Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo: Special Gift From Isuofia To The World

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, is a special gift from Isuofia to the world. His profile will take a full book to summarize. Just a few words will suffice at this occasion.

Chukwuma Soludo (who also holds the traditional title of “ODENIGBO Aguata na Orumba” conferred upon him by the 45 communities in the three local governments in 2004 and ODENJINJI Aguleri) has had an exemplary career as an international scholar and consultant/adviser to 20 international financial/development organizations and governments; distinguished public service; philanthropist and devotee to Christian life/duties.  In government, the Soludo brand became synonymous with excellence in grand visioning with precision in execution.

One word summarizes his academic and professional/public life—EXCELLENCE. With a Distinction Grade in Secondary school, he holds a B.Sc (First Class Hons), M.Sc and PhD in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka—winning Departmental, Faculty, and University prizes; and also attended over a dozen short term courses at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, etc. 

He is a Professor of Economics (met requirements for professorship at the age of 34 but promoted at the age of 38) and has to his credit over 300 publications—journal articles, books, conference papers and monographs. He is also Fellow of several professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigerian Economic Society, etc as well as fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, UK.

Chukwuma Soludo has also had a distinguished international service. At the heat of the global financial crisis in 2008, he was the African member in the 10-member technical committee set up by the United Nations to design the Agenda for Reforming the International Monetary and Financial System; Served as Member of the Chief Economist Advisory Council (CEAC) of the World Bank, 2005- 2012; Member of the International Advisory group, UK-DFID, 2005-7; Member of the External Advisory Committee, IMF, 2012; etc.

Before he joined the Federal Government in 2003, he lived in the US, UK, and Ethiopia and travelled to 45 other countries as an itinerant scholar and consultant to 20 international organizations including: The World Bank, IMF; EU; OECD; USAID; UK-DFID; African Development Bank; UNDP; UNCTAD; UN-ECA; IDRC Canada; African Union; The Brookings Institution, USA; ECOWAS, CODESRIA, COMESA, Chemonics International, USA; IBM Consulting, USA; etc.

At the Federal Government of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo served as Chief Economic Adviser to President Obasanjo; CEO/Chief Executive of National Planning Commission; Chairman/Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman of Board of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc; founder and founding Chairman of Africa Finance Corporation; chairman or member of over 25 technical committees. His tenure in government was Nigeria’s golden economic era with highest economic prosperity and over 10 million jobs created. Even President Buhari appointed him as a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

For his distinguished public service, Chukwuma Soludo was awarded the third highest national honour (Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR), and over 200 other national and international awards, including being the triple winner of the African and Global Central Bank Governor of the year 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2006 six national newspapers and magazines simultaneously declared him Nigeria’s “Man of the Year”—in recognition of his transformation of the Nigerian banking/financial system. The history of Nigeria’s banking system is now divided into: “before” and “after” Soludo. His Alma Mater, the University of Nigeria in 2004 honoured him with a special award as “the Most Distinguished Alumnus of the University”.  He has been variously recognized internationally among the top 100 most influential Africans.
We do not have space to chronicle his gigantic impacts on Anambra State and Nigeria. But suffice it to state that ChukwumaSoludo is a true home boy, deeply rooted among his age grade, village and town. He does not like to talk about his charitable acts. He insists that they are his own way of thanking God for His blessings and therefore does not want anyone to thank or praise him. But on this occasion, we need to summarize just a few that relate to our community. He served as Secretary of the Isuofia Students Union and as an undergraduate at 20, helped to organize free Extramural studies for secondary school students in Isuofia during long vacations. 

From age 26, he started training not only his siblings but also others in secondary schools and university. In 2000, he instituted a scholarship scheme for his Umunna (kindred) that no person should fail to go to University because of financial constraints, and in 2001 he became the pioneer Chairman of his village Education Trust Fund—to which he was the highest donor, and which granted scholarships and bursaries to indigent students.
For about 12 years, ChukwumaSoludo “adopted” the primary school in his village (Amoji Primary School) where he provides about 900 pupils every year with free and qualitative education by providing everything they need including uniforms, footwear, games wear, all writing materials, all textbooks, furnished classrooms, solar powered computer lab with 40 computers; as well as employing over ten additional graduate teachers. He also provides facilities in other 5 public schools in Isuofia and currently pays the salaries of about 25 PTA teachers in those other schools. Or do we need to mention that he sponsors annual football competition among primary schools in Isuofia?

Every year, Chukwuma Soludo pays the fees for JAMB and SSCE for hundreds of secondary school students and certainly for all students at the Holy Child Secondary School, Isuofia. Also hundreds of graduates have benefitted from his scholarships and bursaries.
For over 14 years, he instituted revolving interest-free micro credit fund with women organizations in the church parishes in Isuofia as well as others such as Umuada, etc amounting to tens of millions of Naira. We do not mention his various short-term palliatives to indigent people.
Aside from facilitating the Federal Government reconstruction of the Ekwulobia- Isuofia- Nnobi Road in 2007/08 with two spurs planned for Isuofia, Chukwuma Soludo has personally tarred or facilitated government road project of over 6 kilometres in Isuofia. We need not mention his contribution in attracting street lights from His Excellency, Gov Willie Obiano as well as the Isuofia- Ekwulobia Hospital Road.

The ongoing construction of gigantic multi-billion Naira Diagnostic Hospital in Isuofia by him is well known. We do not also mention his contributions to church projects in the community, etc.

Finally, this month marks the fourth anniversary of the Isuofia Peace/Unity Summit of August 2017.  Chukwuma Soludo provided the leadership that mobilized the critical stakeholders and the entire community to resolve a 20 year old crisis and re-united Isuofia into one peaceful and united town.
Chukwuma Soludo currently serves on the boards of several corporations in Nigeria and abroad. He is a strong promoter of the Christian Church in Nigeria, and currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Peter University, Diocese of Awka and Ekwulobia. After six years of meritorious service as a member of its Finance Council, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria honoured him with Excellent Service Award.  He is married to Nonye Queen Frances Soludo and blessed with children.

Congratulations Dikeudo n’ Isuofia!