OPIA, Anthony Kingsley Ugboma

Biographical record

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

March 2, 1947

State of Origin

Ogbaru LGA (Akili-Ogidi Town), Anambra State

Place of Birth

Lokoja, Kogi State

Profession

Consultant
Politician

Schools Attended with Dates

SCHOOLS ATTENDED WITH DATES: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1976; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1980.

Educational Qualification

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- West African School Certificate (WASC): Grade II, 1971.
- G.C.E. A Level: Economics-“B”; Government- “A”; Special Mathematics-“3”; 1972( All at a Seating).
- B.Sc. (Hons) Economics, Second Class Upper Division, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1976.
- M.Sc Public Finance: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria: 1980.

Membership of Professional Bodies/Professional Qualifications

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

- Member, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCON), 1982;
- Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (FIMCON), 1999.

Present Appointment

Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), 1980 - Date; Chairman/CEO, Project Concept and Management Ltd, Lagos, 1990 – Date; Chairman, Media Masters Ltd, 2000 – Date; Member, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), 2000 - Date; Vice National Chairman, Mega Progressive Peoples Party(MPPP), South-East, 2014-Date;

Previous Appointments

BUSINESS / PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES:

- Library Assistant, Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, 1971-73;

- Lecturer, Staff Training Centre, Potiskum, Borno State, 1976/77(National Youth Service Programme);

- Secretary, Governing Council, Centre for Social and Economic Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; 1977 – 1979;

- Graduate Assistant/Lecturer, Centre for Social and Economic Research/Economics Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1977-1980;

- Chairman, Apex Finance and Securities Ltd, 1985 – 2001;

- Chairman, Board of Trustees, Centre for Development and Civic Education (CECODEC), an NGO involved in Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Micro-credit Administration in Anambra State, 1998 -2007;

- Vice President, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria 1999 – 2000;

- President, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, 2000 – 2001;

- Chairman, Committee of Consultants, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), 2000 - 2003;

- Chairman, NASME Committee on SMIEIS (Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme), 2001 - 2005;

- Chairman, Finance Committee, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, A.I.T Road, Alagbado, Lagos State, 2003 – 2005;

- Economic Consultant to National Coordinator, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), 2011 – 2012;


POLITICAL EXPERIENCE / ACTIVITIES:

- Secretary, East Central State Students Association, Ahmadu Bello University Branch, Zaria, 1973 – 1974;

- Vice-President, Economic Society, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1974 – 1975;

- National Secretary, Ogbaru United Club of Nigeria, 1987 – 1989;

- Member, Constituent Assembly, Abuja, 1988 – 1989;

- Member, National Executive Committee, Liberal Convention, 1988 – 1989 (an unregistered Political Association during the Transition to Civil Rule era of President Ibrahim Babngida);

- Governorship Aspirant, Social Democratic Party(SDP), Anambra State, 1989 – 1991;

- Chairman, Governing Council, Anambra State College of Agriculture, Igbariam, Anambra State (now Anambra State University of Technology, Igbariam), 1991 – 1993;

- Senatorial Candidate, National Democratic Party, Anambra State, 2003 General Election (Lost at the Election Tribunal);

- Governorship Aspirant, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State, 2007 General Election;

- Governorship Aspirant, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State, 2013 General Election;

- Chairman, Special Presidential Convention Committee, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, November, 2014;

- Presidential Aspirant, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, December, 2014;

- Senatorial Candidate, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN), 2019.

Have you ever been a member of any political party?

N/A

Creative Work/Major Exhibitions

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS:

- The Role of the Agricultural Sector in the Nigerian Economy,1900-1975 (An Unpublished B.Sc Thesis), 1976;
- Local Government Finance in Nigeria: A Case Study of Bauchi State, 1970-1978 (An Unpublished M.Sc Thesis), 1980;
- Economic Integration in West Africa:Is it a Mirage? The Economic Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2, April, 1975; Ahmadu Bello University Publication;
- The Yoke of Taxation: Who Bears it most in Nigeria? The Economic Journal, Vol.1, No.5, October 1978, Ahmadu Bello University Publication;
- Democratic Totalitarianism, Afriscope Magazine, Vol. 4, No.1, 1974;
- Praetorianism in Africa, Political Science Journal, June 1976; Ahmadu Bello University Publication;
- The Subject-Matter of Marxist Political Economy, The Economic Journal, Vol, 1, No.3; April 1976; Ahmadu Bello University Publication;
- Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria;A Memorandum submitted to the Presidential Commission on Revenue Allocation in Nigeria, December 1979;
- Taxation for Development; The Case of Kaduna State, The Case of Community and Cattle Taxes in Kaduna State; A Paper Presented at the Centre for Social and Economic Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,1980;
- The Green Revolution- Problems Galore: A Case Study of Ogbaru District, Anambra State of Nigeria; A Paper Presented at a Seminar in the Department of Econmics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, April, 1978;


A. ARTICLES:

Some of these are:
- Democracy and the Folly of the Majority; National Concord, October 12, 1983;
- Election 1983: Peace Before Prosperity; National Concord, July 23, 1983;
- Election 1993: Taking A Cue From America; Daily Satellite, June 22, 1993;
- Election 1993: Tribute to the Press; The Punch, July 21, 1993;
- Lets Make Progress By Going Back( A Character Critique of Nigerian Leaders): The Punch, March 29, 2011;


B. PRESS INTERVIEWS:

Some of these are:
- A. K. U. Opia: Potentials of Guber Aspirants;Weekly Star, February 10,1991;
- A. K. U. Opia: Opia, Abaribe Eye Government House, The Guardian, March 11,1991; P.11
- A. K. U. Opia: Okpara’s Virtues Extolled; Daily Champion, March 8,1991, P.3;
- A. K. U. Opia: Political Profile; Daily Champion, June 30,1991, P19;
- A. K. U. Opia: Anambra Governorship- It is Wawa Vs Ijekebe Showdown, The Guardian, April 22,1991;
- A. K. U. Opia: Mass Protest Greets CARIA; Weekly Star; May 26,1991; P. 1;
- A. K. U. Opia: Discourse - Qualities for Anambra State Governorship; Weekly Star, March 10,1991; P.14;
- A. K. U. Opia: Southern Politicians Insist on Power Shift; Post Express; August 16,1998; PP1-2;
- A. K. U. Opia: Igbos Can Produce Next President, Post Express, August 20,1998; P.25;
- A. K. U. Opia: Consultant Advises Government on Effective Budgeting;
- Opia: Opia Raises Hope for Naira Value; The Guardian,February 18, 2003; P.70;
- A. K. U. Opia: Mega Party Meets in Anambra State, The Guardian, April 11, 2014; P.6;

Outstanding Achievements

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS:

- Was a Prefect with one responsibility or the other throughout my Primary and Secondary School Career.
- Won books as Prize for the Best Student in the Department of Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria,1973/74.
- Won Honoraria as a student for outstanding contributions to Afriscope Magazine, 1974.
- Was the only M.Sc Graduant in 1980 in the Department of Economics, A.B. U. in a programme that commenced with 13 students.
- Have always played a leadership role in all organizations that I have belonged to.

Other Relevant Information

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

Consultant, at one time or the other, to:

- Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN);
- Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME);
- United Nations Industrial Development Programme (UNIDO);
- Regional Programme for Technology Management – an outfit of UNESCO for African Sub-Region;
- African Development Bank (ADB);
- African Project Development Facility, an outfit of the International Finance Corporation/World Bank.