NED NWOKO: A Multifaceted Personality @64

Senator Prince Ned Nwoko obviously needs no introduction to any adult Nigerian and even beyond the shores of Nigeria 

He is a distinguished personality of many parts, who has made a name for himself as a lawyer, politician, businessman and philanthropist. 

Born on December 21, 1960 to the Nwoko royal family of Idumuje-Ugboko, in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State, Senator Nwoko had his early education in Nigeria before proceeding to the United Kingdom for a degree in Law and History from the University of Keele, Staffordshire.

He moved further with his education and obtained an LLM in Maritime and Commercial Law, from King’s College, London, following which he was subsequently called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. 

Ned Nwoko started his Law practice as a prosecutor for the Crown and later founded his law firm, Ned Nwoko and Solicitors, in London.

A renowned international Lawyer, Ned Nwoko, at the peak of his legal sojourn, had the biggest black law firm in England and was reputed to be the best black legal practitioner of African extraction.

He gave legal advice and support to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the exit from the Paris Club loans during the Obasanjo administration, stoppage of deductions from the monthly statutory deductions to states for the servicing of foreign loans and singlehandedly engaged the Creditors in a legal battle that led to refunds of wrongful deductions amounting to over $20bn to states and local governments

Nwoko was elected to Nigeria’s House of Representatives, where he represented the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency from 1999 -2003 and during this period gave a good account of himself as a leader per excellence and a true representative of the people 

The Star Prince is currently the Senator representing Delta North senatorial district at the National Assembly, where he has sponsored several bills and motions, chairs the Commuttee in Reparations and Repatriation, and plays roles in 16 other Committees, including those on Constitution Review, 

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), TETFUND, Finance and Appropriation, as well as Environment.

He has numerous awards to his credit, including Social Impact Person of The Year by Leadership Newspaper, Outstanding Achievement in Philanthropy by Champion Newspaper, University of Nigeria Icon Award, Media Excellence and Innovation Award by Delta State University, Abraka, Social Impact of the Decade Award at the Megastar Man of the Decade Awards (Africa) and very recently, the International Human Rights Commission’s Global Leadership Award. 

The founder of Mount Ned Nwoko, a tourism destination, and the first Sports University in sub-Saharan Africa, is known for his charitable efforts, particularly in the areas of education, health, and youth empowerment, which makes his country home a Mecca of a sort whenever he visits. 

As he celebrates his birth anniversary today, one cannot but wish him many happy returns in good health, God’s guidance and protection to enable him impact more on society.