It’s no longer news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated the first batch of 28 eminently qualified Nigerians to serve as his ministers. What’s news however, is the pumper résumé paraded by some of the nominees.
Those nominated are Hon Nkeiruka Chidumen Onyejeocha, Abubakar Momoh, Amb Yusuf Maitama, Architect Ahmad Dangiwa, Hanatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Beta Edu, Doris Aniche, David Umahi, Nyesom Wike, Mohamed Badaru, Nasir El-Rufai, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nkiru onyejiocha, Olubumi Ojo, Stella okotekpe, Uju Kennedy, Bello Mohammed Goroyo; Dele Alake; Lateef Fagbemi; Mohammed Idris; Olawale Edun; Adebayo Adelabu; Imma Suleiman; Ali Pate; Joseph Utsev; Abubaka kyari; John Eno; Sani Abubakar Danladi
Most of the nominees parades unimaginable and incredible résumé. A ready example is the four terms (16 years) member of the House of Representatives and former House Committee Chairman on Aviation, Hon Nkeiruka Chidumen Onyejeocha.
She’s the immediate past Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, which she obtained from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (2021). She bagged Masters in Transport Management (MTM), from Ladoke Akintola University, Oyo, Nigeria, in April 2009. Similarly, in August 2005, Hon Onyejeocha clinched Masters of Arts International Affairs and Diplomacy.
Upon the conclusion of her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in July 2017 from Abia State University, Abia, Nigeria, She proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, in August 2019.
In July 1993, Hon Onyejeocha bagged a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies from the University of Nigeria. She also obtained a National Diploma in Social Work/Communication Development in July 1988 from the University of Nigeria.
Until her nomination as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), she represented the good people of Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency for four consecutive terms 2007 – 2023 (16 years). As Member of the Federal House of Representatives, she emerged as Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th Assembly.
During these years, she was one of the leading light/voice at the African, Caribbean and Pacific States Parliamentary Assembly and ACP- EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly; Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Chairman Women in Parliament, Member House Committee, Navy, Member house Committee, Petroleum (Up Stream), Member House Committee, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Member House Committee on House Services/Welfare, Member house committee on Public Procurement, Member House Committee on INEC and Member House Committee on Police Affairs.
These positions availed her the opportunity to sponsor several bills including the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 to enable every possibly Nigerian shot, access to immediate medical care in the absence of a police report; Sponsored Anti-torture Act 2017 to prohibit the maltreatment of all accused persons in Nigeria; Sponsored National Senior Citizens Centre Act, 2018 to cater for Nigerian Senior Citizens after retirement, among many others.
She led the Abia State chapter of Asiwaju Super Women and campaigned vigorously for the party’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
In the course of her 16 years soujorn at the Green Chamber, Hon Onyejeocha served as the House Committee Chairperson on Aviation for two consecutive terms (8 years), where she made landmark impacts on the sector. During the period, a lot of modern innovations were unleashed on the Aviation sector, including the deployment of emerging (advanced) technologies in line with the global best practices.
One of the hallmarks of operations in the Aviation sector is safety. In order to enhance the performance of critical agencies in the sector, she embarked on modernisation of infrastructure and equipment in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
As Member of the Federal House of Representatives, she emerged as Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th Assembly, Chairman House Committee on Aviation of the 7th and 8th Assembly.
She was also elected Chairman of Women in Parliament Committee of the 6th Assembly; Sponsored Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 to enable every possibly Nigerian shot, access to immediate medical care in the absence of a police report; Sponsored Anti-torture Act 2017 to prohibit the maltreatment of all accused persons in Nigeria; Sponsored National Senior Citizens Centre Act, 2018 to cater for Nigerian Senior Citizens after retirement.
Onyejeocha political career started with her appointment in 2002 to the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development. In 2003, she became the executive chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
She is, among others, an officer of the Order of The Niger (OON); an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Shipping (ACIS); an Associate of Institute of Personal Management (AIPM), and Member National Council of Women Society (NCWS).