Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, Obi of Ogwashiukwu
and NLC Trustee and father of the two-time
former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
of Nigeria, on October 29 received the highest civil
national award from the Government of Ghana.
The award was conferred on him by President
John Dramani Mahama in recognition of his
stellar and distinguished contributions to the
country’s education system.
Mr. Okonjo, is a renowned mathematician and
economist who worked for a long time in Ghana
as a United Nations staff and later as a
consultant to the Ghanaian Government. He
joined the United Nations System in 1974 as an
official based in New York with his duty station at
Accra, Ghana as the Director of the Regional
Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the
University of Ghana, Lego, Accra. He worked as a
Professor of Economics at the University from
1974 to 1985 at a time the country was going
through severe economic and political difficulties.
During that time, Mr. Okonjo installed the first
African population information network popularly
known as the Population Information and
Documentation System for Africa (POSA) valued
at $350,000.
He also created a 12 months Master of Arts
(M.A) programs, 18 months Master of Philosophy
(M.Phil.) and 36 months Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D) degrees in Population Studies at the
University. Over 437 post graduate students
successfully completed their studies under his
leadership.
Professor Chukwuka Okonjo later left the United
Nations in 1985 and worked as the Education
Adviser to Ghana’s Minister of Education and
Culture. In recognition of his outstanding
contributions, Mr. Okonjo was accorded the
National Service Award in June 1982 for the
support he gave to the National Service Scheme
of the Ghanaian Government.
Other renowned persons who also received the
honours include Globacom Chairman, Mike
Adenuga, Jr. and John Newman.
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