Until recently, Engr Emeka Celestine Ugoanyanwu was the General Manager/Chief Executive of the Imo Water Development Agency(IWADA) from 2001 to 2014 and the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Owerri.
He started his Public Service career with the Imo State Government in 1987 and was deployed to then Imo Public Utilities Board and later Imo Water Corporation. Engr Ugoanyanwu was appointed the GM/CE of IWADA in 2001.
He was a member of the National Technical Committee on Water Resources and National Council on Water Resources between 2002 and 2012.
He served as a Consultant to the World Bank funded MDGs Water/Sanitation program in Imo State from 2008 to 2011. Access level to public Water supply in Imo State was increased from 35.8% in 2007 to 75.3% in 2011.
Engr Emeka C Ugoanyanwu is a graduate of Federal University of Technology Owerri where he obtained B. Sc (first Class. He also hold MSc(Mechanical Engineering) and MBA(Project Management) from the same institution.
A man who love acquiring valauble knowledge, he processes a graduate Diploma in Mud Engineering and several Certifications in Engineering and Water Resources management from the United States of America.
He is widely traveled and has attended several international conferences in Nigeria, USA and United Kingdom on water/Sanitation, Solar Technology and Renewable Energy technologies. He's a lorentz Germany partner on Solar and renewable energy technology.
Engr Ugoanyanwu is very active within the engineering community and has made immense contribution to engineering development both local and national. He is a COREN registered Engineer. He is also a Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers; Fellow Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers; Member, Nigeria Committee on Large Dams NICOLD; Member, International Committee on large Dams, ICOLD; Member, International Water Services Association, UK; Member, Project Management Institute, USA; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Administrators; Associate, Nigerian Institute of Management; Member, Foundary Association of Nigeria among others.
Under his tenure, as Chairman of Owerri Branch, the NSE Orlu Branch was officially recognised and eventually inaugurated with strong support from Owerri Branch. Thereby giving Imo two Branches of NSE.
The Pioneer Chairman of Orlu Branch, Engr Chidozie Okereke in his message of congratulations appreciated the virtues of Engr Ugoanyanwu and praises him as a visionary leader who will further make engineering proud in his new position. He expresses confident that he will bring to the board a rich wealth of experiences from both technical and managerial.
He expresses optimism that the new board will deliver and challenge him to lead the line saying: . "I know you have the capacity and capability to turn things around in this Moribund Sector of Imo State."
Report by Isqil Najim (@isqilnajim)
