Theodore Orji
Encyclopedia
Theodore Ahamefule Orji was elected Governor of Abia State, Nigeria
on May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, Orji, a career civil servant, served as the Chief of Staff to former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu
.
In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.
Local Government Area of Abia State in 1950.
He attended Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Holy Ghost College, Owerri
and obtained a Bachelor of Art Degree in English from the University of Ibadan
in 1977.
He enlisted for the National Youths Corps Scheme on graduation and was deployed to Sokoto State
as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, Isa Local Government Area.
On completion of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in 1978, Orji was employed as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State civil service on 18th December, 1979.
Subsequently, he served in various capacities in The Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture and Imo State Government House.
When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia
where he served in Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture.
On March 1st 1996, Orji was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) now INEC, Abia State as Administrative Secretary and was later redeployed to Enugu State in 1997 where he supervised the elections that ushered in the democratic government in the state in 1999. Thereafter, he returned to Abia State as Principal Secretary, Government House, Umuahia and Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor.
On April 14, 2007, he resoundingly defeated his closest rival by over 200,000 votes to emerge Governor of Abia State.
He thus made history as being the first Governor in the History of Nigeria to win his election while in detention.
He was sworn in on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 as the 3rd Executive Governor of Abia, Gods Own State.
In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.
He is married to Chief Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji and their marriage is blessed with five children.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
on May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, Orji, a career civil servant, served as the Chief of Staff to former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu was the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Prior to his election as governor he was Chairman of the Borno Water Board and of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited...
.
In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.
Background
Theodore Ahamefule Orji was born in Amaokwe Ugba, Umuahia – Ibeku in Umuahia NorthUmuahia North
Umuahia North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the city of Umuahia.It has an area of 245 km² and a population of 220,660 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 440....
Local Government Area of Abia State in 1950.
He attended Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Holy Ghost College, Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
and obtained a Bachelor of Art Degree in English from the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
in 1977.
He enlisted for the National Youths Corps Scheme on graduation and was deployed to Sokoto State
Sokoto State
Sokoto State is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2005 it has an estimated population of more than 4.2 million...
as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, Isa Local Government Area.
On completion of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in 1978, Orji was employed as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State civil service on 18th December, 1979.
Subsequently, he served in various capacities in The Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture and Imo State Government House.
When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia
Umuahia
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia's indigenous ethnic group are the...
where he served in Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture.
On March 1st 1996, Orji was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) now INEC, Abia State as Administrative Secretary and was later redeployed to Enugu State in 1997 where he supervised the elections that ushered in the democratic government in the state in 1999. Thereafter, he returned to Abia State as Principal Secretary, Government House, Umuahia and Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor.
Political career
In December 2006, Orji won the Gubernatorial Primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State.On April 14, 2007, he resoundingly defeated his closest rival by over 200,000 votes to emerge Governor of Abia State.
He thus made history as being the first Governor in the History of Nigeria to win his election while in detention.
He was sworn in on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 as the 3rd Executive Governor of Abia, Gods Own State.
In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.
Personal
Chief T.A Orji has been recognized and conferred with many traditional titles, including Ochendo Ibeku, Utuagbaigwe of Ngwaland and Ohazurume of Abia South.He is married to Chief Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji and their marriage is blessed with five children.