Daily Independent (Lagos)
10 January 2009
Former Minister of Aviation, Dr. Kema Chikwe, will on Sunday roll out the drums as she clocks 61.
Chikwe, who is currently Nigeria's Ambassador to Ireland, is an educationist, author, broadcaster and administrator. Born on January 12, 1947 in her hometown of Egbu, Owerri North Local Government Area in Imo State,
Chikwe was educated at Queens' College, Lagos between 1960 and 1963; Queens School, Enugu in 1964. In pursuit of further education, she enrolled between 1970 and 1971 at the Advanced Teachers Training College, Owerri. She was also at College of Notre Dame, Maryland, United States of America (U.S.A.) in 1974, from where she left for Queens' College of the City University of New York. Flushing, U.S.A. and University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1977.
She started her career as member, Imo State Government Committee for the review and setting up of FM Radio Station and Imo Broadcasting Services in 1987.
Later, she became director, ADA Rice Project, Anambra State (1987-1991); Nigeria Students Loans Board (now Education Bank) Abuja (1988-1993).
She was chairman, Establishment Committee, Nigeria Students Loans Board, Abuja, (1988-1993); Advisory Committee, Better Life for Rural Women, Anambra State; (1988-1993); foundation member, advisory body, Commission for Women, Anambra State (1991-1993); chairman, Imo State Women's Cooperatives (1993); Consultant, World Bank/NTA Communication Pilot Project (1994); member, Advisory Committee, Eziokwu bu ndu Women Activities, NPN, Anambra State, (1982-1983).
She became the Zonal chairman, UNCP Women Leadership Forum, Imo State, (1997-1998); Publishers Association of Nigeria; Family Support Inter-ministerial Planning Committee, Imo State (1995); Imo State Tourism Board (1995-1996); Family Support Trust Fund, Imo State; Convener, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National and State, (1998); member/secretary, Presidential Policy Advisory Committee (1999); Representative, PDP, Special Vision 2010 Workshop, Abuja, (1999).
In 1999, she made history by becoming the first Female Minister of Transport, Federal Republic of Nigeria. She moved on in 2000 to the Ministry of Aviation.
She was vice president, Owerri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (1994-1999); International Reading Association, U.S.A., since 1994; executive member, International Girl Child Organisation, U.S.A., since 1990.
In recognition of her performance, she received the Crash Programme Award by Federal Ministry of Education (1970-1971); Nominee for the French one year abroad course by French Embassy and Bureau for External Aid (1972-1973); East Central State Scholarship (1975-1976); Scholarship by Federal Ministry of Education, Honorary Doctorate Degree, Federal University of Technology, Akure (October 2002).
Chikwe enjoys writing and she has quite a number of publications to her credit. Among them are, Dobia's Secret, Longman, 1992; Kamg Chameleon Yours the Garden, Prime Time 1992; First Day School for Adaeze, Prime Time Ltd, 1992.
She is an ex-officio, National Executive Council, PDP.
She belongs to Club Feminique, Enugu; Harrods Beauty Club, United Kingdom.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Daily Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
