The people of Njikoka I state constituency in Anambra State are in for an effective representative with the entry of a former Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Emeka Ozumba, into the race.
Ozumba, who has already picked the nomination form of the state’s ruling party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), comes into the race with over two decades of cognate experience in public affairs, strategic/ political communications, crisis communication, media and stakeholder relations.
He not only distinguished himself as Deputy Chief Press Secretary in the Willie Obiano administration, he equally brought his political communications strategist experience to bear on the APGA Governorship Campaign Directorate Chukwuma Soludo/Gilbert Ibezim 2021 as Deputy Director of Communications.
Ozumba was the Group Head for Public Affairs at Nigeria’s leading public relations and business advisory consultancy, C&F Porter Novelli (formerly The Corporate & Financial Communications Limited). He was also the Southeast Zonal Consultant for PTF Community Education and Awareness programme (1997-1999) where he deployed stakeholder and community relations skills to achieve remarkable goals.
In the course of his service, both in the public and private sectors, Ozumba worked as a Legislative Liaison and Monitoring Consultant at Nigeria’s National Assembly, and excelled as the Coordinator of C&F Porter Novelli Reputation Management for the Office of the Senate President in 2005.
Ozumba’s experience spans various sectors, including public-sector agencies such as the Bureau of Public Enterprises and private-sector organisations specialising in telecoms, finance, health, aviation, and technology. He acquitted himself creditably on events with active project execution in Abuja FCT, and major cities like Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Onitsha and Port Harcourt, among others.
Ozumba has hands-on experience in Crisis Communications, Political Communications, Media Relations, Community and Stakeholder Relations, and Advocacy Services; skills he brought to bear in managing communications for the Anambra State Government as Senior Special Assistant between 2015 and 2018.
Ozumba deployed his political campaign management skills in the senatorial campaign for Kpakpando Organisation in Anambra State in 2010. He had earlier worked as the National Co-coordinating Consultant on Communications for the Awareness Generation and Consensus Building Campaign for the Privatisation Programme of the National Council on Privatisation between 2000 and 2002. He also coordinated a media advocacy campaign for Polio Eradication in select States in Nigeria for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2009.
A 1987 graduate of Mass Communication of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, he also holds a Master’s Degree (with PhD in view) from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma (Advertising) from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 1995. He is an alumnus of the esteemed Pan-African University, Lagos.
Ozumba is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, a Registered Practitioner of Advertising, and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Ozumba is married with children. He is currently the Managing Consultant at Ozion Limited, Political Advisory Consultants.
The overarching consensus amongst his compatriots is that Ozumba is unassuming but effective. Cool, calm, calculated, compassionate, and a personable go-getter.
