INITIATION:
I am privileged to personally compile the biography of my own brother. Orji and I are from one community "Umuobasi Autonomous Community" of Amankalu Igbere village in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State Nigeria. I think, I stand a better chance to write this post.
BIRTH DATE:
On April 21st, 1960, a bouncing baby boy was born to the family of Mazi Johnson Uzor Kalu and Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu, the Odiuko na Mba of Uhuohuru compound of Umuobasi Amankalu Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State Nigeria. His parents called him Orji
HIS EDUCATION:
His primary and secondary schools were "Christ the King School Aba", and "Government College Umuahia". He later studied at Barewa College, Zaria, then he enrolled into the University of Maiduguri where he was studying political science. He dropped out of the school due to some crisis that resulted to his suspension. He then concentrated in developing his personal business.
Orji later secured a degree Certificate in Business Administration from Harvard University. He was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Abia State University, and university of Maiduguri respectively.
MARRIAGE/FAMILY:
Orji married Mrs. Ifeoma Ada Orji Uzor Kalu (nee - Menakaya) in December 1989, the marriage was conducted in his hometown of Igbere, Abia State.
The union was blessed with four children namely: Neya Uzor Kalu; Michael Uzor Kalu; Olivia Uzor Kalu; and Nicole Uzor Kalu.
CAREER:
Orji is a successful businessman and politician.
He was into chain of businesses ranging from vegetable oil, petroleum, Newspaper printing, Radio station, etc. All his businesses are successful type, and limited liability companies. He has never been a failure in business.
HIS BUSINESSES:
Orji took a loan of $35 from his mother, Eunice Uzor Kalu and began trading palm oil, buying from eastern regions and selling in the northern regions of Nigeria. He later started buying and reselling furniture on large quantities.
The business grew to the establishment of SLOK Holdings, a company of many companies such as:
- Ojialex Furniture Company,
- SLOK Nigeria Limited,
- SLOK United Kingdom Limited,
- Adamawa Publishers Limited, * SLOK Vegetable Oil, Aba,
- SLOK Paper Factory, Aba,
- SLOK United States Incorporated,
- SLOK Ghana,
- Slok Togo,
- Slok Cotonou,
- Slok Guinea, .
- South Africa,
- Slok Liberia,
- Slok Botswana,
- SLOK Korea,
- Supreme Oil Limited,
- SLOK Airlines,
- Sun Publishing Limited,
- New Telegram Newspaper
- First International Bank Limited, etc.
Orji, at 26 years received the National Merit Award from President Ibrahim Babangida,in 1986. He was also awarded the Humanitarian Award of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka's, and so many other awards.
CURRENT NET WORTH:
Orji Uzor Kalu's net worth is 2.8 billion dollars.
.
HIS POLITICAL LIFE:
Orji is presently serving his (eight years) second tenure as a senator representing Abia North Senatorial District. He served as governor of Abia State for eight years, starting from May 29th, 1999 to May 29th, 2007.
Orji was a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari
ARREST AND DETENTION:
On 11 July 2007, Orji was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges of financial mismanagement while in the office as the governor of Abia State. He later released after some months of detention.
CONVICTION:
Orji was convicted by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday,
December 5th, 2019. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison for 7.65 billion Naira fraud which he was convicted defrauded the government of Abia State during his tenure as governor for eight years. He successfully served the sentence for some months and was released due to a new development of his case.
On Friday, 8 May 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that his trial was wrongly conducted, so he was released from prison, the Supreme Court of Nigeria deemed Orji's conviction as inappropriate and ordered a retrial of the case. A seven-man panel of the apex court, in a unanimous verdict delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, declared Orji's conviction null and void,
DEATH OF HIS WIFE:
Ifeoma Orji Uzor Kalu, the wife of the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, died on Monday in the United States of America at age 61. She was also buried at McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel, North Carolina, United States.
LESSONS TO LEARN:
- Fearless businessman, he doesn't fear risk.
- Courageous politician, he puts in whatever to make sure of success.
- Serious philanthropist, he doesn't engage in anything that will not yield back interest.
SOURCE:
Wikipedia - online is the major source of the information used here.
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