Biography of PDP House of Assembly Aspirant Udenu Constituency: Pharm Christian Chukwudi Nwodo

Pharm Christian Nwodo

Christian Chukwudi Nwodo is a graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He hails from Umunkpume, Ajuona Orba (Orba ward 1) and was born into the family of Late Mr Joseph Ugwu and Mrs Virginia Ugwu on the 28th of January, 1987. 

His late father worked as a teacher and retired as Headmaster II in 1986. Inevitably, he was privileged to be tutored and groomed well. His father knew firsthand the immense value education and thus, gave the best of it to his children in spite of his meagre earnings. 

As he was commonly known and addressed, NCC aka Nwodo Christian Chukwudi had his primary education in Amalla Orba Primary School where his excellent academic outings took off from. As a son of a Headmaster, he was duty-bound by training and conscience not to let his father down such that not withstanding the many sports and extracurricular activities he got engaged in (football, quiz, debate, relay races, jumping etc), he had no option than to take first position from primary one right up to primary six. He was also the class prefect throughout his primary school years. His leadership skills were inborn and he started utilizing it for the betterment of any group he found himself in. He always considers the good of the people before his personal interest.

In late 1998, he was admitted to Marist Brothers' Juniorate, Uturu, Abia State - a Catholic boarding school system for boys, owned by the Marist Brothers of the school. Here, a new world opened up before him. As he himself would narrate it, it was at once amazing and overwhelming especially for someone whose background is anything but elitist. As inspiring and challenging as this exposure was, it filled him with a healthy dose of doubts and anxieties about what fate and future hold in store for him.

Faced and logged in fierce academic competitions with children of all backgrounds and stripes, within and outside Nigeria, as some came down from the United States of America just to have their high school in that great citadel of learning, the first year academic session was tough and it reflected clearly in his underwhelming performance, as he could only maintain being among the first 8th in the class. It was seemingly a period of adjustment. He licked his wounds and promptly sat up, bolstered as it were by his past and background as the son of a seasoned teacher, accomplished Headmaster and of course, a no-nonsense disciplinarian.

Quickly he adjusted to the demands of the new terrain, bearing in mind his parents expectations of him. He worked harder and excelled afterwards not just in academics but in sports and other extracurricular pastimes. Given his brilliant and outstanding performances from JSS II where he took the first position through the terms upwards, he became a household name, and thus, earned the admirations of his fellow students and undoubtedly, the praises and commendations of the school authorities. It was no surprise therefore when he clinched the enviable position of junior team captain, leading his team to win several medals and trophies during the maiden All Marist Schools Sports and Arts Festival (AMASSAF, Uturu 2021). A sporting competition organised for all Marist Schools in Nigeria. Christain was an embodiment of intellect and Sports.

Following the wonderful outing in the game and coupled with his corresponding academic excellence, the accolades and admiration grew in leaps and bounds such that he became the "Principal's Favourite", a position that consequently conferred on him a certain level of immunity against senior bullies and or prefects. 

In SS I, he was appointed the Chief Sacristan, with his classmate as assistant. It is worthy and remarkable to note that this sensitive position (Sacristan) to oversee liturgical paraphernalia and preparations is meant to be occupied by an SS II student. The unspoken message was like the harder he worked, the more responsibilities were thrown his way to oversee. And of course, he happily and passionately embraced all of it, after all, to whom much is given, much is equally expected.

On and on, he proceeded to the next class where he was later on appointed as the Senior Prefect and as well the school Football Captain, a dual portfolios entrusted upon him with no precedent in the history of the school.

He wrote WAEC and JAMB, and came out in flying colours and was admitted into the premier University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Pharmacy. Of course, following his antecedents in extracurricular engagements, he embraced politics and got elected in first year to represent his class as a member of Parliament in the students' faculty body, namely, the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students ( PANS ). And was later on elected as the Deputy Clerk of the Parliament from 2008 to 2009.

This is certainly not the full story, for in the area of academics, he excelled too and won Emzor Pharmaceuticals Scholarship for five years covering the duration of his studies in the University. This is exclusive of the other alluring bursary awards conferred on him. In addition to his academics performance, he remained very versatile, being among the Faculty of Pharmacy football team from his second year until he graduated.

I need not mention that he meritoriously served as the President General of Orba Undergraduate Association from 2010 to 2012, a body of students who hail from Orba, in the University of Nigeria and at the same time brought all chapters of this association from other Universities in Nigeria under one Umbrella and was the leader. His dispensation rejuvenated the Christmas football league competitions of the said body which before his administration lay dormant for ages and like every about him, made the games the cynosure of all eyes in the succeeding years. He captained the team and they won silver during the competition.

He took his time after graduation to work in the pharmaceutical industry. And beyond that, currently belong to and or occupy these underlisted positions, namely-

1. Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria ( PSN ).
2.  Beta Sigma Nigeria-Registra Enugu Chapter.
3. President, Pharmatriot (Association of Pharmacists and Compatriots ).
4. Assistant Financial Secretary, Marist Brothers Juniorate Old Boys Association ( Xjays ) International and Assistant Secretary, Enugu Chapter.
5. President 2004 Class Group of Marist Brothers Juniorate Old Boys Association (Xjays). Etc etc.

He also took his time to study the political landscape and have come to the conviction that now is the time to engage in partisan politics to right the wrongs of our society and initiate policies and ideas to boost opportunities for our people rather than stay on the sidelines complaining about the dire situations of things. 

Finally, Christian Chukwudi Nwodo is married to an amazing woman by name Emmanuella Ezinne Nwodo, a virtuous woman, as he fondly calls her. The union is blessed with three awesome children.

Pharm. Christian Chukwudi Nwodo is aspiring to represent the good people of Udenu Local Government Constituency, at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

By

Itodo Thomas (MPSN)
  Igbo Eze-North LGA.