2027: Prioritise Nigerians’ interest above your interest, Professor Emeritus, Chinwokwu, urges Politicians

Emmanuel Nlenanya Chinwokwu, a professor emeritus, has urged political office holders and those aspiring to contest one office or the other in the 2027 general election, to prioritise the interest of the people above their own personal interests.

Chinwokwu, who gave the advice recently during the occasion of his 80th birthday celebration, said that Nigeria would be much better if office holders and those who aspire to public office cultivate the habit of putting others first.

“We are facing another round of general election in 2027; Nigeria is blessed with everything you can think of; Nigeria is blessed with best brains, but our major problem is that people tend to put themselves above those they lead. Elected political office holders, ordinarily, should be representatives and servant leaders, but that is not what we see in the country. I am appealing to politicians to prioritise the people above themselves,” the Octogenarian said.

He also urged office holders to endeavour to leave the society and the people better than they met them.

“Political office holders today must ask themselves; do we leave the people and society better than we met them or we destroyed what we met on ground? If the latter was the answer, it means they have laboured in vain,” he said.

Prof Chinwokwu said it was glaring that the people in Nigeria were not happy with the current situation of things in the country both at the state and federal levels.

“Those manning positions of trust in the country should ensure they take good care of the people so that when they leave office, the people will be happier and the society will be better than they met it,” he said.

The professor emeritus, who also advised the Nigerian voters to ensure they vote with their conscience, said that people must be responsible with their votes.

“Over the years, we have seen politicians come and gone and their lives far better than before they got into the office. We have seen elections come and go; the question is, how positively impacted have been the lives and future of ordinary Nigerians? The answer is crystal clear,” the professor said.

Chinwokwu, who also spoke about the early stage of his life, said he was born on the 22nd day of April 1948 in Amankwo Uturu in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State.

He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute Calabar in Cross River State where he sat for his West African Senior Secondary School Certificate and made Grade 1.

He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) with first-class honours in Religious Studies. And was awarded best final year student of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

In 1981, he attended Princeton theological Seminary New Jersey USA for his Master’s degree programme. He started his PhD programme in Nsukka and later transferred to the department of Theology Durham University England, where he obtained his PhD in1983. In 1988, he became a professor and was a visiting Professor to University of Zimbabwe.

He became a professor emeritus during the 51st Convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, on November 25, 2023, and this is one of the greatest achievements that gladdened his heart. With the award of Professor Emeritus, he has attained the highest award of educational career in life.

Prof Emeritus Chinwokwu has contributed immensely to educational development in the world, with over 74 publications in different areas of study to his credit and is the president of National Association of Biblical Studies and Head of Department (HoD) of Religion University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Speaking on development of education in Nigeria, Prof Chinwokwu advised Nigerian government to be committed and be creative. Government, he said, should find new ways of doing things mostly through researches.

“For quality education, the authorities should go into more research and endeavour to give bursary and scholarships to students,” he said.

Listing honesty and hard work as some of the virtues he loved most in life, he however, noted that he abhorred indolence and lies.

Expressing gratitude to God for all he has been able to achieve in life, he said: “I am grateful to the Almighty God for being so kind and gracious to me; keeping me alive to see my 80th birthday. God has done everything for me; so, I remain eternally grateful to him.”

Chinwokwu is married to Ezinne Alu Chinwokwu and they have children who like their father are academicians and professionals in various fields of endeavour.