Senator Uche Ekwunife has been honoured with a Humanitarian Ambassador, South East Award by the Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc, London, United Kingdom.
Ekwunife was represented by Dr. Mrs. Ebele Okafor in the Award ceremony which held at Oasis Banqueting, 6-8, Themes Road, London.
The Founder of the Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc, London, Mrs. Helen Duruhesie eulogized the leadership qualities of Senator Ekwunife whom she described as a humanitarian Ambassador.
She said the decision to honour the two term Senator was informed by her sterling performance both in human capital development and all round achievements in private and public sectors.
In her response, the Senator who was represented by Dr. Mrs Ebele Okafor identified the place of culture and tradition in fostering unity among Igbos in the diaspora and thanked Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc, London for the honour.
She said: I’m honoured to accept this award on behalf of Distinguished Senator Uche Ekwunife who couldn’t be here present because of another official engagement. She deeply appreciates this award and she’s proud to be part of Igbo community and always proud to be identified as Igbo. She believes that no matter how far, we should never forget our roots, our tradition and the beauty of Igbo culture.
She further disclosed that Ekwunife is inspired by the group’s vision to bring young Igbos in the diaspora closer to their rich cultural heritage and reiterated the readiness of the Senator to always support the Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc to achieve their lofty dreams.
Senator Uche Ekwunife hails from Igbo-Ukwu in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. She had her primary and secondary education in Onitsha, where she laid the foundation for her future academic pursuits.
In 1992, she earned a Bachelor of Science, (Bsc) degree in Business Education and Accounting from the University of Calabar. Her academic pursuits continued with a Post Graduate Diploma, (PGD) in Business Administration in 2001, followed by a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2003 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Her academic excellence culminated in a milestone attainment of a PhD in Public Administration from Atlantic International University (AIU), Hawaii, USA, in 2021.
Senator Ekwunife’s illustrious career began in the banking industry, where she achieved remarkable accomplishments and a rapid ascent. As a Branch Manager at the defunct Standard Trust Bank, she demonstrated exceptional leadership and a tireless work ethic, which earned her successive promotions to Area Manager and ultimately, Head of the Private Banking Unit at the prestigious United Bank for Africa (UBA), following the merger of Standard Trust Bank with UBA. Her extraordinary achievements and dedication to excellence were formally recognized when she was awarded the coveted title of ‘Young Banker of the Year’ in 2003, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the banking profession.
In 2007, Senator Ekwunife was elected to the Federal House of Representatives, serving for two terms till 2015. During her tenure, she held various leadership positions including Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Deputy Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Leader Anambra State Caucus House of Representatives and Leader All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Anambra State Caucus House of Representatives.
Due to her exceptional and quality representation of her constituents in the House of Representatives, in June 2015, she was elected into the Nigerian Senate as Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, a position she held until she was ultimately removed by an unfavorable court judgment in November 2015. During this brief period in the Senate, Senator Ekwunife was appointed as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, becoming the first woman and first in Southeast to occupy this position. She was also a member of several Ad-Hoc Committees in the 8th Senate, including Committee on Legislative Agenda, Committee on Works, Committee on Rules and Business and Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
In 2019, Senator Uche Ekwunife was re-elected into the 9th Senate as Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District with a more overwhelming electoral victory margin than in 2015. In a feat that had never before been accomplished in Anambra Central, Senator Ekwunife won the election in all 7 local government areas of Anambra Central in what is now referred to as a “7 over 7” victory.
In the 9th Assembly of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ekwunife Chaired the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and was a member of several other committees like; Public Procurement, Airforce, Upstream Petroleum, Public Account, Ethics and Privileges, Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Finance, Senate Services, Special Duties, Police Affairs, Youth and Sports Development, Women Affairs, Ad-Hoc Committee on 1999 Constitution Review, and Ad-Hoc Committee on NDDC.
She was adjudged the best Chairman Committee on Science and Technology, having made National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) that has been in establishment for 33 years to have first line charge of their money from the federation account within 6 months of chairing the committee. She attracted three federal Agencies representing South East to Anambra State.
Ekwunife still holds the record of the best Legislator Anambra State ever produced both at the House of Representatives and Senate. She was the first lawmaker to construct roads within her constituency. She constructed roads in all the communities within Anambra Central and even beyond. She built hospitals, schools and equipped them with modern medical and educational facilities. She also facilitated over 800 federal employment opportunities and attracted many other vital federal projects, significantly impacting her constituents’ lives.
Ekwunife ran for the position of Governor of Anambra State twice in 2013 and 2022 and came first runner-up in the two encounters at the primaries.
She is President of three Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs. Through her Greenlife, Emmanuel Ogudebe Foundation and Senator Uche Ekwunife (SUE) Foundation, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and philanthropy. She has empowered over 10,000 people through her scholarship and welfare schemes since 1999, before her foray into politics. She has also built over 35 houses for less privileged women, youths, and the downtrodden in her constituency. Through her NGO, Senator Ekwunife constructed and equipped a state of art Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Centre at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Apart from being a politician, Senator Ekwunife is also an entrepreneur of international standard. She founded Treasure furniture and Crescent Clothing, with speciality in making school furniture and school uniforms among others.
Senator Uche Ekwunife’s exceptional leadership has garnered impressive recognition. She received the prestigious Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. The Sun Newspaper honored her as Humanitarian Service Icon of the Year in 2022. Additionally, she was recognized as the highest individual sponsor of pilgrims in Anambra State by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission in 2015. She also holds an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the Institute of Journalism, Management, and Continuing Education, Enugu.
Ekwunife is a member of various professional bodies, including Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Nigerian Institute of Management, (NIM). She also served as a Board Member, Nigeria Firm Corporation and a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
Also in recognition of her selfless service and dedication to better the lots of Ndi Anambra, Ekwunife was conferred with over 41 chieftaincy titles from various communities within and outside Anambra Central Senatorial zone including: Ada-Ugo Igbo (Igbo-ukwu), Anyanwu-Nri (Nri-Kingdom), Anyanwu (Aguluzigbo) and Nnedioramma (Aguata). Others include: Ifekaolaedo (Ukpo), Udala-Oma (Enugwu-Agidi) Ifeomachukwumelu Ndi Anaocha by all the communities in Anaocha Local government area, Akaekpuchi-Onwa (Neni) among others. She broke the traditional record to become the first woman ever to be elected into the prestigious Ndi-alo Eze Nri, the respected Advisers to the sacred throne of Eze Nri Ancient Kingdom.
Currently, Senator Ekwunife serves as the Director General of the Southeast Governors’ Forum.
Aside her scintillating profile both in politics and private sector, Senator Ekwunife is down to earth as a mother and wife. She is still a woman who practices her call to serve her family, going about her normal duties as a house wife without abdicating her responsibilities to her family.
She is married to Chief Larry Ekwunife (Ochendo), a distinguished gentleman from Nri Ancient Kingdom, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. Their union is blessed intelligent and beautiful children.
