Nwankwo Nwankwo

Eze Nwankwo Nwankwo is the Ezeala IX of Umu Okobo Clan of Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. He was crowned on the 15th of April 2017. He is a direct descendent of Okobo and the nephew of his predecessor Eze Israel Okere Nwauche.

Early life and education
Nwankwo Nwankwo was born on July 15, 1952 in Umuagbai Ndoki, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State to the family of Chief Monday Nwankwo of Umu Akawor Okweleze Okobo and Princess Erinna Nwankwo (Nee Nwauche, Nwa-Adah Agbai Okobo) of Uhu Obu, both of the Royal families of Umuagbai Ndoki respectively. He began his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Umuagbai. In 1971, he obtained the West African School Certificate at Anglican Grammar School Umuahia, Abia State under the tutelage of his late uncle, Eze Israel O. Nwauche (JP), Ezeala Umuokobo, whom he inherited enlightenment and took the baton of light from. In 1978 he obtained a Higher National Diploma with Distinction in Business Studies from the Crawley College, West Sussex United Kingdom. He thereafter proceeded to the Bristol Polytechnic in England where he bagged a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing in July 1979. To sharpen his skills in marketing he enrolled and obtained a diploma from the Institute of Marketing, Britain in 1980. Nwankwo furthered his education in the United States where graduated with an MBA from the Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant Oklahoma, in 1981, and was adjudged the best post graduate student in Business Policy in that academic year.

Professional, Political and Business Career
Before his sojourn to the United Kingdom and the United States of America to further his education Nwankwo worked with Leventis Technical Ltd, Nigerian Produce and Marketing Company and Gas Producers Ltd where he gained invaluable practical experience. On his return from the United States of America he joined the West African Glass Industry Ltd as Assistant Marketing Manager in August 1983, a position he held until June 1985 when he was promoted to the position of Marketing Manager. In 1986 he was appointed the Marketing Manager of Risonpalm Ltd, Port Harcourt, a position he held until July 1990 when he became a Deputy General Manager Marketing. In September 1995, he became Deputy General Manager (Corporate Services) where he retired in October 1996 to set up his own business and to participate in active politics. In recognition of his service to humanity, social and institutional upliftment he was appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Rivers State on Revenue Generation, a position he held for eight years until May 29, 2015, when he retired from active politics to focus on his unalienable traditional responsibilities. Eze Nwankwo is a distinguished member to a number of professional institutes such as.
 * Fellow, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (Chartered), FNIMN
 * Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAIN)
 * Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACITN)

Philanthropy and Community Development
Eze Nwankwo is a noted philanthropist and community builder. Over the years he has awarded scholarships and skills training to sons and daughters of Ndoki land. He has renovated and built both traditional and Christian religious buildings in his home town of Umuagbai. He built a 3 kilometer link road connecting various part of Umuagbai town and also provided streetlights for major roads in the community. Eze Nwankwo was instrumental in the building of markets and citing of government projects in various Umu Okobo Communities. He also engages in yearly giving of gifts and provisions to the poor and underprivilege in the community. As a custodian of the traditions and culture of the people Eze Nwankwo authored a book on the history and culture of Umuagbai Ndoki titled Umuagbai-Ndoki: History and Culture. Which was well received by Ndoki people.

Personal life
Eze Nwankwo is married to Lolo (Lady) Edna Ibiba Nwankwo (née Pepple) and has four children, Mrs Uloma Queen Uneh, Mrs Udodirim Erinna Bashor-Nyiam (Esq.), Ijeoma Sotonye Nwankwo and Prince Nnaemeka Idawarifa Monday Nwankwo.

Coronation
Eze Nwankwo Nwankwo was unanimously selected by the Umu Okobo council of chiefs to be the next Ezeala of Umu Okobo haven met the requirements of custom and tradition. He is of direct lineage to Okweleze and Agbai, the first and second sons of Okobo (the progenitor of UmuOkobo Clan) and is the Mbichiriezi of the Umu Akawor Compound in Umuagbai. He was crowned the Ezeala of Umu Okobo ancient throne on the 15th of April 2017 at Umuagbai by the current King maker of the clan Chief Nwankama Okere of Azuogu in the presence of a huge gathering of community Chiefs, leaders an people.