Charles Ugwuh
Encyclopedia
Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh (born 3 December, 1942) is an engineer and industrialist who headed the Nigeria
n ministry of commerce and industry from July 2007 to October 2008. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
Local Government Area of the Okigwe
zone of Imo State
.
Charles Ugwuh holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham
, England. He is the owner of Rokana Industries and Hydro Resources Industries Limited, both located in Imo State.
Charles Ugwuh became president of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN). Speaking in 2003, he said that Nigerian companies were willing to go into joint ventures with foreign partners. He was concerned that Nigeria should manufacture goods, rather than import them, and that investors should put money into industries other than oil. He saw the government's role as providing incentives for investors and supplying basic infrastructure such as health, education, social security, and new roads.
Araraume contested this decision, and his candidacy was upheld by the Independent National Electoral Commission
, despite the fact that the PDP expelled Araraume from the party. The PDP gave their support to Chief Martin Agbaso
of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA).
Araruame was defeated by Ikedi Ohakim
of the Progressive Peoples Alliance
.
In September 2007, Charles Ugwuh headed a Nigerian delegation to China for a "Nigeria-China Business and Investment Forum". He noted the expanding investment from China, and expressed hopes that both sides will continue to push economic and trade cooperation to a new level.
In a January 2008 interview, Ugwuh outlined the new government strategy for manufacturing, based on the clustering concept - industrial parks, industrial clusters, enterprise zones, incubators and then free trade zones.
In March 2008, Charles Ugwuh allowed a limited number of licences for cement importation, trying to balance the need to protect the local cement industry while meeting unfilled demand.
In April 2008, he announced plans to revive the automobile industry, with focus on light vans, trucks and buses.
In May 2008 Charles Ugwuh noted that the food crisis, which started with a steep rise in the price of wheat, had spread to other parts of the world. To prevent shortage, the Federal Government would release grain from strategic reserves as needed.
On October 29, 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua sacked 20 members of his cabinet, including Charles Ugwuh.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n ministry of commerce and industry from July 2007 to October 2008. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Background
Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh was born on 3 December, 1942 in the ObowoObowo
Obowo, also spelled Obowu, is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, and is headquartered in Otoko. Other towns in the LGA include Umulogho, Avutu and Umuokeh. Former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe was born in and died in Obowo. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri...
Local Government Area of the Okigwe
Okigwe
-See also:Roman Catholic Diocese of Okigwe...
zone of Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
.
Charles Ugwuh holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, England. He is the owner of Rokana Industries and Hydro Resources Industries Limited, both located in Imo State.
Charles Ugwuh became president of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN). Speaking in 2003, he said that Nigerian companies were willing to go into joint ventures with foreign partners. He was concerned that Nigeria should manufacture goods, rather than import them, and that investors should put money into industries other than oil. He saw the government's role as providing incentives for investors and supplying basic infrastructure such as health, education, social security, and new roads.
Political career
In late 2006, while still president on MAN, Ugwuh competed in the PDP primaries to select their candidate for Imo State governor in the April 2007 elections. Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume was the clear winner, with Ugwuh in tenth place. Apparently due to pressure from President Olusegun Obasanjo, the PDP declared that Ugwuh was their candidate.Araraume contested this decision, and his candidacy was upheld by the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
, despite the fact that the PDP expelled Araraume from the party. The PDP gave their support to Chief Martin Agbaso
Martin Agbaso
Martin Agbaso is a Nigerian Economist, politician and was a candidate for Governor of Imo State. Agbaso is the former Imo State Senator for Owerri, a special assistant on Ecology to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is married to Robin Agbaso, an American...
of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
All Progressives Grand Alliance
The All Progressives Grand Alliance is a political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 1.4 % of popular votes and 2 of 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria and no seats in the Senate...
(APGA).
Araruame was defeated by Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim is a Nigerian businessman who became governor of Imo State in the Niger Delta region in May 2007, standing for the Progressive Peoples Alliance .He later switched to the People's Democratic Party .-Background:...
of the Progressive Peoples Alliance
Progressive Peoples Alliance
The Progressive Peoples Alliance is a political party in Nigeria. Notable members of the party include Orji Uzor Kalu.The party won gubernatorial elections in 2003 and 2007 in Abia State. The party also won the governorship election in 2007 in Imo State...
.
Minister of Commerce and Industry
President Umaru Yar'Adua named Charles Ugwuh Minister for Commerce & Industry on 27 July 2007.In September 2007, Charles Ugwuh headed a Nigerian delegation to China for a "Nigeria-China Business and Investment Forum". He noted the expanding investment from China, and expressed hopes that both sides will continue to push economic and trade cooperation to a new level.
In a January 2008 interview, Ugwuh outlined the new government strategy for manufacturing, based on the clustering concept - industrial parks, industrial clusters, enterprise zones, incubators and then free trade zones.
In March 2008, Charles Ugwuh allowed a limited number of licences for cement importation, trying to balance the need to protect the local cement industry while meeting unfilled demand.
In April 2008, he announced plans to revive the automobile industry, with focus on light vans, trucks and buses.
In May 2008 Charles Ugwuh noted that the food crisis, which started with a steep rise in the price of wheat, had spread to other parts of the world. To prevent shortage, the Federal Government would release grain from strategic reserves as needed.
On October 29, 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua sacked 20 members of his cabinet, including Charles Ugwuh.