In the following chapters of this book, it is my goal to explain to the reader how my history and lineage has directly impacted my goals and success in life. It is through the rich background of my ancestors that I was given the many gifts and blessings that have enabled me to make my mark on the world. Through the migration by my ancestors from Egypt to the plains of the Niger and Benue Rivers, and the subsequent establishment of Uhe land and later Esan land, I was born with a passion and love for my country of Nigeria, Esan nation and my hometown of Uromi. The innate qualities of economics, religion and politics have been instilled in me by my heritage and have led me to a life of public service, dedication to my country, to my family and most importantly, to God.
As an architect, I have dedicated my life to the betterment of my beloved country. As a public official, I have served many administrations in the advancement of Nigeria’s infrastructure and economy, as well as the improvement of regional infrastructure and economy in the West African region, under the aegis of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). My rich heritage was the foundation that has led me down this path which I hope will carry on to future generations.
About the author
Dr. Michael Oziegbe Onolememen was born in Uromi, Nigeria, in September 1965. He began his early education at the Saint Anthony’s Primary School, Uromi, and moved on to Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture (1985), a Master of Science degree in Architecture (1988), and a Master of Science degree in Construction Management (1991) from Bendel State University, University of Nigeria, and University of Lagos respectively. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Public Policy & Administration (2015) from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. He is an alumnus of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA, where he obtained a Professional Certificate (2014) in Infrastructure in a Market Economy (Public-Private Partnerships in a Changing World). Dr. Onolememen is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), and a knight of the honored Order of Saint Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria, in the Holy Roman Catholic Church. He has been honored by several professional bodies in Nigeria and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (FNIS), Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS), Fellow of the Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies (FAES) and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (FNIQS).
In 2000, Dr. Onolememen served as an Executive Member of the Interim Management Committee of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). This was an infrastructure rehabilitation and development agency of the federal government of Nigeria, and Dr. Onolememen’s role was to oversee the Directorate of Projects Management. In January 2007, he was appointed Minister of State for Defence, and served up to the end of President Obasanjo’s administration. He was principal consultant in the Nigerian architectural and engineering design firm, Gomic Consortium International Limited until early in 2011. From July 2011 to May 2015, Dr. Michael Onolememen served as Minister of Works of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and oversaw the national roads infrastructure. He was a Member of the National Economic Management Team, from 2011 to 2015.
From 2012 to 2015, Dr. Onolememen served as the Chairman, Project Steering Committee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Highway project (Lagos-Abidjan-Dakar Corridor) constituted by the Presidents and Heads of Government of West African Countries. In September 2014, Dr. Michael Onolememen was honored with one of Nigeria’s highest National Award, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in appreciation of his meritorious services to the nation. He is happily married to Mrs. Bibian Omonigho Onolememen, and the marriage is blessed with children. He is also the author of Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: A Political and Economic History, published in London and New York by Routledge, where he provided insight into the governance of infrastructure development in Nigeria, and African governance.
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