By Chekwube Nzomiwu 

Transformational Leadership is the kind of leadership that fundamentally reshapes societies, institutions and economies, by aligning character with a cleared vision. 

In Enugu State today, few people personify transformational leadership better than Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa (CCO). Born into the family of Chief Ohaa Owo in Obuoffia Awkunanaw Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Sir Ohaa did not rise to prominence by chance, but genuine hard work, motivated from his humble beginnings. 

He began his journey in the public service in Enugu State as a Bursar in the Enugu State Education Commission in 1986 and rose from the ranks to the Office of the Accountant General of the State in 1999, serving until 2006. He served briefly as Commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu State, before transferring to the federal civil service.

Sir Ohaa began his career in the federal bureaucracy as a Deputy Director, serving in several ministries, including the Ministry of Defence where he held the key position of the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) and later, Ministry of Water Resources, before President Muhammadu Buhari elevated him to Federal Permanent Secretary. He served at different times as the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Federal Ministry of Power and Ministry of Youths and Sports.

After his retirement from the federal civil service in February 2021, Ohaa revived his political career. Within a very short time, he raised a formidable political structure, leveraging on his humanitarian activities, for which he was known in his community, Obuoffia, entire Nkanuland and Enugu State at large. 

In Nkanuland alone, he built houses for Aniukwu Igwe of Umuoha Obuoffia, Chief Nwaigwe Ukwuowo, Okwudiri Ngene Ukwuowo, Elder Ngene Aniowoh, Godwin Ngene, Edward N. Ohaa and William Ohaa. He also built a house for a blind man from Amuri town, to mention but a few.
Using his rejuvenated political structure, Ohaa contested for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State during the 2023 general elections. When the PDP chose Peter Mba as its flag bearer, he galvanised his formidable political structure to support the chosen candidate who happened to be his Nkanu kinsman. By a whisker, Mba defeated Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party (LP) to clinch the governorship seat. 

In March 2024, Governor Mba appointed Ohaa as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). In this capacity, he served as the eye of the Visitor (Governor) in ESUT. Many people in Enugu saw the appointment as “well-deserved,” considering the antecedents of Ohaa in the public service. He did not disappoint.

Drawing from his vast experience in the public service at the state and the national level, he strengthened institutional governance, promoting transparency, due process and effective collaboration between the council, university management and the workers. Throughout the time he served in ESUT, not even one industrial action occurred.  Ohaa introduced several initiatives for the encouragement of academic distinction. One of his notable initiatives was the institution of awards and recognition of outstanding academic performance among students. 

Particularly remarkable was the contribution of his personal resources to encourage scholarship, through the donation of N1 million to each ESUT inaugural lecture. This ground-breaking gesture served as a strong motivation for professors and other scholars to pursue inaugural lectures, while reinforcing the importance of research, intellectual productivity and academic tradition within the university. 

Besides encouraging inaugural lectures, Ohaa revived other extant academic values in the university, such as convocations and operation of effective academic calendar. During his era as the Chairman of the Governing Council, about 98 percent of programmes in the university gained accreditation. The number of faculties increased from 11 to 14, and more than 10 new programmes were introduced and approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).  The new programmes include Medical Radiography, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Public health, History and International Studies, Biometric Engineering, Optometry, Physiotherapy, International Relations and Diplomacy, Mechatronics Engineering and Environmental Management. In the vital area of medical education, the admission quota of Medical Laboratory and Clinical services rose from 50 to 240 and100 to 240 respectively.

In general, JAMB admission quota to the university substantially increased from below 3000 to 8755. His collaborative efforts with the university management led to a significant improvement in the Webometric ranking of ESUT.

Regarding infrastructural developments, all abandoned TETFUND projects inherited by the current ESUT Management from 2022 were duly completed. They include 500 capacity ESUT ICT Innovation Hub Building, and Solar-Powered Boreholes, to supply water to students’ hostels and other facilities. Construction work started on the 600 capacity Conference Centre attracted by the Minister of Works. 

Without a doubt, Ohaa influenced greater government presence in ESUT, the most outstanding being the commencement of perimeter fencing of the university by Enugu State Government, to enhance security within the university community. In this regard also, solar powering/lighting of the university was undertaken. 

Being a man with global worldview and exposure, he championed international collaboration and linkages between ESUT and many reputable western universities and industries. These collaborative efforts led to a significant improvement in the Webometric ranking of ESUT.

Ohaa ensured that the management prioritized the creation of favourable learning environment for students, welfare of staff / students, regular and up-to-date payment of staff salaries, regular and up-to-date staff promotion, and confirmation and regularization of staff. 

In the area of information and entertainment, he encouraged the revival of Moribund ESUT Radio 106.5. Being a sportsman who knows the importance of physical fitness, he promoted sports in the university, to engage the students during their leisure period. Hence, nobody heard about cultism and other social vices during his time. 

Given these potpourri of achievements, many people conversant with events in ESUT were taken aback when news broke that Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa voluntary resigned as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council. In his resignation letter dated February 23, 2026 and addressed to Governor Mba, he appreciated the opportunity given to him to serve the people and Government of Enugu State in this capacity, which offered him the opportunity to the growth and development of the university, while reaffirming his gratitude to the governor for offering him this rare opportunity.

One month after his resignation, Sir Ohaa, although born a Methodist, paid a historic visit to his Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican, to seek apostolic blessings and reflect on a career dedicated to administrative excellence and national development.

He was accompanied by revered Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja. This move, without a doubt, highlighted the intersection of public service and spiritual devotion. 

Ohaa has maintained a dignified silence since he returned to Nigeria from the Vatican, to maintain his personal integrity and decorum. Unfortunately, some extremely frightened carpetbaggers in Enugu, have kick started a malicious media campaign against his person, under the pretext of speculating his next political move. 

According to them, Chinyeaka is eyeing the Enugu Government House, popularly called “Lion Building,” in 2027. Ironically, he has not made any public pronouncement about his future political plans, to warrant such speculations.

One Ifeanyi Jaja amplified this speculation in his opinion article, published in This Day about two weeks ago. The ludicrous article was entitled, “2027: Why Conspiracy against Gov Mba is dead on arrival.” Jaja accused Ohaa of being up to something devious, from the time he started hobnobbing with two former governors and a current incumbent chief executive of a neighbouring state. For me, this is balderdash. 

Please Ifeanyi Jaja (if this is not a pseudo name), what is wrong with a former federal permanent secretary who socialised with Presidents, Ministers, military top brass, business tycoons and top clerics in Abuja, doing same with former and serving governors? Mind you, some of these governors and former governors were either his contemporaries or juniors in public service. 

You went further to concoct that Ohaa’s governorship ambition in 2023 did not align with the zoning convention in Enugu, because he hails from Nkanu West LGA, which produced Chimaroke Nnamani as the Governor in 1999. During the 2023 elections you were talking about, APC fielded a candidate from Akpugo in Nkanu West, the same LGA with former Governor Nnamani.

Zoning or rotation of power had never been done in Enugu or elsewhere on the basis of local government. At the national level, it is rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria, and not even on geo-political or state basis. At the state level, power rotates among the senatorial zones.

Zoning started in 1999 as a PDP arrangement. In 2003, both Ugochukwu Agballah from Enugu West senatorial district and Fidel Ayogu from Enugu North district contested against Chimaroke Nnamani. Agballah contested on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) while Fidel Ayogu vied on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (now defunct). 

When it was the turn of Enugu West senatorial district in 2007, PDP nominated Sullivan Chime from Udi LGA. Okey Ezea (now late) from Enugu North senatorial zone contested against Chime both in 2007 and 2011 on the platform of Labour Party. 

So, zoning began as a PDP arrangement and other political parties consistently showed that they were not bound by the arrangement. Hence, it is preposterous for Jaja to accuse Ohaa of hobnobbing with two former governors and a serving governor to conspire against Mba, who by the way, no longer belongs to the PDP, but APC. This is trying to create confusion where none exists. 

Jaja also claimed that an age threshold of 60 years exists for those aspiring for governorship in Enugu. This is arrant nonsense. There is no maximum age limit in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) for anyone aspiring to contest for elective office in Nigeria. At 65, age is still on the side of Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa to vie for any elective office, both at the state and national level. 

Age is just a number that signifies how long a person has lived on earth. It does not define who you are, what you have achieved and what you can still accomplish. 
In conclusion, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa created for himself a legacy of excellence. He has deep knowledge and understanding of the public service. The welfare of the people is paramount to him.

He wants people around him and even those faraway to feel the impact of his philanthropy and charitable services. He offers hope to others, by committing to supporting good causes, capable of advancing the course of development, in order to make the society better and livable for all, irrespective of class, socio-economic status, tribe and creed. His future is in the hands of God, not man.  

Dr Nzomiwu wrote from Enugu.