as Smart, Nonso Okafor was born and bred in Nnewi. His first stint in higher education was at Federal Polytechnic Oko, where he displayed exceptional leadership skills and left indelible legacies as the Students Union President between 2006/2007.
His visible impacts in the areas of youth empowerment, leadership, good governance, and humanitarian services have earned him several awards.
He is one of the youngest recipients of the prestigious Henry Dunant Gold Medal of Red Cross and Red Crescent. He is also an awardee of the coveted Nigerian Youth Leadership Award of LEAP Africa, funded by the Ford Foundation and International Youth Foundation, USA.
Smart was also a delegate and strong voice in Next Generation Nigeria, an independent Task Force for the future of Nigeria powered by the British Council in 2010.
He was a delegate to the Mandela Washington Young Africa Leaders Initiative YALI sponsored by the then President Barrack Obama in 2014.
While in the USA, he moved the brave motion preventing youths from 50 African countries from adopting Gay rights as the major issue facing Africa during their YALI program in the US. He is also a member of Amnesty International and the Coalition for Youth Capacity of Youngstars Foundation Int’l.
He is a member of many professional associations such as Austin Black Chamber, Austin Texas, USA, Mandela Washington Fellow Alumni (YALI Fellow), LEAP African Youth Leadership Program Alumni, University of Texas IVP Alumni, Alamo City Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio USA.
He is the Chairman/CEO of Reapfold Limited, one of the biggest printing and branding companies in Anambra with offices in Lagos and Awka. He is the Managing Director, Downtown Farmcity Limited, an integrated farming business in Isu-Anaocha Awka North
Hon. Nonso Smart is from Odida Nnewichi.
Read Also: HOW SMART OKAFOR WON NNEWI NORTH STATE CONSTITUENCY ELECTION(Opens in a new browser tab)
Strength
Youthfulness: Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor is a youth, with the current agitation that youths should be given a chance, it may surely play in his favor.
Competence: Based on his curriculum vitae, Hon. Nonso Okafor is very competent enough to govern, Anambra State. He has shown strong intellectual depth, vision, the rigor of character and creative ingenuity, so far in Anambra State House of Assembly
Popularity: Hon. Smart is popular among the youths of Anambra State, having served in various youth organizations and bodies, including being the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). He is also popular among many women following his Nwa Nne N’ehe Akara story.
Party: He is a member of the ruling party in the state, APGA, and is in good relationship with the Governor.
Weakness
Party: Based on current realities, it maybe be difficult for him to emerge as the candidate of the party.
Finance: Hon. Nonso Okafor is not a moneybag.
7. Professor. Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu
Prof. Kingsley Moghalu was the 2019 Young Progressive Party (YPP) presidential candidate.
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu is a political economist, lawyer, former United Nations official, former Deputy-Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, and professor in International Business and public policy at the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is also a graduate of law from the University of Nigeria.
Prof. Moghalu obtained a Masters degree in the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He also obtained a Ph.D. in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London.
He also earned the International Certificate in Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management in London. He is also an alumnus of advanced executive education programs in macroeconomics and financial sector management, corporate governance, and global strategic leadership at the International Monetary Fund Institute, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
His stint at CBN as the deputy-governor as seen on his website reads:
For five years at the Central Bank of Nigeria from November 2009 to October 2014, Chiedu Moghalu managed the systemic risks to Nigeria’s financial system, made sure the system remained stable and led the team that executed the controversial banking sector reforms initiated by then CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
It was a demanding and stressful time. The nation’s financial system was negatively impacted by the global financial crisis of 2008. Nigeria’s banks were hit by their lending exposures to oil and gas companies after oil prices crashed. The oil revenues, which the government deposited in banks, dropped to a trickle, and the stock market, to which banks were also exposed through margin lending, nearly collapsed in 2008. As Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS), he was also a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and the Bank’s board of directors.
In 2002, Moghalu was appointed to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, as head of global partnerships and resource mobilization at The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM). In 2006, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Moghalu to the redesigned panel of the United Nations Internal Justice System.
Kingsley Moghalu is from Akaboezem Uruagu, Nnewi.
Strength
Competence: From his curriculum-vitae, there is no doubt that Kingsley Moghalu has a rich profile. He is intellectually sound and understands leadership. In fact, he has all it takes to govern Anambra State.
Weakness
Party: As it stands, Kingsley Moghalu does not belong and is not a member of any political party in Nigeria. After the 2019 presidential campaign, he resigned his membership of Young Progressive Party (YPP)
Elite: Prof. Kingsley Moghalu appears to be more of an elite politician. He doesn’t have any relationship with the grassroots.
Popularity Question: Prof. Kingsley Moghalu enjoyed soaring popularity on various social media platforms, many thanks to Millenials that admired his fine CV, but the same did not translate in the ballot box as he lost in his polling booth and community, Akaboezem, in the last general election.
8. Hon. Sir. Ogbuefi Melie Onyejepu
Melie Onyejepu is the current Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Monitoring and Implementation.
Ogbuefi Melie Ifeanyi Onyejepu is an astute banker and financial expert with over 18 years’ experience which saw him excel in Retail Banking and Product Development, Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking, Banking Management, Loan Recovery, Loan Portfolio Packaging and Management at various capacities in Diamond Bank Plc, First Atlantic Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc where he was Assistant General Manager before joining the Obiano administration as Senior Special Assistant on Budget and Financial Strategy. He also holds an MBA (Banking and Finance) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
By the virtue of his position, Ogbuefi Onyejepu is one of the engine room of Obiano administration, as he is overseas most of the state government financial dealings.
Hon. Melie Onyejepu is from Nnewichi, Nnewi.
Strength
Party: Hon. Melie Onyejepu is a member of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), a party that is in the seat of power in Anambra State. Melie Onyejepu is believed to be in a strong relationship with the Governor.
Competence: From his curriculum vitae, Hon. Melie Onyejepu is competent enough to govern Anambra State. His background is a clear testimony of his abilities, also, having worked very closely with the current governor, he already has a knowledge of the state.
Weakness
Popularity Question: Hon. Melie Onyejepu is relatively unknown in Anambra State with particular reference to the grassroots.
Party: His chances of emerging the candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is considered slim.
9. Afamefuna Mbanefo
Mr. Afam Mbanefo is the current Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy.
He is a graduate of Computer and Network Security of London Metropolitan University.
He was the Commissioner of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing, and Export during the 1st term administration of Governor Willie Obiano.
His exploits as the Commissioner For Agriculture saw him win the Pan African Prize for Excellence.
He is also the current Chairman of the Anambra State Tenders Board.
He is from Otolo, Nnewi.
Strength
Party: He is a member of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and is believed to have been one of the persons penciled down as a possible replacement for Governor Obiano.
Competence: Based on his background and experience, he has the qualities of becoming the Governor of Anambra State.
Weakness
Elite: He is an elite politician and has no relationship with the grassroots.
Finance: Afam Mbanefo is more of a civil servant, as such, may not have the necessary financial resources.
Popularity Question: Hon. Afam Mbanefo is not popular even in his own town, Nnewi.
Media: No media presence.
10. Dame Barr. Uju Uchendu Ozoka
Dame Barr. Uju Ozoka was the Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate in the November 18, 2017, Gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
Dame Uju Ozoka is a lawyer, publisher, and philanthropist.
Barr. Uju Ozoka is one of the popular philanthropists in Nnewi who have continued to give hope to the hopeless. She is a powerful and well connected female politician.
She is from Otolo, Nnewi.
Strength
Gender: After the youths, women have a huge voting strength in elections in Anambra State.
Competence: Based on her background, she is qualified to govern Anambra State.
Finance: She has the financial resources to run her campaign.
Weakness
Party: It is not known if she belongs to any political party, currently.
Popularity Question: She is not popular.
Media: No media presence.
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