Biography

Uche Nnaji: Biography, Age, Education, Marriage, Political Career, Controversy, and More

Published

9 months ago

2023/07/28

Uche Nnaji Nwakaibie is a Nigerian politician and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 governorship election.

His name was included in the 28 ministerial nominees by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a list which was presented by Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu‘s chief of staff and the immediate past Speaker of the House of the Representatives, to Senate President Godswill Akpabio at exactly 01:19 pm on July 27, 2023.

Who is Uche Nnaji?

Parents

Uche Nnaji was born into the family of Chief & Mrs. Obed Nnaji. He is the first of four children.

His father, however, died in 1978. His father’s sudden demise left his mother as the family’s breadwinner.

Tribe

He was born in Akpugo Nkanu West LGA in Enugu State.

Wife and children

Chief Uche is married with four children.

Education

Uche had all of his education in Enugu state, his home 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).

Business career

Uche’s early exposure to the business world greatly benefited from his mother’s enduring value for resource management with integrity and hardwork – traits which became manifest during his service as a Youth Corper at NASCO and Jos International Brewery, all in Plateau State.

Both organisations expanded his outlook and further equipped him with good business practices and general procurement skills.

Towards the second half of his Youth Service, his mother gave him N10,000.00 to persuade him to settle down for paid employment upon completing his service year.

As soon as he got the N10,000.00 he ventured into business. He first got a return ticket to London for N400.00, went and procured CLAFORAN INJECTION in vials, notably with other pain relievers.

All were eventually sold at good profit to Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, under the late Dr. Jacob Igwe, then CMD, and late Mr. Chukwueke, Chief Pharmacist, at the time.

Political career

The guber candidate came to the limelight in 1999 when he won the senatorial ticket of the then Alliance for Democracy, AD.

According to reports, Nnaji 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.

He was later to step down for Chief Jim Nwobodo, who was eventually elected senator for the senatorial district.

Uche Nnaji is a brother to Hon Nnoli Nnaji representing Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Nnoli is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections. He was re-elected.

Some of Chief Uche Nnaji’s accomplishments in politics include:

Won election as Senator, Enugu East Senatorial Zone 1999 (unconditionally relinquished the seat to HE Chief Jim Nwobodo).
Foundation Member–PDPSouth East Zone, 1998.
Convener–PDPEnugu State, 1998.
Caucus Member- PDPEnugu State, 1998.
Member–PDP National Finance Committee & Poverty Alleviation, 1998.
Member–PPAC Sub Committee on Rural Development, 1999.
Caucus member UNCP, Enugu State, 1996–1998.
Financier–UNCP Enugu East Senatorial Zone, 1996-1998.

He also served in the following public positions: