—DENNIS EKEMEZIE

Owelle Gilbert Prince Obiajulu Chikelu was born on September 9, 1930. He was educated at Saint Peters’ CMS School, Enugu; College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu; University College, Legon; London School of Economics and Political Science; University of London and Central School of Planning and Statistics, Warsaw, Poland.

On return to Nigeria in 1963, he joined the Federal Civil Service. He was appointed a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Power. He also served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Economic Development, National Planning, Employment, Labour and Productivity  and Petroleum Resources for a total period of Sixteen years; a very rare accomplishment in the Federal Civil Service.

In 1992, he was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Subsequently appointments include Honourable Minister of Establishments and Management Services; Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, a position he held for eight years.

Other important positions held by Owelle Chikelu are: Chairman, Joint Planning Board, Chairman, National Provident Fund; Chairman, National Labor Advisory Council; Member, National Economic Advisory Council; Member, National Directorate of Employment, Member, Utility Tariff Review Commission and Member, National Committee on Ecological Problems.

Also, for many years Owelle Chikelu represented Nigeria as alternate Governor at the Annual General Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He was a member of the Governing Council of the United Nations Institute for Economic Development and Planning as well as Chairman of the Conference of African Planners. He was Governor for Nigeria at the International Atomic Energy Agency and Vice Chairman of the Governing Council of the Agency, Nigerian Delegate to many international meetings and leader of the Nigerian delegation to the joint commission meetings in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, among many others.

In recognition of his many years of meritorious service to the nation, Owelle Chikelu was, in 2000, conferred with the prestigious National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). He is a life member and Fellow of the Nigeria Economic Society (NES) and the society’s president in 1985. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

He was conferred with a high Chieftaincy title of Owelle of Ichida in 1991 and later Owelle of Anaocha in 1997. In recognition of his services to the Anglican Church Owelle Chikelu was admitted to the Prestigious Order of Knight of St. Paul in 1996. He is also a recipient of the first Anglican Communion National Award for Integrity and Excellence.

Since his retirement from public Service, he has served on the Board of Directors of Guaranty Trust Bank. He became the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bank. Owelle Chikelu is a widely travelled personality. He has travelled to over forty countries of the world, including United Kingdom and USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Denmark, France, USSR, Thailand, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Japan and Austria.

Owelle Chikelu is happily married to Lady Irene Chikelu. They have four children, including the former Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu and twelve grand-children. He loves sports, especially soccer and enjoys good music and as time permits, would dance to their various times.

Happy 90th birthday to a towering personality, epitomized by Owelle G.P.O Chikelu, the Owelle of Ichida and Anaocha.

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