His Excellency, Dr. Nkemakonam Chukwukaodinaka Okeke was born in Zaira on January 13, 1960 to the family of late Chief Richard Nwachukwu Okeke and Chief Mrs. Dorothy Nwakaego Okeke of Umuezu Awovu Village, Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State. He attended Denis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha and St. Finbarr’s College Akoka, Lagos and later got admission to University of Wisconsin, Madison USA in 1978, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1981. His desire for higher education saw him through Howard University, Washington DC, USA where he obtained an MBA in Management in 1983, and a PhD in Economics (Monetary Economics) at the same Howard University, USA, in 1992.
Dr. Okeke has had a distinguished professional career, which commenced with remarkable services rendered in various departments of Fairfax County Government, Virginia, USA, as an Engineer and later as a Management Analyst. He returned to Nigeria in 1994, and joined the private sector through the family Construction Company, Renacs Engineering Ltd as Executive Director, until 2002 when he went into public service, based on his desire to further contribute to the development of Anambra State and Nigeria in general. Starting with the academic sector, he held various positions in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka that includes Lecture II, Faculty of Social Science, Economics Department (2002 – 2005), and Acting Head, Department of Economics (January – July 2006).
He had a brief stint in Politics when in 2006, Dr. Okeke was appointed as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Development, and also served in the same Cabinet as the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport. In October 2007, he returned to the Economics Department of Nnamdi Azikiwe University As Lecturer I until October 2008, when he was promoted to Senior Lecturer and served as Acting Head of Department in September 2009 at the University.
Dr. Okeke has always stood tall among his contemporaries during his services at the University and in various offices he has held, particularly in Nnamdi Azikiwe University where among other positions, he was Member, Departmental Development Committee (2005); Member, Faculty Development Committee (2005); Staff Adviser, Nigerian Economic Students Association (NESA) 2004 – 2005; Part-Time Lecturer, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Business School (Executive Postgraduate Studies), Enugu (2003 – 2005); Chairman, Departmental Accreditation Task Force Committee (2007); Chairman, Examination Committee and Departmental Examination Officer (2007 – August 2009); Member, Faculty Conference Committee (2008 – 2009) and Vice Chairman, Convocation and Ceremonial Committee (2009). He has authored or co-authored notable publications, and is a Member of many professional associations, including Nigeria Economic Society (NES); Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, ICEN (formerly known as the Institute of Certified Economists of Nigeria); Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).
Dr. Okeke has been recognized severally for his immense positive impact to institutions he has worked in, couple to his very commendable political contributions. He served meritoriously in his First Tenure as the most diligent and celebrated Deputy Governor of Anambra State from March 2014 to Match 2018, religiously implementing His Excellency’s Policy Direction in order to actualize the admirable vision and mission of the present administration. He is the statutory Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, and the Chairman of the Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards. His outstanding and remarkable intellectual contributions, has earned him appointments into Chairing many EXCO Committees as directed by the Governor. He has occasionally represented His Excellency at various State, National and International functions, hence remained very instrumental to the development of the Anambra State and her people.
To the Glory of God, and the first in the history of Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr. Nkemakonam Okeke was re-elected as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State in the 2017 Gubernatorial Election. He is married to Mrs. Oby Okeke and they are blessed with five children.