By Chidinma Omar 


Thursday, November 30,  2023 would remain a special day of double honours for Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, Founder, New Era Foundation. While   being sworn in  as the Mayor, Transition Committee, Ikwuano LGA in Umuahia, Abia State capital, in far away Lagos State,  the Professional Leadership Practitioners Institute, PLPI were also  inducting him as a Fellow of PLPI.


The President/Chairman of PLPI's Governing Council, Professor Charles Ogbulogo says the investiture of Comrade Nwaka as a Fellow of the Institute is in recognition of his distinct achievements in pursuit of  his career.



"Fellowship investiture of PLPI is conferred on persons living up to the values, principles and virtues of PLPI either in the society, politics or professional life, and Nwaka measures up admirably in these requirements, therefore this recognition ", says Prof Ogbulogo 


 Honours chasing after Nwaka do not surprise his followers who have been impacted by his creativity, commitment, philanthropy and innovation. In today's boisterous political clime  emergency leaders claiming the title even if followed by a shadow rise and wither like flowers, but Nwaka grows following effortlessly.  Followers make the leader,  says the leadership exponent, John Maxwell in his iconic definition of leadership thus: 'He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk'


Leaders with mass appeal were the midwives of Abia's renascent dawn. They were  endued with the vision of a better day  as contrasted with the visionlessness then obtainable.  From that company of leaders, Nwaka emerged. While the election may have come and gone, some are still broadening their vision, charting new courses and drawing followers unto journeys of discovery, and standing tall in their ranks include personalities like Comrade  Nwaka. 


Of a solemn mien,  Nwaka's compassion, sociability, positive attitude,  and charisma radiates magnetic energy that not only draws followership, but equally inspires and guides men  towards new conquests.  


Men do not follow mere symbols, they follow representations of their ideals,  representations of their hopes, and for  in  so short a time, Nwaka has drawn multitudes who see him as an embodiment of their dreams and hopes.


Nwaka belongs to the Jesus School of Leadership: 'Follow me, and I will make you...'  A loyalist describes him as a dynamo, shrouded by  unassuming simplicity. Disarming may be his smile but  writ bold and large is his confidence,  aptly fitting him into the submission by a leadership scholar, that 'A leader must have sufficient self-confidence to take drastic steps and engage in decision-making without hesitation'


The PLPI, in a letter to Nwaka explains that the Fellowship being conferred on him took cognizance of his Transformational Leadership  style which has inspired and motivated so many to embark on journeys of self discovery and accomplishment


Nwaka's journey to his day of double honours took him through the banking halls of Standard Chartered Bank, traversing through former FirstInland Bank and rising to managerial levels at UBA, Old Diamond Bank, and Access Bank. He later  veered off into entrepreneurship, successfully etching his mark in real estate, logistics, and water businesses. However, beyond his commercial endeavours, he sights were set on standing as a beacon of hope for others


Nwaka's career and entrepreneural pursuits were leading him  to his passion and mission: Philanthropy. Charity. Lifting the less fortunate and vulnerable out of poverty into a life of abundance; Nurturing the youths into pillars of their communities


Early this year, he founded  New Era Foundation, a non-profit organisation created  to enhance his philanthropic and charity works signalling new frontiers for him. But like the profitable servant whose capital shot up incrementally, Nwaka's appointment as Chairman, Transition Committee for Ikwuano LGA has widened the net of  opportunities to touch more lives. And today as he sits atop Ikwuano LG as it's Chief Executive Officer, all eyes are on him


Nwaka holds  B.Sc and M.Sc in Marketing respectively from Abia State University and Lagos State University, Lagos. He once  held the esteemed title of Editor-in-Chief of ABSU Marketing Department.


Nwaka is a devoted family man, happily married and  blessed with five children