Ministerial Screening: Agriculture Can Turn Nigeria’s Fortune Around – Uche Ogah

The senate today began the screening of the ministerial nominees with Uchechukwu Ogah.

President Muhammadu Buhari had yesterday sent a 43-list of nominees to the senate.

Fielding questions from Senators on a wide range of national issues that included trade, petroleum sector and the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Agreement by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Responding to a question from Senator James Manager on the agreement, Ogah noted that the agreement is a boost to not just Nigeria and Africa but the world in general.

“For me it is an agreement for the entire world. It is a good thing in the good direction,” he said.

Responding to a question on agriculture, Ogar noted that “If we are committed to agriculture, this nation will go places. Goods produced here can be exported. It is not the responsibility to create jobs but to create an enabling environment.”

Answering another question from Senator Barau Jibrin who asked him what can be done to the current state of refineries if appointed Petroleum minister, Ogah said? “I will go to the roots causes of the refineries coming back on tracks. Our refineries must work. How do you get the refineries to work? People who would not want the refineries to work, will be shown the way out. But for me the refineries must work, if given the mandate”

“The best we can do as a nation is to have refineries. I will create opportunities to stabilize the industry. If we do that jobs can be created.”

On whether the naira was overvalued or undervalued, Ogah said the currency was doing well and should be left the way it is, adding that “Nigeria’s currency is okay the way it is.”

Ogah promised to do the country proud in any portfolio he is assigned.

Responding after the nominee finished answering the questions put forward before, Senate President Ahmed Lawan then asked his colleagues: “After answering over twenty questions, do we now ask the nominee to take a bow and leave?”

It was greeted with a resounding “Aye” from other senators.

Born Uchechukwu S. Ogah on 22 December 1969 to Chief Wilson and Ezinne Pauline Ogah of Onuaku Uturu, Isuikwuato local government area of Abia state, Ogah attended Ishiagu High School, after which he proceeded to the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu state where he obtained Upper Credit at Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 1992 and Distinction at the Higher National Diploma (HND) Level in 1995 in Accounting.

He also attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in 2005. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree (Banking and Finance) from Ogun State University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos.

Ogah obtained his ACA in 2007. He is a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Fellow, Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Shipping; Fellow, Employment & Career and member, Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Ogah is a Nigerian oil magnate, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He began his career as a banker with a year of National Youth Service year at NAL Bank Plc.

He, thereafter, took up full employment at All States Trust Bank where he worked for around two years before joining Zenith Bank in 1997.

He is the president of Master Energy Group, a conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries and interests across a variety of industries.

In December, 2001, Ogah established Uche Ogah Foundation which aims to provide empowerment, poverty alleviation, and providing education for the less privileged

In 2014, Ogah was awarded, a national award – the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the federal government of Nigeria. He has Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration by Abia State University.

Ogah is a member of several professional bodies which included: Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Fellow, Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Shipping; Fellow, Employment & Career Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers Member, Governing Council of the Nigeria-Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry.