In a bold stroke of strategic mastery, Governor Charles Soludo appoints Dr Ben Nwankwo as his Chief of Staff. Dr. Ben Nwankwo is not stepping into the role as a newcomer. He is returning — armed with the institutional memory of Anambra’s past, the scars of national legislative combat, and the global toolkit of a reformer who has trained hundreds of African executives in the art of turning vision into verifiable impact. In Soludo’s second term, where execution must outpace rhetoric, few hands are more fitted to drive the engine of governance than this quiet but formidable strategist.
Dr. Ben Nwankwo, from Akpu in Orumba South Local Government Area and popularly known as Isingidi Akpu, brings decades of hands-on experience in public administration, legislative service, and leadership development.
His public service journey began in 1991 as Personal Assistant to the first democratic governor of the state, Chukwuemeka Ezeife. He subsequently served as Special Adviser to Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju and held triple commissioner portfolios — Works and Transport, Finance and Budget, and Housing and Urban Development — between 2001 and 2003.
In 2003, he was elected to represent Orumba North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He served for 12 years across three assemblies (5th, 7th and 8th), chairing the Committee on Culture and Tourism and serving as Deputy Chairman on Cooperation and Integration in Africa. He also held membership in the Pan-African Parliament and was elected Vice President of the All-Africa Legislative Summit.
Dr. Nwankwo holds a PhD in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earlier earned his Master’s degree as the best graduating student.
He has served as a consultant to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and has led major capacity-building initiatives across Africa. He Chair’s the Africa Institute of Public Administration in Accra, Ghana. Through platforms such as the Transformational Leadership for Africa Summit, he has trained public sector leaders from many African countries in governance, innovation, and change management.
Dr. Nwankwo is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Administration and Local Government as well as a Fellow of the International Institute of Chartered Management Consultants.
He is married and blessed with children.