Ned Nwoko

Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko (born December 21, 1960) popularly known as Ned Nwoko is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and philanthropist.[1][2] He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha North-South and Oshimili North-South. In January 2020, he undertook a symbolic expedition to Antarctica to flag off a Malaria Eradication Project.[3] That made 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) December 21, 1960
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)
Alma materUniversity of Keele, King's College London
WebsiteOfficial website
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

He also attended King's College London, where he received an LLM in maritime and commercial law. Ned Nwoko was subsequently called to the English bar, at Lincoln's Inn.[4]

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.[5]

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

Nwoko made a remarkable entry into Nigeria's political scene when he was elected member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.[6] He represented Anioca / Oshimili federal constituency, making an impressive showing in the legislative house.[7][8] He contested for the Delta State gubernatorial election and lost to James Ibori. In 2011, he also lost the Senatorial election to Ifeanyi Okowa.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11] 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 refunded all the monies in line with the court judgment of 2013.[12]

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.[13]

Malaria eradication advocacy

Ned Nwoko is a strong advocate of Malaria eradication in Africa.[14] He is the initiator of the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Foundation.[15] He flagged off the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication campaign via a symbolic expedition to the Antarctica in January 2020.[16] 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.[17][18]

Mount Delta

Nwoko is the founder of the tourism destination Mount Delta, one of 21 tourism sites approved by Delta state government.[19] The tourist site consists of museum, farm, zoo, fishponds, poultry and a 9-hole golf course.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22] In 2019, he pledged the sum of $200,000 (about N71.6m) to UNESCO to support the development of sports in West Africa.[23][24]

Personal life

Ned Nwoko married Nigerian Nollywood actress Regina Daniels in 2019.[25] On May 31, 2020, Ned announced that he was expecting a baby boy with his current wife. He was also married to Laila Charani,She reportedly left the marriage and returned to Morocco after announcing she's divorced Ned Nwoko. Laila, who married Ned over 10 years ago, shares 3 kids with him.

Awards and recognition
  • 2018: Africa Value Awards - Effective Leadership and Youth Empowerment[26]
  • 2019: Peace Achievers Awards[27]
  • 2019: Delta Role Model Awards - Humanitarian Services
  • 2019: Prime Excellence Recognition Awards - Man of the year[28]
  • 2019: Abuja AR Reporters Awards- Man of the year 2019[29]
  • 2019: Suncity Champions of Democracy Awards - Humanitarian Services[30]
  • 2019: 5 stars awards for Tourism Development in Africa
  • 2019: University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria Philanthropy Awards[31]
  • 2019: Anti corruption crusader Awards
  • 2019: All Africa Music Awards AFRIMMA - Africa Community Impact Awards

References
  1. Okogba, Emmanuel (February 20, 2020). "Africa: Ned Nwoko Set to Become Africa's Biggest Humanitarian". Vanguard. Retrieved February 19, 2022 – via AllAfrica.
  2. Kachi, Zeal (September 16, 2021). "The undiluted story of Prince Ned Nwoko". The Guardian. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  3. "Antarctica: Ned Nwoko mounts Nigerian flag to create malaria eradication awareness (photos)". Vanguard. January 21, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  4. Lee, Kacy (July 31, 2017). "A Peep into The Profile Of Prince Ned Nwoko, The Man Who "Ended" Nigeria's Recession". GistMania. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  5. "Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation | Founder/President". Ned Nwoko Foundation.
  6. Nwoko, Chinedu (July 23, 2010). "Nigeria: I Was the Second Highest Sponsor of Bills - Ned Nwoko". Independent Nigeria (Interview). Interviewed by Gbenga Bada. Retrieved February 19, 2022 – via AllAfrica.
  7. Nwoko, Ned (February 9, 2020). "Why Nigeria's politics is bad – Ned Nwoko". The Sun (Interview). Interviewed by Nkechi Chima.
  8. Okoeki, Oziegbe (November 24, 2019). "Be committed to nation building, ex Rep tells ASELGON". The Nation.
  9. Obinna (December 26, 2019). "Ned Nwoko Biography: Facts, career, wives, net worth, recognitions, philanthropy". Sidomex Entertainment. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. Ogunesan, Tunde (July 7, 2019). "2019 Public Service: Ned Nwoko, Paris Club refund facilitator, delivers UI Alumni Association Lecture". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  11. Abubakar (March 28, 2018). "Nwoko: The Pathfinder of Nigeria's Economic Progress" (Opinion). Leadership.
  12. "THERE'S MORE TO PRINCE NED NWOKO - MGBEKE MEDIA". mgbeke.media. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021.
  13. Amuwa, Stella Maries (April 7, 2019). "Project Tourism To Showcase Nigeria's Hospitality Culture". Leadership. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  14. "Ned Nwoko, Wizkid partnering to eradicate malaria in Africa". December 17, 2019.
  15. "Ned Nwoko Foundation reiterates commitment to malaria eradication in..." February 14, 2020.
  16. "Ned Nwoko Takes War Against Malaria to Antartica". January 8, 2020.
  17. "Malaria: FG backs Nwoko's planned fumigation of Nigeria". March 1, 2020.
  18. "Ali Modu Sheriff, Adamu Adamu endorses Ned Nwoko's Malaria Project". February 13, 2020.
  19. "I want to make Delta world's tourist centre –Nwoko". March 28, 2019.
  20. "A Walk For Tourism ––Ned Nwoko Foundation". June 26, 2018.
  21. "Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation | Homepage". nednwokofoundation.org.
  22. "Delta Sen-Elect Donates N100M for Rehabilitation of S/East-Abuja Road". News & Information You Need to Know from ROOTS TV. May 9, 2019.
  23. "Nwoko To Lift West African Sports With $200,000". December 23, 2019.
  24. "Nwoko to lift West African sports with $200,000". December 23, 2019.
  25. "Regina Daniels Relishing Romance with Ned Nwoko". May 4, 2019.
    • 2019: Delta Role Model Awards - Humanitarian Services
  27. "StackPath". leadership.ng.
  28. "Philanthropist Prince Nwoko Bags Man of the year Award". November 27, 2019.
  29. "DUBAI STANDS STILL AS NED NWOKO PICKS ANOTHER AWARD – Abuja Reporters". abujareporters.com.ng.
  30. "Hon. Dr. Ned Nwoko receives SuncityNews Champions of Democracy and Development award 2019". August 20, 2019.
  31. "Ned Nwoko bags UNN Icon Award". February 5, 2020.
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