Engr Sir Chris Okoye

Engr. Okoye started his career as a Research/Teaching assistant at the university of Houston and has attended a number of special courses in various spheres of human endeavour raging from courses in infrastructure projects, project planning, implementation and monitoring, training courses in Construction of Industrial Facilities, courses in Production Management Programme by Texas Instruments, Dallas, special courses in Basic accounting/economics for Engineers as managers (University of Wisconsin, Madison 1977), special workshop in Review/appraisal of feasibility studies for engineering/industrial facilities, special course on finance for non finance managers at Lagos, Price water house Associates, Strategic Planning workshop in London IOD, a course in safety in the construction Industry and series of courses in ethics, leadership, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, infrastructure management systems development, ICT among others at yearly conferences of American Society of Civil Engineers, Nigerian Society of Engineers and other professional bodies.

 

Engr. Chris Okoye started his professional career as a consultant Engineer. He worked with the International Firm of Harding-Lawson Associates from Aug 1978 during which he participated in a number of infrastructure projects ranging from retention structures at the port of Houston, earth dams for the California water district in Los Angeles and a host of other projects. As the understanding between Engr. Chris Okoye and Harding-Lawson grew stronger, he compelled the company to establish presence in Nigeria in December 1978, hence he became the project co-ordinator, HLA in charge of the Bonny LNG gas project Minima, contrary to the HLA’s desire to transfer Engr. Okoye to their London office to Head their European/African operations.. He co-ordinated the comprehensive investigation of the site, appraised and developed design criteria to facilitate site preparation and generation of initial tender documents ifo the project, among many other projects in the oil and gas sector. 

During this period, he also acted as a consultant to VIAK Nig. Ltd whilst they were carrying out investigations, surveys and realignment of 2 major roads in the Northern part of Nigeria, among many other highway projects.

 

Worked in collaboration with CEGELEC of France on the design/Build scheme for 3 x 30 MV NEPA/Dual-Fired Power plant at Abuja between 1991 to 1994. And has recently rekindled his interest in the Power sector.

 

Crown Crest Global Engineers Ltd (CCGE) is currently working for the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH) on a number of Highway consulting supervision projects etc.

 

The desire to acquire extensive field experience lured Engr. Okoye into the domain of construction and hence from Dec, 1979, he joined the firm of Messrs F.G.N Okoye & Sons Ltd, and succeeded in transforming the company into one of the fastest growing indigenous construction outfits from the late seventies to late nineties. During this era, Engr. Chris Okoye successfully engineered, planned, supervised and directed the execution of a number of important projects, too many to enumerate-mostly in the Highway sector, infrastructure projects, among others. 

 

Engr. Okoye is a fellow of many professional Associations such as American Society of Civil Engineers, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineers, Nigerian Society of Minerals and Materials Engineering, Nigerian Institute of Technicians, Nigerian Institute of Corporate Administrators, Institute of Directors etc.

 

He is also a member of the America Society of Professional Estimators, International Society of Soil and Foundation Engineers, American Construction Institute, Institute of Management etc.

Engr. Okoye has served the Nigerian Society of Engineers at the Branch and National levels in many capacities: Past executive member and Full Council member of Nigerian Society of Engineers for many years. Past Chairman of the Road Infrastructure Institutional Framework Committee (RIIFC) in which he successfully led the comprehensive Reform of the Highway sector management and delivery systems in Nigeria for 5years. Past Chairman, Nigerian Content Committee, NSE for over 6 years etc. Advisory Board member of the Infrastructure Score Card, NSE. Past Chairman, (Board of Fellows/College of Fellows), NSE and the Past Chairman, NSE’s Presidential Taskforce on Transport Sector Reform (PTTSR).

Engr. Okoye has had extensive publications in many journals and other technical fora.

 

Engr. Okoye has had outstanding accomplishments in public service: past Chairman, Bulning Mining Company Nig Ltd – a joint venture company between the Nigerian Government, the Government of Bulgaria and the Private Sector for production of Coal at Okaba and Owukpa mines. He served in many federal/State government Committees inclusive of the Federal Government Committee for the re-introduction of tolling on Federal Roads and Bridges in Nigeria. He was the Chairman of the Technical Committee that was set up by the Senate for the reform of the Nigerian Railway Sector in Nigeria, which gave birth to the Nigerian Railway Bill. The Bill has been passed by the Senate. Led the Chairmanship of the Technical Committee for the reform of National Road Fund Bill in Nigeria – set up by the House Committee on Works. Bill has been passed by both Houses of the National Assembly. Was equally the Chairman of both the Technical Committee on the Federal Road Bill that was set up by the Senate and the Technical Committee on the National Transport Commission Bill (The Regulatory body for the Transport Sector in Nigeria), also set up by the Senate. Both Bills have been passed by both Houses of the National Assembly. The Bills are now awaiting assent by Mr. President. These efforts are major landmark initiatives for the Reform of the Transport Sector in Nigeria. He was an Anambra State delegate to the 2005 Constitutional Reform Conference, member of a special committee for the completion of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Management, during which he initiated and completed the remodeling of Enugu Campus of UNN Stadium, Past Council member, Trinity college Umuahia, past Council Member, Paul University, Awka, Past Chairman, Advisory, Board, Center for Entrepreneurial Development Research UNN, (CEDR), Chairman, South East Nigeria Economic Commission (SENEC), Steering Board, Board member, South East Nigeria Development Fund (SENDEF),Member, Past member, Board of Trustees, Anambra State Elders Council and currently member of the council of the old Anambra State Sports Council for many years and also served as a chairman of various sports Associations on Local and National levels. Was also the Chairman of Premier Hard court – A former ATP International Tennis Tournament in Enugu. 

 

Engr. Okoye has distinguished himself in many private sector institutions too numerous to mention. Currently the Chairman of Globe Group that has interest in Engineering, Shipping, Printing & Packaging, Medical diagnostic delivery systems, Agriculture, Banking etc. Engr. Okoye was also the Past Chairman of Enugu-Ukwu Micro Finance Bank.  

Engr. Okoye is a recipient of so many Awards from NSE, Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture Series, among many others. 

 

He continues to serve the Church, his Community and various NGOs in many capacities. Has made enormous contributions to Community Service: Past Chairman, Ohaneze Strategy and Planning Committee, Patron Orji village union, Enugwu-Ukwu, Past President General of Enugu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU), Currently, National Patron, ECDU and President, College of Patrons, ECDU.

 

Engr. Okoye was a key initiator and founder of Ohaneze Anambra State, Anambra Leaders of thought, Anambra Elders Forum which metamorphosed into Anambra State Elders Council. He founded the Anambra State free, fair and credible elections Committee which was an amalgam of all Civil Society Organizations and the church in Anambra State aimed at ensuring credible elections in Anambra State. The Committee was subsequently re-structured to become a formidable NGO called Orient Foundation for social justice and civic education. Engr. Okoye is currently the Chairman, Orient Foundation. He is a knight of the Anglican Church. Was a member of the FRCN Advisory Committee on Culture. Engr. Okoye is a key founder and the current Chairman of the Music Society of Enugu (MUSE).

He is married to Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, of the department of Radiation Medicine UNTH, Enugu, and they are blessed with four children.