THE MAYOR
Hon. Ikenna
Nwodo
"The most powerful leadership tool , you have is your own personal example."
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Ikenna Nwodo is one of Nigeria’s youngest mayors. He was elected Executive Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State in March 2022. A lawyer by profession, he has worked extensively as an astute corporate/ commercial legal adviser with a breadth of experience in advising medium to large scale firms, some with considerable global outreach, as well as local and national authorities on various commercial matters, particularly in the real estate, finance and corporate structuring sectors.
He is also an entrepreneur and businessman who founded and successfully run his companies, with experience on variety of family concerns, under the Diank Group, which sitting on their boards for over fifteen years avails him. The group has interests in agriculture, engineering, oil and gas, hospitality, and fast-moving consumer goods, among others. His education, training, and experiences in the corporate sector, law & business have prepared him for success, especially as a public servant and effective administrator.
EARLY LIFE
FAMILY & BIRTH
Ikenna was born to H.E. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Nwodo, of the prestigious Nwodo dynasty in Ukehe, Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State. His father was the first Executive Governor of Enugu state and his grand-father Chief J.U. Nwodo (Okwulora II) a three-time federal minister (works, commerce and local govt) between 1957 and 1966, and the paramount traditional ruler of Ukehe. He is married to Ogechukwu Ikenna Nwodo, and is fondly called “OMENUKO”.
EDUCATION
MY QUALIFICATION
Ikenna received his foundation degree in Law from the University of Warwick, UK in 2004 and completed his LLB in Law from the University of Leicester, UK in 2007.
He also holds a masters degree (LLM) in oil & gas law, from the University of Aberdeen, UK (2009) & a PGD in legal practice, from BPP University College, UK, in 2012.
He is also currently concluding an executive masters in Public Administration & Policy, at the London School of Economics (LSE).
EARLY CAREER:
EARLIER CAREER STRIDES
Ikenna started his early career at ACIOE Associates Ltd in 2009 as an associate adviser & policy analyst providing investment, regulatory & mediatory advice/services to Nigerian government agencies, prospective and established international energy firms, investment firms and aid agencies.
Between 2010 – 2012, Ikenna also served as an assistant policy officer with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria where he contributed to research, policy formulation and implemention on political party organization and electioneering matters, concerning the 2010/2011 general election, and the party's election manifesto. He also aided in formulating party responses on key social and economic events.
Between 2012 and 2019, Ikenna joined global legal giants Herbert Smith Freehills LLP UK and later TLT LLP UK as a solicitor. In this role he worked across Europe, Asia & the Middle East. He specialized in commercial property development transactions and advised government authorities and commercial clients in the real estate sector on various matters including; PFI (Private Finance Initiatives), PPP (Public Private Partnerships), procurement issues, state aid and grant schemes, compulsory purchase orders, outsourcing, social housing, mixed-use development schemes, strategic land assembly and acquisition, etc.
EXPERIENCE IN POLITICS
MY POLITICAL JOURNEY
Upon returning to Nigeria in 2019, he resumed to fully managing his businesses with a focus on community developmental projects until he was appointed Special Adviser (Housing) to the Governor of Enugu State, between October and December of 2019.
During this time, he successfully secured executive approval and began the development of 24 hectares of land for affordable housing by the State Ministry of Housing in the city’s metropolis.
In recognition of his effective discharge of duties, he was appointed Transition Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, to steer the ship of the council for 3 months between December 2019 to March 2020. In the three months as transition committee chairman, Ikenna succeeded with a plethora of achievements such as: successfully renovating the entire Local Government Headquarters, restoring Igbo-etiti’s long derelict largest water pumping station & restoring power to many electricity transformers in collaboration with the state's rural electrification board.
Upon the conclusion of his assignment as an interim administrator, Ikenna returned to his advisory role with the state government as Special Adviser to the Governor on (Rural Development) where he spear-headed the formulation and implementation of numerous rural development policy programmes ranging from agricultural development to water and affordable housing schemes.
In March of 2022, he contested for and was elected the executive chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, having run a successful campaign driven by passion for excellence and sustainable development where he presently runs an all-inclusive administration pursuant to his well exposed, transformational policies and programmes, aimed at boosting the economic, social and overall prosperity of the people of Igbo-Etiti local government.
CONTACT WITH US
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Let’s start a project together.
