Vows to maintain a strong connection to cultural roots
By Tony Ezike
Senator Uche Ekwunife has been awarded the prestigious Humanitarian Ambassador for the South East by Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc, based in London, United Kingdom.
Due to prior commitments, Ekwunife was represented at the ceremony, held at Oasis Banqueting, Thames Road, by Dr. Mrs. Ebele Okafor. The founder of Umuada Di Igbo Mma Worldwide Inc, Mrs. Helen Duruhesie, praised Senator Ekwunife’s exceptional leadership, highlighting her dedication to humanitarian causes.
Duruhesie explained that the award was in recognition of Ekwunife’s remarkable contributions to human capital development and her successes across both the private and public sectors.
In her acceptance speech, delivered by Dr. Okafor, Senator Ekwunife expressed gratitude to the organization for the honour and emphasized the importance of culture and tradition in uniting Igbos across the globe. She conveyed her pride in being part of the Igbo community and stressed the need to maintain a strong connection to cultural roots, no matter where one resides.
Ekwunife also praised Umuada Di Igbo Mma for their efforts in bringing younger generations of Igbos closer to their heritage and pledged her continued support for the group’s vision and initiatives.
Senator Uche Ekwunife, originally from Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, has a distinguished background. She completed her primary and secondary education in Onitsha before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education and Accounting from the University of Calabar in 1992. Her academic journey continued with a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration in 2001, followed by a Master of Business Administration in 2003 from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She later achieved a PhD in Public Administration from Atlantic International University, Hawaii, in 2021.
Ekwunife’s career began in the banking sector, where she quickly rose through the ranks due to her impressive work ethic and leadership. At Standard Trust Bank, she served as Branch Manager before taking on roles as Area Manager and eventually Head of the Private Banking Unit at United Bank for Africa (UBA). Her excellence in the field earned her the “Young Banker of the Year” award in 2003.
Her political career took off in 2007 when she was elected to the Federal House of Representatives, where she served two terms and held key leadership positions. Ekwunife made history in 2015 when she was elected to the Nigerian Senate, becoming the first woman from the Southeast to chair the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream. Though her time in the Senate was briefly interrupted by a court ruling, she returned in 2019, securing a resounding victory across all seven local government areas in Anambra Central.
As a Senator, she equally chaired the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and was involved in multiple committees, leaving a lasting impact on the nation’s legislative process. She was widely recognized for her achievements in infrastructure, employment creation, and federal projects, making her one of the most effective lawmakers in Nigeria.
Senator Uche Ekwunife is currently the Director General, South-East Governors Forum, SEGOF.
Beyond politics, Ekwunife is committed to philanthropy through her three NGOs—Greenlife Foundation, Emmanuel Ogudebe Foundation, and Senator Uche Ekwunife Foundation. Since 1999, she has supported over 10,000 individuals through scholarships and other welfare initiatives. She has also built homes for the less privileged and established a state-of-the-art Skill Acquisition Center at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Ekwunife has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award in 2023. She is also a respected entrepreneur, having founded successful businesses in furniture and clothing production.
She has been honoured with a litany of chieftaincy titles, including Ada-Ugo Igbo (Igbo-Ukwu), Ifeka-Olaedo (Ukpo) and Anyanwu-Nri (Nri Kingdom), and remains a powerful voice in both political and cultural circles. Currently, she serves as the Director General of the Southeast Governors’ Forum.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Senator Ekwunife is a devoted wife and mother. She is married to Chief Larry Ekwunife (Ochendo) from Nri, and they are blessed with accomplished children.
