The Buhari cabinet is made up of personnel appointed by the President to take charge of each government ministry. As we all know, the President had, in 2015, just as is required by the Constitution, declared his cabinet members after an excruciating six-month wait. And from that time until today, there have been a little over 50 members of the Cabinet.
When compared to Obasanjo’s, Yar’adua’s, or Jonathan’s cabinets, the consensus is that the Buhari cabinet falls short in more than one indices but this is not the argument for today. Buhari is compelled by the constitution to appoint one person from each state for his cabinet. So, today, we asked and answered the question of, who are the Igbos from the Southeast region in his cabinet?
Here are all the South-Easterners who are former or current members of the Buhari Cabinet.
Okechukwu Enelamah
An indigene of Abia State, Dr. Enelamah was the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and his tenure ran from November 2015 till August 2019. At 57 years of age (as of 2021), the former Minister has a profile that packs quite a punch.
He is a trained physician and obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985, graduating from the College of Medicine with a spot in the Dean’s list of honours.
In 1994, he proceeded to earn a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard University.
With such an educational background, Enelamah was quite set up for success and it is little wonder why President Buhari appointed him to the Industry, Trade and Investment portfolio following his nomination in 2015. During his time in the ministry, he oversaw the implementation of policies related to industrialization of the economy.
Read this – Everything we know about the Igbos in Yar’adua cabinet
Currently, he is the chairman and co-founder of African Capital Alliance, a private equity firm that focuses on oil and gas, small and medium-scale enterprises, real estate, and the telecommunication sector. The company is said to have over $160 million in capital commitments.
Sharon Ikeazor
She is the current Minister of State for Environment following her appointment in August 2019. She is the daughter of Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN). While it is yet to be confirmed if Sharon is married, the honourable minister goes by her father’s name. Her father was the Oboli of Obosi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State. He was the founder of an NGO called Free Legal Aid for the Poor in Nigeria.
Following the footsteps of her father, Sharon Ikeazor bagged a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Benin in 1984. She was called to bar the following year and went on to establish her own law firm in 1994. She has been active in politics since 2011 when she became the National Women Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) party.
When the All Progressive Congress (APC) party was formed by the coalition of some opposition parties in 2013 (including the CPC), Sharon became the Interim National Women Leader of the APC and went on to emerge as the Senatorial candidate of the Party in Anambra Central Zone during the 2019 elections.
She is the founder of the Wakiliyan Mata Environment Initiative, an NGO that helps internally displaced women with interest-free loans to start-up small-scale businesses.
Chris Ngige
Chris Nwabueze Ngige was appointed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2015 and has remained in that position till date. He was formerly the Governor of Anambra State from 2003-2006 before he became a senator representing Anambra Central Constituency in 2011.
Ngige is a trained medical doctor and graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1979. Following this background, he served in the Federal Ministry of Health as deputy director in 1998.
He hails from Alor, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.
Geoffrey Onyeama
Born and bred in Enugu State, Onyeama is a politician and the current Minister for Foreign Affairs, an office he assumed in 2015 following his appointment by President Buhari.
In 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Columbia University, New York. In 1990, he completed his B.A program in Law from St. John’s College, Cambridge to his list.
In 1984, he bagged a Masters of Laws (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 1984, he added a Masters of Arts (MA) in Law from St. John’s College, Cambridge to the list.
This volume of study life seemed to have paved Onyeama’s way to his ministerial appointment.
Emeka Nwajiuba
An indigene of Ehime, Mbano, Imo State, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba is the current Minister of State for Education in Nigeria. He was appointed to the Ministry in 2019. He is a trained lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Imo State University.
He equally went to the University of Lagos where he earned his Masters of Law (LL.M) and then a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Jos.
Read this – Meet the Igbos in Obasanjo’s cabinet
He is one of the frontmen that came together to give birth to what is known today as All Progressive Congress (APC) party in 2013. He has also served as a member of the House of Reps from 1999-2003.
Ogbonnaya Onu
Reputed to be the first civilian governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu is the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology. He was appointed to the ministry in 2015 and he served until he became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on June 14, 2019.
He was born on December 1, 1951, to the Royal family of late Eze David Aba Onu (Eze Adu 1 of Uburu) in Amita, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State. Ogbonnaya Onu is a trained engineer with a B.Sc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos.
He went on with his education until he earned a Ph.D. in the same field from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1980.
Sampson Ogah
Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah is an indigene of Abia State and the current Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development. He was appointed to this position on July 23, 2019, by President Buhari.
He holds an Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Accounting from the Institute of Management and Technology, a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a B.Sc in Banking and Finance from Ogun State University, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos.
He is known for his philanthropic acts through the Uche Ogah Foundation that focuses on bettering the lives of the less privileged in Nigeria.
Anthony Chigozie Anwukah
An indigene of Egbuoma, Oguta, Imo State, Anthony Anwukah is the Minister of State for Education, a position he was appointed to in 2015.
He is a professor of education who studied English Language and Literature at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and bagged his doctorate from the University of Washington.
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Written by Johnson Onyedika, Enugu
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