(PunchNg) Chief Uchechukwu Ogah is a man of many parts- banker, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician.
He was born on December 22, 1969 into the family of Chief Wilson and Ezinne Pauline Ogah. An indigene of Onuaku Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, he was educated at the Ishiagu High School, the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting in 1995, graduating with a distinction.
He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Bachelor of Science degree (Banking and Finance) from Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos.
After his secondary education, Ogah worked at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) from 1986 to 89, before he went in search of higher academic laurels.
He started his banking career with the defunct NAL Bank Plc during his one year mandatory national youth service. After his service, he was employed at the now defunct All States Trust Bank where he worked for about two years before moving on to Zenith Bank in 1997. At Zenith Bank, Ogah is credited with growing a new branch from zero balance sheet to over N9 billion. He rose to the position of an Assistant General Manager (AGM) in the bank before his exit in 2007.
After leaving Zenith Bank, the Uturu-born entrepreneur founded Masters Energy Group. Today, the company has sizeable workforce and has grown into a big conglomerate with interests in oil and gas, banking, insurance, aviation, shipping, dredging, logistics, construction, travel services, and power.
His foundation, the Uche Ogah Foundation, founded in December, 2001, has provided economic and medical succour to many in Abia State and different communities across the nation. In the last couple of years, Ogah has also offered scholarships to many students across the country.
He has also instituted a chair at the Abia State University and is building a 5,000 capacity auditorium in the same university.
Ogah is a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Shipping, Employment & Career and Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers.
In 2014, he was honoured with a national award, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Federal Government. In the run-up to the 2015 general election, Ogah indicated interest in the governorship of Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His campaign group, Abia Rejoice, was the rave of the moment.
In the December 2014 Abia PDP governorship primary, which was won by the Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Ogah came second. However, on Monday June 27, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja nullified Ikpeazu’s victory in the PDP primary.
Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) complied with the court order and issued the Uturu-born entrepreneur turned politician with a Certificate of Return as the governor-elect for Abia State.
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