Wikipedia

Benjamin Kalu

Benjamin Okezie Kalu, is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since 2023. He represents the Bende Federal Constituency.[1]

The Honourable
Benjamin Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
Assumed office
13 June 2023
SpeakerTajudeen Abbas
Preceded byAhmed Idris Wase
Member of the
House of Representatives of Nigeria
from Abia
Assumed office
11 June 2019
ConstituencyBende
Personal details
NationalityNigerian
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Other political
affiliations		Peoples Democratic Party
Progressive Peoples Alliance
Residence(s)Abuja, Nigeria
OccupationPolitician

Life, Education and Political Career

Benjamin Okezie Kalu was born on May 5, 1971 in Agbamuzu, Bende Local Government Area[2] of Abia State, Nigeria.[3] He holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University,[4] a Master of Law in Terrorism and International Humanitarian Law (Distinction), and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar. Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his studies at the Nigeria Law School in Enugu State, Nigeria.

In addition to his formal education, Kalu has obtained several certifications in Migration and Human Rights from John Cabot University, Italy,[5] Illicit Trade from the University of Groningen, Netherlands,[6] Governance and Development from Miami Herbert Business School,[7] Miami University, USA,[8] Environmental Crimes from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy and International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB)[9] at the University of Oxford,[10] United Kingdom.

Kalu's political career began in 2002 when he contested for the House of Representatives primaries. He served as the Local Government Chairman (Transition) for Bende Local Government Area, Abia State and held various advisory roles to the then Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.[11] He has also served as the National Chapter President of the Peoples Democracy Party[12] in Diaspora, the youngest Local Government Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, and Senior Special Adviser to Theodore Orji[13] on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Nigeria.

In 2011 and 2015, he contested for the House of Representatives elections, representing Progressive Peoples Alliance at that time, but lost in both elections.[14][15] On 23 February 2019, Kalu, representing the ruling All Progressives Congress defeated Chima Anyaso of the People's Democratic Party and won the seat to represent Bende federal constituency, Abia State in the House of Representatives.[16][17][18][19] He received 9,138 votes, while Anyaso received 5,591 votes.[20] Anyaso rejected the result of the election and challenged the victory of Kalu in the National and State Assembly Election Petitions tribunal, citing irregularities in the election.[21][22] On 29 August 2019, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking merit and upheld the election of Kalu.[23][24] After losing at the tribunal, Anyaso appealed the case at the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division. On 28 October 2019, the Appeal court upheld Kalu's election.[25][26]

He was re-elected in 2023 and he is currently the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. His roles in the 10th Assembly include Chairman of the Constitution Review and Amendment Committee.

Legislative Activities

As the Spokesperson of the 9th Assembly,[27] Kalu proposed and supported various bills, motions, and acts, including the Acts Authentication Act[28] and the Nigerian Communications Act. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on the review of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.[29]

Projects

Kalu is the convener of the Peace in the South East Project (PISE),[30] which aims to use non-kinetic means to resolve insecurity in the South East Region of Nigeria. He also led the Sudan Darfur Project in Australia for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, focusing on fundraising and providing orientation for refugees.

He is also the founder of the Benjamin Kalu Foundation,[31] a charity organization.

Personal life

Benjamin Okezie Kalu is married and has five children. He hails from Bende, Abia State, Nigeria.

Awards and Recognition

  • Valuable Parliamentarian by OrderPaper[32]
  • Outstanding Representative Member of the Year at the Democracy Heroes Award Africa[33]
  • 2021 Zik's Award of Excellence on Civic Engagement
  • South East and Abia State Federal Lawmaker of the Year Award by Independent Newspaper
  • Outstanding Legislative Contribution Award towards Improving Tuberculosis policy and Funding in Nigeria[34]
  • Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards
  • 2019 Humanitarian Service Award
  • FLO FM Icon Award as the Most Impactful Lawmaker of the Year
  • Model of Media and Public Relation Matters Award

Membership

  • Member of the African Union Pan African Parliament,[35] serving under the Finance and Admin Committee
  • Member of the ECOWAS Parliament,[36] serving as the Chairman of the Finance, Administration and Budget Committee
  • Fellow of OSHAssociation United Kingdom[37]
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of International Arbitrators (CIARB UK)[38]
  • Member of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)[39]
  • Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Managers (F.Inst.AM)[40]

References

  1. ^ "A First Time Legislator Who Mastered the Ropes". THISDAYLIVE. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Agbamuzu, Bende - Postcode - 441113 - Nigeria Postcode". www.nigeriapostcode.com. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Home". Official Website of the Abia State Government. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  4. ^ "It's time to achieve". Oxford Brookes University. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  5. ^ "John Cabot | Study Abroad and Degree Programs in Rome, Italy". www.johncabot.edu. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. ^ "University of Groningen - Top 100 University". University of Groningen. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Miami Herbert Business School". herbert.miami.edu. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. ^ "No. 3 Public for Undergrad Teaching". Miami University. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Ciarb | Home". www.ciarb.org. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  10. ^ "University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  11. ^ "National Assembly | Federal Republic of Nigeria". nass.gov.ng. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  12. ^ "peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng - Bethesda, MD". peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Theodore Orji", Wikipedia, 28 May 2024, retrieved 16 July 2024
  14. ^ Sampson, Okey (8 March 2019). "Orji Kalu'll not disappoint his people as senator –Ben Kalu". The Sun Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  15. ^ Duru, Ben (2 March 2011). "Representatives Candidate Assures on Effective Representation in Abia". The Independent Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  16. ^ Emeruwa, Chijindu (14 June 2019). "How I will work with Ikpeazu - Abia lawmaker, Kalu". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Anyaso wins PDP's House of Rep seat for Bende Fed". Vanguard Newspaper. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  18. ^ Urowayino, Jeremiah (12 February 2019). "Bende Federal Constituency: Anyaso expresses confidence of PDP's Victory". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  19. ^ Udeajah, Gordi (18 May 2021). "PDP charts new path to recover Bende federal constituency seat from APC". The Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  20. ^ Okoli, Anayo (24 February 2019). "Orji Kalu wins Abia North seat, Onyejiocha wins Reps". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  21. ^ "BREAKING: Benjamin Kalu defeats Chima Anyaso at tribunal". ABN TV. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Kalu upbeat on victory at election tribunal". Blueprint Newspaper. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Anyaso vs. Kalu: Tribunal fixes date for judgment in Abia". The Eagle Online. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Reactions trail victory of Hon. Benjamin Kalu at tribunal (Photos+Video)". ABN TV. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Ben Kalu Reacts To Appeal Court Verdict, Says "I Will Do More For My constituents & My State Govt."". ABN TV. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  26. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (29 October 2019). "Election Tribunal: Anyaso congratulates Kalu, assures of collective effort to uplift Bende". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  27. ^ "List of the Elected House of Representatives Members for the 9th Assembly – Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre". 4 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  28. ^ "PLAC - 2004 Laws of Nigeria". placng.org. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  29. ^ News, Leadership (6 February 2024). "Constitution Review: We Won't Disappoint Nigerians – House". Retrieved 16 July 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ "Peace in South East Project – Peace in South East Project". Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  31. ^ www.benjaminkalu.com https://www.benjaminkalu.com/. Retrieved 16 July 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ Alimi, Olamilekan Quadri (1 June 2023). "OrderPaper rewards 18 NASS Members for valuable contributions". OrderPaper. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  33. ^ calabargist (23 August 2022). "Democracy Heroes Awards,Eteng Williams, Gbajabiamila, Gov. Sani Bello, Aregbesola was awarded". CALABARGIST. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  34. ^ Tol, Maya van (12 November 2021). "KNCV Nigeria awarded at the National TB Conference". KNCV - Tuberculosefonds. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  35. ^ "The Pan-African Parliament | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  36. ^ author (1 July 2024). "ECOWAS Parliament Website". ECOWAS Parliament Website. Retrieved 16 July 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ^ "OSHAssociation Training - Occupational Safety And Health Association Uk". 9 August 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Ciarb | Home". www.ciarb.org. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  39. ^ www.nigerianbar.org.ng https://www.nigerianbar.org.ng/. Retrieved 16 July 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. ^ "Home - Institute of Administrative Management". www.instam.org. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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