BY CHINEDU NSOFOR
Senator Ugochukwu Bertram Uba is one Nigerian politician who has successfully combined theory and practice of political science effectively. Born on 22nd May 1949. He is a native of Umuoru village in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra State. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Political Science – specializing in Public Administration and Local Government Administration from Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario, Canada;
A Master of Arts Degree (M.A) in Political Science with specialization in Public Administration and comparative Government from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada; and A Bachelor of Arts (BA) First Class in Political Science from Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
He attended Primary School at St Cyprain Primary School, Port Harcourt,Rivers State; Secondary School at Stella Maris College,Port Harcourt; Rivers State and Government College, Umuahia, Abia State.
To show his political prowess quite very early in life, Ugochukwu Uba became the President, Nigeria Students Union, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada between 1978-1981.
Senator Ugochukwu Uba started his career as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Political Science Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Thereafter he became also a Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada between 1977-1981.
By 1981 he gained employment as Lecturer II, Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and rose to become a Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Administration University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 1988-1990. While in UNN, Ugochukwu Uba showcased his leadership skills and political mastery by serving in various leadership capacities which included; Secretary, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka Branch. Publicity Secretary Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka Branch. National Secretary, Nigeria Political Science Association.
Ugochukwu Uba not satisfied with the limitations of practicing politics just within the confines of the university system, decided to go on secondment to the Government where he had the opportunity to serve in various political positions over the years. Some of which include:
Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Office of the Deputy Governor, Enugu, Old Anambra State 1990-1991
Director, Nike Resort Hotel, Enugu. 1990-1991.
Resource Person, Centre for Democratic Studies, Abuja. 1989-1993.
Executive Assistant, Office of the Military
Administrator of the New Anambra State, Awka, Anambra State. 1991
Director General, Dept. of Public Utilities
Governor’s Office, Awka, Anambra State . 1992-1993.
Chairman Board of Directors, Central Investment Company, Enugu . Jointly owned by Anambra and
Enugu States 1994-1995.
Member of Board of Directors,
Universal Insurance Company, Enugu. 1994-1996.
Member of Board of Directors, Nkalagu Cement
Factory, Nkalagu, Enugu State. 1994-1996.
Director General, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Awka, Anambra State. 1994-1997.
Management Consultant, Bertcelia Consultants, 12, Brown & Brown Crescent, Independence, Layout, Enugu. 1998-1999.
Member ,Sub-Committee on Governance,
Government Institutions and the Polity,
Presidential advisory Committee – Abuja. March-April 1999.
Member, Anambra State Transition
Implementation Committee-Chairman of
Sub-Committee on Local Government
and Chieftaincy Matters. March 1999.
Hon. Commissioner for Youth, Sports and
Culture, Anambra State. 1999-2000.
Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Anambra State. 2000 – 2002.
Senator Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003 – 2007.
Senator Ugochukwu Uba also lectured in the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Abuja after he left the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. between 2016 – 2021
Senator Ugochukwu Uba is a prolific writer who has written numerous articles and conference papers on Politics and Government. He has also edited and contributed notable chapters in books and International Journals. For him theorizing political science should be matched with practicing political science. That explains his various active roles in the politics of Nigeria.
While in the Senate, Dr. Ugochukwu Uba served actively as member of the following committees:
1. Chairman, Inter-Ministerial Committee and
Stakeholders on the Review of Implementation
of the Cabotage Law. 2007 – 2008.
2. Chairman, Senate Committee on Transport and
later Marine Transport,
National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003-2007.
3. Member, Senate Committee on Navy,
National Assembly,
Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003-2007.
4. Member, Senate Committee on Internal Affairs,
National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003-2007.
5. Member, Senate Committee on National Planning,
Economic Affairs & Poverty Alleviation,
National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003-2007 .
6. Member, Senate Committee on Constitutional
Review. National Assembly,
Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2003-2007.
7. Member, Senate Adhoc Committee on the
Review of the Labor Act.
National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2004.
Senator Uba became the Chairman of first Senate Committee on Transport and later Committee on Marine Transport in June 2003, a position he held for four (4) years.
BELOW ARE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMARY OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AS CHAIRMAN, SENATE COMMITTEE ON MARINE TRANSPORT.
1. In promotion of Inter-Modalism, he supported the development of Inland Container Depots ICDs as well as the adoption of a Multi-Modal Transport Document MMT as proposed by UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission for International Trade and Law).
2. He diligently facilitated the passage of contemporary establishment act for the National Maritime Authority NMA (now the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA).
3. He facilitated the domestication of several International Maritime Conventions to which our nation is signatory to notably, the International Ship and Port Facility Security IPS code and holistic review of the extinct Merchant Shipping Act.
4. With the benefit of hands-on-experience and appreciation of international best practices, he was a prime advocate for reform of operations in the Port Sector.
5. In order to provide the necessary capital for our Indigenous Operators to participate in Cabotage, he supported the first approval for guidelines for the Cabotage Act of 2003. (See attached Table 1 for Bills considered and passed
Distinguished Senator Ugochukwu Uba is a member of various professional bodies. They include:
1. Member, Canadian Institute of Public Administration.
2. Member, Canadian Association of African Studies.
3. Associate Editor, Nigerian Journal of Public Administration
And Local Government .
4. Associate Editor, Nigerian Journal of Critical Social Science.
In 2021 Senator Dr. Ugochukwu Uba made a bright attempt to become the Governor of Anambra State, though he was not successful, he emerged the Flagg bearer of the People’s Democratic Party in Anambra State, though the party in the State at the time of his emergence was factionalized.
It is therefore very clear to every political observer that Dr. Ugochukwu Uba’s career has been characterized with consistent efforts to practice and theorize political science in Nigeria. To this end, he has made massive impact in the politics of Nigeria(both in theory and practice) and has marked his footprints in the sands of time in the politics of the country.
Chinedu Nsofor writes from Owerri, Imo State.