NJOKU, Dr. Joseph Obi

– Auxiliary Teacher, Girl’s Secondary School, Akabo, Ikeduru (the then East Central State), 1974 – 1975;

– Grade II Teacher,Olokoro High School, Umuahia, 1976- 1977;

– Houseman-ship at the General Hospital, Owerri, 1983 -1984;

– National Youth Service at the General Hospital, Ganye Gongola
State (now Adamawa State), 1984 -1985;

– Medical Director and Doctor-in-charge, Jone Medical Centre, Emekuku, 1985 – 1994;

– Elected Executive Chairman, Ikeduru Local Government Council, Imo State, 1990-1993;

– Chief Strategist to Governor Evan Enwerem,1992-1993;

– Special Adviser (Special Duties) to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, July 1999 to January 2001;

– Special Adviser (Political Affairs) to Governor Achike Udenwa, January 2001 to January 2002;

– Special Adviser (Special Duties) to Governor Achike Udenwa, June, 2006 to May 29, 2007;

– Member/Alternate Chairman, Visitation Panel to Imo State University, April 2008 to February 2009;

– Member, Land Use and Allocation Committee (LUAC), Imo State, 2008 to 2010;

– Hon. Commissioner for Health, Imo State, June 23, 2011 to July 17, 2013.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

– Nigeria Medical Association;
– Association of General and Private medical practitioners of Nigeria;
– National Geographic Society;
– Nigeria/ Isreal Chamber of Commerce

POLITICAL PARTY:

– National Republican Convention (NRC);
– Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Local Government Leader.

AWARDS AND HONOURS:

– Certificate of Distinction in Administration and Management (CDAM) from the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria.

– First among equals – 50 Most Distinguished Local Government Chairmen Award by the Compact Communication.

– Certificate of Merit in Community Development.

– 50 Most Distinguished Local Government Chairmen Award 1993 ( I was one of the 10 of the Awardees of 1992 that qualified for 1993 award.)

– Victor Ludorum Trophy for Sports Development in Imo State, for Local Government Chairmen in 1992.

AUTHORSHIP:

1. Authored book on “Administration in the Local Governments”, which was presented at the 14th Year Anniversary of the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria on the 21st of November, 1992. This book dwelt on local government administration from 1916 to the present day. It raised a lot of issues on present day local government and future prospects in local administration. This book has been serialized in the Statesman newspapers in 1993.

AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, IKEDURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, IMO STATE, DR NJOKU MADE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOVERNANCE AMONG WHICH ARE:

Proposed the following –

(a) The politicization of the appointment of Local Government Secretaries. This led to the new system whereby Local Government Secretaries are appointed by the Chairmen.

(b) The dissolution of the former state based Local Government Services Commissions. They were dissolved and later reconstituted under new rules.

(c) The separation of the Executive and the Legislature into two different bodies with the appointment of Supervisors into the Local Government Executive Councils.

(ii) Ensured the conduct of the most credible population census in Ikeduru, for knowledge of the accurate and reliable population figure for Ikeduru in 1991. This enabled the production of baseline economic plan for Ikeduru which was launched in Ikeduru in 1993.

(iii) Proposed certain reforms for effective grassroots administration some of which revolutionized town union administration.

(iv) Peaceful Resolution of a sixty-nine (69) year old bloody conflict between Umunahu, Uratta in the now Owerri North Local Government Area and Umuofa,
Uzoagba in the Ikeduru Local Government Area. To cement this achievement,
the design and establishment of a 19.6Km road with two concrete bridges cutting across, from Umunahu Uratta, through Uzoagba, Avuvu, Amakohia, Okwu to Ugirike communities in Ikeduru Local Government Area was undertaken.

(v) INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT
Developed objective and purposeful government in the Ikeduru Local Government Area with far-reaching developmental achievements. Initiated and encouraged various community development projects, e.g.

a. Built the Ikeduru Local Government Stadium.

b Opened many interconnecting roads between communities in Ikeduru Local Government.

c. Bought a brand new grader for regular grading of all roads in Ikeduru Local Government Area and employed road workers for regular maintenance of roads.

d. Sponsored, a bill which passed at the legislative council for the acquisition of land, design and Clearing of the Elugwu Ikeduru Industrial Layout on more than 1500 hectares of land at the Heart of Ikeduru Local Government Area.

e. Developed a timber, building materials and allied markets at Ngugo Ikeduru Local Government Area. Imo State.

f. Developed the first map of Ikeduru, to place in perspective where Ikeduru really is, her boundaries, land mass, and endowments including water bodies, roads and natural resources etc.

g. Developed from start to finish 16 Electricity projects with High Tension and Transformer installations.

(vi) CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL
Organised the first Iri Ji Ikeduru as a cultural festivity in other to revive
our fast fading cultural and traditional festivities (1993)

vii EDUCATION AND SKILLS ACQUISITION
a Improved the standard of teaching and learning in Ikeduru through the employment of 340 more teachers to bring teacher pupil ratio to 1:35, and ensuring prompt and regular payment of teacher’s salaries.

b Designed, Built, Furnished and Equipped with relevant machineries, the Ikeduru Local Government Area skills Acquisition Centre Iho.

c. Maintained education infrastructure, with maintenance of school buildings and furnishing of class rooms.

viii Health- Built Health Centres in communities and trained village Health Workers to assist in running healthcare delivery in the Local Government.

ix Agriculture – Activated school farming practice with supply of farming inputs to schools.

PHILOSOPHY:

“Creation is a design and not an accident. So the best place to live and work in, is one’s home and birth place. That is the person’s place of primary assignment. Working in this place he has the necessary environment for the maximization of his achievements, and the appreciation of his contributions.”

HOBBIES:
Reading; Games.

SOCIAL CLUB:
Owerri Club Shalom Club.

As a Medical Student between 1977 and 1983, Dr Njoku:

(a) Wrote a paper on Common sicknesses of Kitchen Workers.

(b) Participated in the production of the draft document of the Primary Health Care Programme.

(c) Wrote on Common Factors in Caesarean Sections.

As Special Adviser (Special Duties) to the Executive Governor of Imo State,
Chief Achike Udenwa between July 1999 to January 2001, Dr Njoku:-

(a) Was in-charge of Oil and Gas Matters among others in Imo State; and during his tenure, he organized the first Imo State Government/Oil Companies Summit that helped to focus oil and gas issues in Imo State.

(b) Produced the first Oil and Gas records and Statistics in Imo State and helped Imo to know her ranking in oil production in Nigeria.

(c) Fought for and succeeded in returning to Imo State, all her Oil and Gas Wells ceded to other States.

(d) Fought for the inclusion of Imo State in the Niger-Delta Development Commission. Prepared all documents and memoranda for the inclusion of Imo State in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

(e) Participated in various Oil and Gas related Seminars and Workshops where he made various contributions towards peaceful oil industry activities.

(f) Ensured peaceful oil production activities in Imo State. This was done by the initiation of the Community Relations Intervention Team (CRIT), which made for effective liaison and interaction between the oil companies and their host communities. This effort was adopted and adapted by the four oil companies operating in Imo Sate, and by operating along the programme they were able to achieve hitch-free oil industry operations.

(g) Initiated and completed with the Israelis, The Green House Agricultural Project in Imo State.

(h) Prepared the documents for the take over of Alvan Ikoku College of education by the Obasanjo led Federal Government.

As Hon. Commissioner for Health, Imo State between June 23, 2011 to July 17, 2013, Dr Njoku:-

a. Initiated, designed and developed the Imo State Diagnostic Centre with the Israelis.

b. Also, developed and supervised the building of 27 general Hospitals in Imo State.

c. Coordinated the Health at your door steps programme in the State.

d. Was chairman Imo State Flood Disaster Relief committee/fund.

PRIVATE BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS OWNED BY DR NJOKU:

1. Jone Medical Center, Owerri and its Annex at Uzoagba, offers services afore stated.

2. Joe Ventures (Nigeria), Owerri and its branches: a multi-business facility dealing on:

(a) Medical/Surgical consumables
(b) Foods and beverages: Commodities marketing in Nigeria from Israel and in compliance with NAFDAC and Son Standards and Regulations.

3. Jone Medical Services Limited – International Medical Referral Services, Procurement and Sale of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Medical/Surgical Consumables, Diagnostic Materials and Equipments, and Antiseptics and Germicides – Holds Distributorship of various companies within Nigeria and Overseas.

4 Jone Agricultural Company – A company involved in agricultural development, services farming and marketing. Runs a large farm producing crops and live stock, including Honey.

RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:

Umusokwa, Umueme, Uzoagba Ikeduru, Imo State.

OFFICE ADDRESS:
Jone Medical Centre,
Plot 189, Ikenegbu Layout ext.
Owerri, Imo State.

E-MAIL ADDRESS:
[email protected]