Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ph.D, CFR, is the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of
Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he represents the Bende Federal
Constituency of Abia State.

He is a seasoned legislator, legal practitioner, international
businessman, peace advocate, and global thought leader in governance and development.

Kalu’s career spans over two decades of impactful service across the public and private sectors.
He began as Chairman, Bende Local Government Area of Abia state, and later served as Executive
Adviser to the Governor of Abia State on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
International Relations before rising to national prominence in the House of Representatives. First
elected in 2019, he distinguished himself serving as the Chairman, House Committee on Media
and Public Affairs as well as the Spokesperson of the House; role he handled with clarity,
diplomacy and excellence.

As Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee
on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) he leads one of the most consequential
national assignments, shaping constitutional reforms that deepen democracy, promote inclusion, and
national unity.

He also represents Nigeria on the global stage as Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament
Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget; Member of the Pan-African
Parliament; Steering Committee Member of the WTO Parliamentary Conference; and Member of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Academically, Kalu is deeply grounded. He holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Calabar and
a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Strategic Studies from the University of Abuja. He also earned an LL.M
in Terrorism and International Humanitarian Law (with Distinction) from the University of Calabar,
an MBA from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2011.
Kalu has further enriched his expertise through executive programs at prestigious institutions,
including; Leadership for the 21st Century, Harvard Kennedy School, USA, Governance &
Development Program, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, USA,
Environmental Crimes, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
(UNICRI), Italy, Migration and Human Rights, John Cabot University, Italy, Illicit
Trade, University of Groningen, Netherlands, International Commercial Arbitration, Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), UK.

His scholarly contributions include published works on climate adaptation policy, food security,
and security sector reforms in Africa, underscoring his role as a scholar-practitioner bridging
research and governance.

In the private sector, Kalu has held various leadership positions across Africa, Europe, and
Australia including as Director at Solcarbon SA-NV (Belgium), Ozbok Australia PTY LTD
(Sydney), and Belcarbon SA (Belgium). He also serves as Principal Arbitrator at Silk Partners LLP
(Nigeria), where he advises on commercial law, arbitration, and international business strategy.

Kalu’s passion for peace and development finds expression in the Peace in the South East Project
(PISE-P), an initiative he convened to promote dialogue, inclusivity, and non-kinetic solutions to
security challenges in Nigeria’s South East. His humanitarian footprint also extends through
the Benjamin Kalu Foundation, which for over two decades has provided interventions
in healthcare, education, and empowerment for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
In recognition of his outstanding service to the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,
conferred on him the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu stands as a visionary leader for the 21st century blending law,
policy, diplomacy, and humanitarianism to shape a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous
Nigeria, Africa, and world.

By Editor, Umuahia

The Annual general meeting of the online media publishers association of Nigeria, Abia State will feature the investiture of patrons on some select persons who have excelled in various fields of endeavour.

One of the patrons is Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah.

Born on the 16th of June, 1980, to the family of late Wilson and Ogbonneya Ogah of Onuaku, Uturu, in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, he acquired his early education at Udoka Primary School Awka, in Anambra State, Nnachi High School in Enugu State, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in economics from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

Driven by passion for service, socio-economic upliftment and job creation which has consistently marked his journey, he served as the executive director of seven subsidiary companies under the Pauli-Mama Group of Companies and other companies outside the group.

“Aguneche Ibe” as he is fondly called, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Economics, a Member of the Nigeria-America Chamber of Commerce (NACC), and a member of the Global Trade Club of Spain.

In 2019, Amobi Ogah was called upon by the people of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi to represent them at the House of Representative but later withdrew his aspiration to pave way for his immediate predecessor serving for a record 4th term.

On February 25th, 2023, Amobi yielded to yet another call from the people of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi to seek election, hence, he was overwhelmingly voted into office as the Member representing Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Federal Constituency under the platform of the Labour Party.

His resounding victory ended the 16 years reign of his predecessor, a victory which is widely described as one of the greatest political upset of the 2023 election.

At the 10th Assembly, Hon Ogah is the Chairman, House Committee on Infectious Diseases. He has demonstrated impeccable character and capacity in his legislative mandate with several motions, bills, and oversight responsibilities to his credit.

Some of the Bills include: the National Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food Safety Research, Ulonna North, Isuikwuato Abia State; Creation Of Uturu-Chieze Local Government Area; Creation of Etiti State; Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery, Uturu, Abia State; Tuberculosis (anti-discrimination) Bill, Private Institutions and Health Care Services Providers (prohibition) Bill; Fifty-Year National Economic Plan Act for Nigeria; as well as the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS Act (amendment) Bill.

Ogah is a philanthropist who is in tune with the yearnings of his constituents, having empowered many, including women and youths of his constituency with skills for self-reliance

He has enrolled several youths on full-funded educational scholarship, with infrastructural upgrade of his constituency cutting across roads, medical outreach, health facilities, constructed markets and several other facilities to improve the quality of life.

In similitude, Hon Ogah has organized series of empowerment programmes to cushion the economic hardship of his constituents. Some of these include; the 2019 empowerment outreach; 2024 empowerment programme held on the 16th of November, as well as the recently organized 1-billion-naira empowerment of his constituents held on December 6th, 2025, where cars, mini buses, tricycles, motorcycles, deep freezers, grinding machines, industrial sewing machines, and many other items of economic boost were distributed.

Hon Amobi Ogah is married to a supportive wife, Maureen and the union is blessed with children.

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia.

Homosexuality is an old practice which was initially considered a taboo in the past before some countries like the United States of America and parts of Europe legalised it.

Within 2025, various issues bothering on same sex relationships were reported across Nigeria.

In Abia State, people speculated about individuals sexuality at various times because of their dress sense or their body structure.

Sometimes, these speculations turned out to be true, yet also false alarm at other times.

As the year winds down, CSUNews examines how in 2025, personal choices worked at cross purposes with the nation’s law and communities’ traditions with regards to homosexuality.

We asked a cross section of residents of Abia State of their impressions about lesbianism, gay and same sex marriage.

Nearly every one interviewed exhibited knowledge of the law that prohibits same sex union and recommends penalty for offenders.

They’re equally aware that it is a “taboo” in many cultures across the country.

Mr. Kelechi Thompson, a native of Ezea in Ebonyi State but resident in Aba narrates how his community punished a same sex couple found in their “love nest” which happened to be an uncompleted building.

“It is an abomination. How can two men be together ? This is unheard of,“ he lamented.

According to Mr. Thompson, those who first saw them leave the uncompleted building holding hands as lovers would while kissing on the road, stripped both naked and dragged them to the village head.

The village head according to him ordered that they both be flogged while still naked.

“It did not end there, because after the beating, they were handed over to the police, you know the law is against it.

“However, after they were granted bail on their first appearance in court, one of them jumped bail and is still at large while his partner is still being tried in court,” he said.

Like Mr. Thompson, Mr. Onwuka Ijebuonwu believes people should live by their customs as he gives an insight into what his community in Afara would do to such persons if caught in the act.These are typical mind-sets of many citizens concerning LGBTQ which have caused those with such sexual orientation to hide perpetually while living in the country or flee the country as the last resort.

The human rights advocates and activists appear handicapped with the law and so cannot protect those who have become or perceived victims of the law and culture .

Mrs. Lizzy Ugwum during an interview shared how someone she knew but never understood her sexual orientation was allegedly forced to run away after she was caught with her partner by her husband.

The people mete out corporal punishments in most cases before handing the perceived culprits over to the law enforcers.

The law prescribed a 14 year jail term for anyone found guilty of the offence, but fears are that those involved in the act may suffer being lynched even before the matter goes to court.

Some enlightened citizens of Nigeria may argue that the people have their lives to live, but the reality is that the Nigerian law with its culture and religions may never take lightly issues of homosexuality, hence the safety of gay people and lesbians is not guaranteed in the country.

.It does not also look like the nation is interested in reviewing the anti gay law any time soon.