By Isqil Najim
The Osowa Owelle of Asaba and President of Green Energy Foundation, Engr (Chief) Chris C. Chukwurah has bagged Delta civil society Climate Action and Environmentalist of the year Award.
The award was presented to Chief Chukwurah during the 2024 edition of the Delta State Civil Society And Citizens Day/ Awards Celebration which took place at Asaba, Delta State.
The 8th Edition was convened by Civicist Rex E. Anighoro, SSA to the Delta State Governor on CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & CIVIL SOCIETY. The 2024 Theme: Towards the more Agenda, Advancing Climate Action through Civic Engagement had Hon. Ejiro T. Jamani, Commissioner for Environment speaking on “Sustaining our Environment”, along with other speakers.
According to the organizer the award was in recognition of Chukwurah’s contribution to community development, Climate Action and Environmental advocacy and education.
The ‘Delta Civil Society Day’ is an annual event held EVERY 14TH OF DECEMBER since the year 2016. It was a day set aside to bring Civil Society leaders together to have conversations for the well-being of society, review and evaluate the state of the Civil Society in Delta State and the Nigerian Union collectively, as well as set agenda for Government, the Society and every other stakeholder for the greater good of the Citizens.
It is also the day set aside, to honour and recognize the strides of Civil Society Activists, Advocates and Ambassadors in Delta State and in Nigeria, as well as to honour Citizens and other stakeholders who have supported the work of Civil Society especially in the State.
Engr. Chief Chris C. Chukwurah is a distinguished Nigerian development engineer, sagacious administrator, and pubic writer / educator. Born on August 1, 1953, in Enugu, Engr. Chukwurah had an illustrious career in Engineering, Steel Profile Development and Project Management spanning several decades from 1979 to 2021.
Engr. Chukwurah attended St. Brigid’s School, Enugu, from 1960 to 1965, and later proceeded to St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, from 1966 to 1972, where he won the best student prize in Grade 1 with Distinction .
Engr. Chukwurah has a long career in engineering and public service, including roles at Ajaokuta Steel Company, Bendel and Delta State Universities, and the Delta State Urban Water Board. He also served as Director of Physical Planning and Works Services and Special Adviser at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike until his retirement in 2021.
In 2023, he founded the Engr Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah Green Energy Foundation, focused on climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction. The foundation has organized events like the 2024 Green Poetry competition and is set to release its first journal by the end of 2024
Engr. Chukwurah has received several awards and honors, including the Best Student Prize (academically and morally), St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, in 1972; Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), Staton University, Tampa, Florida, USA in October 1997; and the Nigerian Society of Engineer’s Presidential Merit Award in 2008 . He also has several awards from Churches , Clubs and NGOs and was the Omeziala of Awo n’Ebo (Umudike and environs) in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State. He was a Special Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission from 2004 till 2021.
Engr. Chukwurah is married to Patricia Nkadi (nee Adaba) and has children and grandchildren. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Nigerian Institute of Procurement Engineers (FNIProcE), and Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM).
He is an author of 11 books in Engineering, Patriotism and Spirituality as well as an Essayist, Polymath and Life coach. Engr. Chief Chris C Chukwurah is a 4th degree Knight of St Mulumba and a Church and community leader. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club and is the Osowa Owelle of Asaba Delta State.