Ned Nwoko
{{Short description|Nigerian politician, lawyer and philanthropist}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ned Nwoko
| image = Ned Nwoko.jpg
| width =
| office = Senator for representing Delta North
| term_start = June 2023
| predecessor = Peter Nwaoboshi
| office1 = Member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
| term_start1 = 3 June 1999
| term_end1 = 3 June 2003
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| constituency1 = Aniocha/Oshimili
| birth_name = Chinedu Munir Nwoko
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| party = All Progressive Congress (APC)
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|https://senatornedmunirnwoko.com/}}
}}
Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko (born 21 December 1960) popularly known as Ned Nwoko is a Muslim Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist, and politician who serves as the senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202002200083.html|title=Africa: Ned Nwoko Set to Become Africa's Biggest Humanitarian|first=Emmanuel|last=Okogba|date=20 February 2020|website=Vanguard|via=AllAfrica|access-date=19 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/celebrity/the-undiluted-story-of-prince-ned-nwoko/|title=The undiluted story of Prince Ned Nwoko|first=Zeal|last=Kachi|date=16 September 2021|website=The Guardian|access-date=19 February 2022}}{{Cite web |title=National Assembly {{!}} Federal Republic of Nigeria |url=https://nass.gov.ng/mps/single/600 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=nass.gov.ng}} He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State. In January 2020, he undertook a symbolic expedition to Antarctica to flag off a Malaria Eradication Project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/antarctica-ned-nwoko-mounts-nigerian-flag-to-create-malaria-eradication-awareness-photos/|title=Antarctica: Ned Nwoko mounts Nigerian flag to create malaria eradication awareness (photos)|date=21 January 2020|website=Vanguard|access-date=19 February 2022}}
He was re-elected to represent the people of Delta North senatorial district in 2023 in the Senate of Nigeria representing Oshimili North Federal Constituency, Delta State, Nigeria.
Early life and education
Prince Chinedu (Ned) Munir Nwoko was born on 21 December 1960 into the Nwoko Royal Family, Idumuje Ugboko Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area. He received primary and secondary education in Nigeria. He moved on to the United Kingdom, got his first degree in Law and History at the University of Keele, Staffordshire UK. He also attended King's College London, where he obtained an LLM in maritime and commercial law. Nwoko was subsequently called to the English bar, at Lincoln's Inn.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-16 |title=The undiluted story of Prince Ned Nwoko |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/celebrity/the-undiluted-story-of-prince-ned-nwoko/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} He was awarded Honorary Doctorate degree in Letters (D.Litt) by Commonwealth University College, Belize, North America.
Career
Nwoko began his legal career with a brief start at the Crown Prosecution Service and qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.{{cn|date= February 2025}} He worked at Kumars Solicitors and Pascaldiers & Co Solicitors before establishing Ned Nwoko & Co Solicitors in London.
Nwoko was secretary general, Nigerian legal practitioners UK, Member of the Law Society, England and Wales and was visiting adviser, citizens' advice bureau, based in London. At the peak of his legal sojourn in UK, he had the biggest black law firm in England and was recognized as the best black lawyer of African descent in England 1995.{{cite web | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/ned-nwoko-revisited-from-london-onwards/ | title=NED NWOKO Revisited: From London Onwards | date=December 15, 2021 }}{{clarify |reason=what does "best" mean here?|date= February 2025}}
Politics
Nwoko returned to Nigeria in December 1998 and made an entry into Nigeria's political scene when he was elected member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.{{cite news|title=Nigeria: I Was the Second Highest Sponsor of Bills-Ned Nwoko|location=Lagos, Nigeria|last=Bada|first=Gbenga|website=allafrica.com|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201007260271.html|date=23 July 2010|access-date=1 July 2024}} He represented Aniocha / Oshimili federal constituency, making an impressive showing in the legislative house.
Nwoko was instrumental to the initiation of the London and Paris Club Loans refund into Nigeria. He authored the reports that led to Nigeria government's discontinuation of monthly deductions from states’ allocations and commencement of refunds to States.{{Cite web|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/2019-public-service-ned-nwoko-paris-club-refund-facilitator-delivers-ui-alumni-association-lecture/|title=2019 Public Service: Ned Nwoko, Paris Club refund facilitator, delivers UI Alumni Association Lecture|first=Tunde|last=Ogunesan|date=July 7, 2019|website=Nigerian Tribune|access-date=February 19, 2022}} Through his Law firm, Ned Nwoko Solicitors and his Company Linas International he investigated the multinational creditors and discovered discrepancies in loan repayments, and this resulted in the refund of the first tranches of loan beginning from the Obasanjo administration.{{Cite web|url=https://leadership.ng/nwoko-the-pathfinder-of-nigerias-economic-progress/|title=Nwoko: The Pathfinder of Nigeria's Economic Progress|author=Abubakar|date=March 28, 2018|format=Opinion|website=Leadership}} He also charged the Federal government to court on behalf of 774 Local governments for the refund of illegal deductions and obtained judgment of $3.2billion for the local governments. The Federal government of Nigeria has refunded all the monies in line with the court judgment of 2013.{{cite web |url=https://mgbeke.media/theres-more-to-prince-ned-nwoko/ |title=THERE'S MORE TO PRINCE NED NWOKO - MGBEKE MEDIA |website=mgbeke.media |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222004559/https://mgbeke.media/theres-more-to-prince-ned-nwoko/ |archive-date=2021-02-22}}{{unreliable source?|date=February 2022}}]. Nigeria under the Buhari Administration was able to overcome her economic recession culminating in the payment of backlog of salaries of public service workers and development of infrastructure. A total of $20 billion has been refunded to States and Local Government because of his work. Nwoko also served on the Vision 2010 Committee and is a member of the capital market. He served as Chairman of the External Committee of Vision 2010. Nwoko is also the Chairman of Project Tourism Africa.{{Cite web | title=Project Tourism Africa – Promoting the understanding of Africa's Uniqueness | url=http://projecttourismafrica.org/ | access-date=2025-06-01 | website=projecttourismafrica.org}}
In 2023, Nwoko was elected as the senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate. His election was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Asaba.{{Cite web |last=Akinrogbe |first=Alex |date=2023-11-01 |title=3 Delta senators victorious in Appeal Court |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/11/01/3-delta-senators-victorious-in-appeal-court/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}
On January 30, 2025, Nwoko announced his resignation from the PDP with plans to join Nigeria’s ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).{{Cite web |last=Nwafor |date=2025-01-30 |title=Nwoko's planned move to APC will bring fresh energy — Aide |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/01/nwokos-planned-move-to-apc-will-bring-fresh-energy-to-the-party-nigeria-aide/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}
Malaria eradication advocacy
Nwoko is a strong advocate of Malaria eradication in Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/12/ned-nwoko-wizkid-partnering-to-eradicate-malaria-in-africa/|title=Ned Nwoko, Wizkid partnering to eradicate malaria in Africa|date=December 17, 2019}} He is the initiator of the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Project.{{Cite web|url=https://nednwokomalariaproject.org/|title=Home|website=Prince Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Project}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/ned-nwoko-foundation-reiterates-commitment-to-malaria-eradication-in-africa/|title=Ned Nwoko Foundation reiterates commitment to malaria eradication in...|date=February 14, 2020}} He flagged off the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication campaign via a symbolic expedition to the Antarctica in January 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/life/ned-nwoko-takes-war-against-malaria-to-antartica/|title = Ned Nwoko Takes War Against Malaria to Antartica|date = January 8, 2020}} The Foundation is supporting the existing efforts of vaccine development by funding a research for the anti-malaria vaccine through a partnership with leading universities in Africa and other research establishments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/malaria-fg-backs-nwokos-planned-fumigation-of-nigeria/|title=Malaria: FG backs Nwoko's planned fumigation of Nigeria|date=March 1, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/ali-modu-sheriff-adamu-adamu-endorses-ned-nwokos-malaria-eradication-project/|title=Ali Modu Sheriff, Adamu Adamu endorses Ned Nwoko's Malaria Project|date=February 13, 2020}}
Visit to South Pole
In January 2020, Nwoko flagged off the malaria eradication campaign via a symbolic expedition to Antarctica. Nwoko made history as the first black African to ever visit the South Pole, Antarctica.{{cite web | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/371933-nigerian-politician-takes-malaria-eradication-campaign-to-antarctica.html | title=Nigerian politician takes malaria eradication campaign to Antarctica | date=January 9, 2020 }} Nwoko leveraged on the global attention this expedition attracted to create awareness on the scourge of Malaria and how to permanently eradicate it in Africa.{{cite web | url=https://www.ghgossip.com/ned-nwoko-the-first-african-to-visit-the-south-pole/ | title=Ned Nwoko - the First African to Visit the South Pole | date=May 24, 2020 | access-date=2 September 2022 | archive-date=7 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507213919/https://www.ghgossip.com/ned-nwoko-the-first-african-to-visit-the-south-pole/ | url-status=dead }} Nwoko and other adventurers arrived the Geographical South Pole, one of the two points where the Earth’s axis of rotation intersects its surface. There he made history for Nigeria and Africa by mounting the Nigerian Flag making Nigeria the 13th country to hoist a flag there, announcing to the world that Africa is ready to solve the African problem, malaria. However, the Nigerian Government must take the necessary steps to ratify the Antarctic Treaty for the flag to remain there.{{cite web | url=https://www.thecable.ng/ned-nwoko-the-man-the-mystery-and-the-midas-touch | title=Ned Nwoko -- the man, the mystery and the Midas touch | date=July 4, 2022 }}
Mount Ned Nwoko
Nwoko is the founder of the tourism destination Mount Ned Nwoko, one of 21 tourism sites approved by Delta state government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/i-want-to-make-delta-worlds-%ef%bf%bc%ef%bf%bc%ef%bf%bctourist-centre-nwoko/|title=I want to make Delta world's tourist centre –Nwoko|date=March 28, 2019}} The tourist site consists of museum, farm, zoo, fishponds, poultry and a 9-hole golf course.{{Cite web|url=https://thepointernewsonline.com/?p=61869|title=A Walk For Tourism ––Ned Nwoko Foundation|date=June 26, 2018}}
Sports University
Nwoko is the founder of Sports University,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsuniversity.edu.ng/|title=Sports University Nigeria®|website=www.sportsuniversity.edu.ng}} located at Idumuje ugboko, the first sports University in sub Saharan Africa.{{cite web | url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/06/02/nwoko-plans-to-revolutionise-sports-with-sports-university/ | title=Nwoko Plans to Revolutionise Sports with Sports University – THISDAYLIVE }}{{cite web | url=https://guardian.ng/sport/nigerias-first-sports-university-debuts-in-idumuje-ugboko/ | title=Nigeria's first Sports University debuts in Idumuje-Ugboko | date=May 31, 2022 }} The university which was granted operational license in 2022 by the federal government of Nigeria, through the National Universities Commission NUC, is offering courses in sports and other disciplines and would resume full academic activities soon.{{cite web | url=https://www.primebusiness.africa/federal-government-approves-ned-nwokos-sports-university/ | title=Federal Government Approves Ned Nwoko's Sports University | date=April 8, 2022 }}
Philanthropy
Through his foundation, Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, he has contributed to the empowerment and education of youths of his constituency, senatorial district and state.{{Cite web|url=https://nednwokofoundation.org/|title=Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation | Homepage|website=nednwokofoundation.org}} In 2019, he donated $273,000 (N100M) for the rehabilitation of failed portions of the road linking the South Eastern Nigeria to the nation's capital, Abuja.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rootstv.ng/no-categoy/2019/05/delta-sen-elect-donates-n100m-for-rehabilitation-of-s-east-abuja-road/|title=Delta Sen-Elect Donates N100M for Rehabilitation of S/East-Abuja Road|date=May 9, 2019|website=News & Information You Need to Know from ROOTS TV|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=7 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507213910/https://www.rootstv.ng/no-categoy/2019/05/delta-sen-elect-donates-n100m-for-rehabilitation-of-s-east-abuja-road/|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Nwoko has several wives and many children, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels is his latest wife. According to www.kenyanhub.co.ke he has married again and the wife is pregnant.{{Cite web |last=Ayub |first=Simon |date=2021-07-16 |title=Ned Nwoko wives and children: names, photos, and everything you should know |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/392691-ned-nwoko-wives-children-names-photos-everything-know.html |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ajayi |first=Faith |date=2024-06-01 |title=Ned Nwoko, Regina Daniels mark five years of marital bliss |url=https://punchng.com/ned-nwoko-regina-daniels-mark-five-years-of-marital-bliss/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Ned Nwoko net worth - Dockaysworld |url=https://www.dockaysworld.com.ng/?s=Ned+Nwoko+net+worth+#google_vignette |access-date=2024-07-02 |language=en-US}}
Awards and recognition
- 2022: SOCIAL IMPACT PERSON OF THE YEAR – Leadership Newspaper{{cite web | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/leadership-award-ned-nwoko-wins-social-impact-person-of-the-year/ | title=Leadership Award: Ned Nwoko wins Social Impact Person of the year | date=May 19, 2022 }}
- AWARD FOR MEDIA EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION – Delta State University{{cite web | url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/conferment-award-of-media-excellence-and-innovation-on-prince-ned-nwoko/ | title=Conferment award of Media excellence and innovation on Prince Ned Nwoko | date=September 16, 2020 }}
- ICON OF PHILANThROPHY AWARD – University of Nigeria, Nsukka{{cite web | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/unns-faculty-of-arts-to-honour-ned-nwoko-with-icon-of-philanthropy-award/ | title=UNN's Faculty of Arts to honour Ned Nwoko with Icon of Philanthropy Award | date=January 24, 2020 }}
- 2018: Africa Value Awards - Effective Leadership and Youth Empowerment* 2019: Delta Role Model Awards - Humanitarian Services
- 2019: Peace Achievers Awards{{Cite web|url=https://leadership.ng/2019/07/26/ned-nwoko-ateke-tom-others-for-peace-achievers-awards/|title=StackPath|website=leadership.ng|date=May 29, 2022 }}
- 2019: Prime Excellence Recognition Awards - Man of the year{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/philanthropist-prince-nwoko-bags-man-of-the-year-award/|title=Philanthropist Prince Nwoko Bags Man of the year Award|date=November 27, 2019}}
- 2019: Abuja AR Reporters Awards- Man of the year 2019{{Cite web|url=https://abujareporters.com.ng/dubai-stands-still-as-ned-nwoko-picks-another-award/|title=DUBAI STANDS STILL AS NED NWOKO PICKS ANOTHER AWARD – Abuja Reporters|website=abujareporters.com.ng}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- 2019: Suncity Champions of Democracy Awards - Humanitarian Services{{Cite web|url=http://www.suncitynewsng.com/hon-dr-prince-ned-nwoko-receives-suncity-champions-of-democracy-and-development-award-2019/|title=Hon. Dr. Ned Nwoko receives SuncityNews Champions of Democracy and Development award 2019|date=August 20, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- 2019: University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria Philanthropy Awards{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/ned-nwoko-bags-unn-icon-award/|title=Ned Nwoko bags UNN Icon Award|date=February 5, 2020}}