ASIKA. Chinyere Edith

State of Origin: Anambra village/Town: Onitsha Contact Address: Office of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Abuja Chief Mrs. Edith Chinyere Asika isa woman of Vision and Mission who early in life became focused and committed to contributing her own little quota towards the Socio-economic upliftment ofthe lives ofothers. She is an accomplished lady and literacy critic ofnote, a seasoned administrator. philanthropist, and erudite politician, a calm professional, a respected Community leader and traditional title holder, and in all these this woman of substance is known to have made a mark. Married to the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika the very first post was seasoned administrator ofthe entire South Eastern region and in affirmation ofher performance potentialities, entrusted to her care presently in a non-partisan office ofhigh responsibility in service ofthe Federation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Education and Qualifications Obtained • Attended the highly esteemed Cornelia Connelly College. Uyo at atime when formal education was anovelty for women, earned W.A.S.C in flying colours. Moved to the Sixth Form at the Prestigious Queens College Lagos, obtained the Higher School Certificate. • Left for Overseas for further studies, and enrolled at Mills College. Oakland California, and earned a B.A Degree in Politics and Government. • Thereafter proceeded to University of California Los Angeles and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science with bias in Information Technology and Management being one ofthe first Africans to receive such training. Scholastic Aw aids • Was one ofthe only four women in Nigeria to win aScholarship Award from the African-American Institute that saw her through University education in USA. • Recipient ofSeveral Leadership awards for excellence at national and International levels Work Experience and Employment History • She is widely traveled with extensive teaching and administrative experience. • Started out with Foremost Diaries Inc. San Francisco USA. where she facilitated the introduction ofForemost Diaries (SAMCO) products to Nigeria. • With her good background in academic, appointed Assistant Librarian. University College. Ibadan • Went to Kenya became Research Assistant. Institute of Development Studies University College. Nairobi Kenya. • Later appointed Cataloguer, American Library ofCongress • One lime Consultant on Small Scale industries/technology transfer to Africa. Properties and investment holdings. Sheisat present Director of Various Companies. Contributions to National Development • As First Lady East Central Stale Government, she was the Founder/Pioneer of"Otu Olu Obodo". • This was the first Gender-based policy level effort at rural emancipation and empowerment involving abottom-up in-depth approach to the rehabilitation/resettlement ofwomen in postwar Eastern Nigeria in the immediate aftermath ofthe erstwhile Nigerian Civil War. • It was the first known effort in development administration on female emancipation in Eastern Nigeria since independence. • She is presently Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development where she established the NEPAD Nigeria Secretariat asan independent outfit in the presidency. State of Origin: Anambra village/Town: Onitsha Contact Address: Office of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Abuja Chief Mrs. Edith Chinyere Asika isa woman of Vision and Mission who early in life became focused and committed to contributing her own little quota towards the Socio-economic upliftment ofthe lives ofothers. She is an accomplished lady and literacy critic ofnote, a seasoned administrator. philanthropist, and erudite politician, a calm professional, a respected Community leader and traditional title holder, and in all these this woman of substance is known to have made a mark. Married to the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika the very first post was seasoned administrator ofthe entire South Eastern region and in affirmation ofher performance potentialities, entrusted to her care presently in a non-partisan office ofhigh responsibility in service ofthe Federation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Education and Qualifications Obtained • Attended the highly esteemed Cornelia Connelly College. Uyo at atime when formal education was anovelty for women, earned W.A.S.C in flying colours. Moved to the Sixth Form at the Prestigious Queens College Lagos, obtained the Higher School Certificate. • Left for Overseas for further studies, and enrolled at Mills College. Oakland California, and earned a B.A Degree in Politics and Government. • Thereafter proceeded to University of California Los Angeles and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science with bias in Information Technology and Management being one ofthe first Africans to receive such training. Scholastic Aw aids • Was one ofthe only four women in Nigeria to win aScholarship Award from the African-American Institute that saw her through University education in USA. • Recipient ofSeveral Leadership awards for excellence at national and International levels Work Experience and Employment History • She is widely traveled with extensive teaching and administrative experience. • Started out with Foremost Diaries Inc. San Francisco USA. where she facilitated the introduction ofForemost Diaries (SAMCO) products to Nigeria. • With her good background in academic, appointed Assistant Librarian. University College. Ibadan • Went to Kenya became Research Assistant. Institute of Development Studies University College. Nairobi Kenya. • Later appointed Cataloguer, American Library ofCongress • One lime Consultant on Small Scale industries/technology transfer to Africa. Properties and investment holdings. Sheisat present Director of Various Companies. Contributions to National Development • As First Lady East Central Stale Government, she was the Founder/Pioneer of"Otu Olu Obodo". • This was the first Gender-based policy level effort at rural emancipation and empowerment involving abottom-up in-depth approach to the rehabilitation/resettlement ofwomen in postwar Eastern Nigeria in the immediate aftermath ofthe erstwhile Nigerian Civil War. • It was the first known effort in development administration on female emancipation in Eastern Nigeria since independence. • She is presently Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development where she established the NEPAD Nigeria Secretariat asan independent outfit in the presidency. State of Origin: Anambra village/Town: Onitsha Contact Address: Office of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Abuja Chief Mrs. Edith Chinyere Asika isa woman of Vision and Mission who early in life became focused and committed to contributing her own little quota towards the Socio-economic upliftment ofthe lives ofothers. She is an accomplished lady and literacy critic ofnote, a seasoned administrator. philanthropist, and erudite politician, a calm professional, a respected Community leader and traditional title holder, and in all these this woman of substance is known to have made a mark. Married to the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika the very first post was seasoned administrator ofthe entire South Eastern region and in affirmation ofher performance potentialities, entrusted to her care presently in a non-partisan office ofhigh responsibility in service ofthe Federation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Education and Qualifications Obtained • Attended the highly esteemed Cornelia Connelly College. Uyo at atime when formal education was anovelty for women, earned W.A.S.C in flying colours. Moved to the Sixth Form at the Prestigious Queens College Lagos, obtained the Higher School Certificate. • Left for Overseas for further studies, and enrolled at Mills College. Oakland California, and earned a B.A Degree in Politics and Government. • Thereafter proceeded to University of California Los Angeles and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science with bias in Information Technology and Management being one ofthe first Africans to receive such training. Scholastic Aw aids • Was one ofthe only four women in Nigeria to win aScholarship Award from the African-American Institute that saw her through University education in USA. • Recipient ofSeveral Leadership awards for excellence at national and International levels Work Experience and Employment History • She is widely traveled with extensive teaching and administrative experience. • Started out with Foremost Diaries Inc. San Francisco USA. where she facilitated the introduction ofForemost Diaries (SAMCO) products to Nigeria. • With her good background in academic, appointed Assistant Librarian. University College. Ibadan • Went to Kenya became Research Assistant. Institute of Development Studies University College. Nairobi Kenya. • Later appointed Cataloguer, American Library ofCongress • One lime Consultant on Small Scale industries/technology transfer to Africa. Properties and investment holdings. Sheisat present Director of Various Companies. Contributions to National Development • As First Lady East Central Stale Government, she was the Founder/Pioneer of"Otu Olu Obodo". • This was the first Gender-based policy level effort at rural emancipation and empowerment involving abottom-up in-depth approach to the rehabilitation/resettlement ofwomen in postwar Eastern Nigeria in the immediate aftermath ofthe erstwhile Nigerian Civil War. • It was the first known effort in development administration on female emancipation in Eastern Nigeria since independence. • She is presently Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development where she established the NEPAD Nigeria Secretariat asan independent outfit in the presidency. • Ileads NEPAD Nigeria Secretariat as its first Director General/Chief Executive Officer. Her untiring effort here has brought about positive changes Political Exploits • Had her first political experience as an observer at first hand on the freedom lighters and ihc politics ofthe Gorilla Liberation Movements of most Southern African Countries asshe accompanied her husband toTanzania where he was undertaking afield research on African Liberation Movements • Was also an observer first hand the political life ofMwalimu President Julius Nyerere ofTanzania, and all these equipped her sufficiently for her political activities in herCountry Nigeria. In the political arena in Nigeria she is grassroots support mobilizer. She is a proactive Federal level member ofvarious political parlies that had made mark in Nigerian politics past and present namely NPN. GNPP. SDP and currently PDP Chief Mrs. Edith Chinyere Asika who has to her credit, numerous Chieftaincy titles is an accomplished wife and caring mother not only to her own siblings but beyond, happily married to the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika and blessed with three children Obodoechina. Nkiru and Ogechi all of whom are leading successful private lives presently. She is indeed an Icon of hope, hardwork and a role model to the women folk.