Chukwuemeka Chikelu

Chukwuemeka Chikelu
Minister of Information and National Orientation
In office July 2003 – June 2005
Succeeded by	Frank Nweke
Personal details
Political party	People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Chukwuemeka Chikelu is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who was a National Representative from Anambra State (1999–2003), and then was Minister of Information and National Orientation during the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Background

Chikelu earned a B.Sc. in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri and an LLB from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom before being called to the Nigerian Bar. He founded the Matterson Group, a real estate development company, in 1996.^[1] His father Chief Gilbert Chikelu, the Owelle Ichida, worked for Olusegun Obasanjo when he was military head of state.^[2]

Political career

In 1999, Chikelu ran successfully on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform as a representative for the Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia constituency of Anambra State, holding office until May 2003.^[3]

Obasanjo selected Chikelu as Minister of Information at the start of his second term in 2003, a position in which he was expected to act as government spokesman.^[2] In 2004, Chikelu announced an "image laundry" scheme to improve Nigeria's international image and make the country more attractive to foreign investors. The idea was greeted with some skepticism.^[4] In May 2004, he directed all Federal Government media chief executives to give reduced charges for HIV/AIDS messages, and urged all other media executives to increase coverage and education on the epidemic.^[5] He also challenged Nigerian journalists to sustain the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation, saying they "should make it a covenant to write at least a story on the evils of the practice."^[6]

Obasanjo dropped him from his cabinet in a major cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, replacing him with Frank Nweke.^[7]

In September 2008 he was named a member of the Anambra PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committee, aimed at resolving infighting between party factions in the state.^[8] In 2009, he was being seen as a potential candidate for Governor of Anambra State in the elections due on 6 February 2010, although he had failed to express interest in running for the position.^[9] Chikelu would be "clean" candidate, unblemished by the murky politics of Anambra State.^[10]

References

↑ "The Team: Chukwuemeka Chikelu - Chief Executive Officer". Matterson Properties Limited. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ 2.0 2.1 Maximus Uba (July 16, 2004). "Govt information management:How far can Chikelu go?". BNW News. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ "FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 20 FEBRUARY AND 7 MARCH 1999". Psephos. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Wakil Oyeleru Oyedemi (August 12, 2004). "What can Soyinka do?". Daily Independent Online. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Ikenna Emeka Okpani (4 May 2004). "Chikelu Orders Government Media to Dedicate Time to HIV/Aids". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ "Nigerian govt wants debate on female genital mutilation". Afrol News. 11 February 2004. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Olujimi, Chikelu (July 14, 2005). "As Obasanjo Reshuffles Cabinet... Ministers Under Probe for Corruption". BNW News. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Chuks Okocha (12 September 2008). "Jerry Gana Heads Anambra Reconciliation Committee". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Maximus Uba (09/21/09). "ANAMBRA 2010: WAITING FOR CHIKELU". Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
↑ "Dark horse, Emeka Chikelu, to fly PDP flag in Anambra State?". zumarockreports. 10/06/2009. Retrieved 2010-2-20. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)

Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 2003–2007

Vice President	Atiku Abubakar (May 2003–May 2007)

Agriculture (and Water Resources from Jan 2007)	Adamu Bello (July 2003–May 2007)

Aviation	Isa Yuguda (July 2003–July 2005) Babalola Borishade (July 2005–Nov 2006) Femi Fani-Kayode (November 2006–May 2007)

Commerce and Industry (initially Commerce)	Idris Waziri (July 2003–June 2006) Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Commerce July 2006–January 2007, Commerce and Industry January 2007–May 2007)

Communications (later and Information)	Cornelius Adebayo (July 2003–Aug 2006) Obafemi Anibaba (Aug 2006–Jan 2007) Frank Nweke (Jan 2007–May 2007)

Defence	Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (July 2003–2006) Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (2006–May 2007)

Education	Fabian Osuji (July 2003–Mar 2005) Chinwe Obaji (June 2005–June 2006) Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2006–May 2007)

Energy	Edmund Daukoru (July 2003–May 2007)

Environment (and Housing from Jan 2007)	Bala Mande (–July 2005) Iyorchia Ayu (June 2005–Dec 2005) Helen Esuene (Jan 2006–May 2007)

FCT Administration	Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (July 2003–May 2007)

Finance	Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2003–July 2006) Nnenadi Usman (July 2006–May 2007)

Foreign Affairs	Oluyemi Adeniji (July 2003–July 2006) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2006–August 2006) Joy Ogwu (August 2006–May 2007)

Health	Eyitayo Lambo (July 2003–May 2007)

Housing (merged into Environment Jan 2007)	Rahman Mimiko (June 2005–January 2007)

Information and National Orientation	Chukwuemeka Chikelu (July 2003–June 2005) Frank Nweke (June 2005–May 2007)

Industry (merged to Commerce & Industry Jan 2007)	Magaji Muhammed (–June 2005) Fidelis Tapgun (June 2005–January 2007)

Internal Affairs (Interior from January 2007)	Iyorchia Ayu (–June 2005) Magaji Muhammed (June 2005–June 2006) Oluyemi Adeniji (June 2006–May 2007)

Justice (Attorney General)	Akin Olujimi (–June 2005) Bayo Ojo (June 2005–May 2007)

Labour	Hassan Muhammed Lawal (July 2003–May 2007)

National Planning Commission	Abdallah Wali (Jan 2007–May 2007)

Police Affairs (merged into Interior in Jan 2007)	Broderick Bozimo (July 2003–January 2007)

Power and Steel	Liyel Imoke (July 2003–January 2007)

Science and Technology	Isoun Turner (July 2003–May 2007)

Solid Minerals (later Mines & Steel)	Odion Ugbesia (–June 2005) Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2005–) Lesley Obiorah (Jan 2007–May 2007)

Sports	Musa Mohammed (July 2003–July 2005) Saidu Samaila Sambawa (July 2005–) Bala Bawa Ka'oje (–May 2007)

Tourism, Culture and National Orientation	Femi Fani-Kayode (2006) Babalola Borishade (2006–May 2007)

Transport	Precious Sekibo (July 2003–January 2007) Cornelius Adebayo (Jan 2007–May 2007)

Water Resources (merged with Agriculture Jan 2007)	Muktar Shagari (July 2003–January 2007)

Women Affairs	Rita Akpan (July 2003–June 2005) Maryam Ciroma (June 2005–May 2007)

Works and Housing	Adeseye Ogunlewe (July 2003–March 2006) Obafemi Anibaba (March 2006–Sep 2006) Cornelius Adebayo (Sep 2006–Jan 2007)

Youth Development	Frank Nweke (April 2004–June 2005) Musa Mohammed (July 2005–June 2006) S. A. Jankanda (January 2007–May 2007)

See also Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua