INTRODUCTION

Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko popularly known as Ned Nwoko is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State. In January 2020, he undertook a symbolic expedition to Antarctica to flag off a Malaria Eradication Project. That made him the first black African to visit the South Pole (Antarctica).

PROFILE

D.O.B – 21 December 1960

Place of birth- Aniocha North LGA, Delta State

Personal Life

Ned Nwoko is a Muslim who is married to six women and has a large family.

He lost his first son Tarik, a 22-year old whose mother is from Morocco. Tarik was a Law student at the North Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom where he died in his sleep in the early hours of Monday, 8th December 2014. It is reported that Ned Nwoko has 6 children.

Education

Ned Nwoko received primary and secondary education in Nigeria. He moved on to the United Kingdom, got his first degree in Law and History at the prestigious University of Keele, Staffordshire UK. He also attended King’s College London, where he obtained an LLM in maritime and commercial law. Ned Nwoko was subsequently called to the English bar, at Lincoln’s Inn. He was awarded Honourary Doctorate degree in Letters (D.Litt) by Commonwealth University College, Belize, North America.

Politics

Nwoko returned to Nigeria in December 1998 and made a remarkable entry into Nigeria’s political scene when he was elected member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003. He represented Aniocha / Oshimili federal constituency, making an impressive showing in the legislative house.

Ned Nwoko was instrumental to the initiation of the London and Paris Club Loans refund into Nigeria. He authored the reports that led to Nigeria government’s discontinuation of monthly deductions from states’ allocations and commencement of refunds to States. Through his Law firm, Ned Nwoko Solicitors and his Company Linas International he investigated the multinational creditors and discovered discrepancies in loan repayments, and this resulted in the refund of the first tranches of loan beginning from the Obasanjo administration. He also charged the Federal government to court on behalf of 774 Local governments for the refund of illegal deductions and obtained judgment of $3.2billion for the local governments. The Federal government of Nigeria has refunded all the monies in line with the court judgment of 2013. Nwoko also served on the Vision 2010 Committee and is a member of the capital market. He served as Chairman of the External Committee of Vision 2010. Nwoko is also the Chairman of Project Tourism Africa.

Career

Nwoko began his legal career with a brief start at crown prosecution service and qualified as a solicitor of the supreme court of England and Wales. He worked at Kumars Solicitors and Pascaldiers & Co Solicitors before establishing Ned Nwoko & Co Solicitors in London.

Nwoko was secretary general, Nigerian legal practitioners UK, Member of the Law Society , England and Wales and was visiting adviser, citizens’ advice bureau, based in London. At the peak of his legal sojourn in UK, he had the biggest black law firm in England and was recognized as the best black lawyer of African descent in England 1995.

Awards and recognition

• 2022: SOCIAL IMPACT PERSON OF THE YEAR – Leadership Newspaper
• AWARD FOR MEDIA EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION – Delta State University
• ICON OF PHILANTHROPHY AWARD – University of Nigeria, Nsukka
• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN PHILANTHROPY – Champion newspaper
• 2018: Africa Value Awards – Effective Leadership and Youth Empowerment
• 2019: Peace Achievers Awards
• 2019: Delta Role Model Awards – Humanitarian Services
• 2019: Prime Excellence Recognition Awards – Man of the year
• 2019: Abuja AR Reporters Awards- Man of the year 2019
• 2019: Suncity Champions of Democracy Awards – Humanitarian Services
• 2019: 5 stars awards for Tourism Development in Africa
• 2019: University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria Philanthropy Awards
• 2019: Anti corruption crusader Awards
• 2019: All Africa Music Awards AFRIMMA – Africa Community Impact Awards