Engr. Osita Ngwu, popularly known as ‘RG’, emerged the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Enugu West at the Sentorial elections in 2023.
The philantrophist rose to great acclaim from the ranks and stayed true to his root ever since. Only those who have seen him rise and rise can understand and appreciate his journey and his ability to help those he has met along his very interesting sojourn, so far.
The graduate of engineering from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (2001) and holder of a MSc, from the Business School, University of Roe Hampton, London, UK (2016) served in various and diverse professional capacities in the engineering departments of the oil and gas industry and rose from being a trainee engineer to the highest vertical level of executive director.
In 2004, Ngwu started as a field engineer for WECO in the installation and laying of Ibewa-Obagi and Ob118-Ibewa gas lines, as part of a project executed for Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (then Total Fina Elf Nigeria limited).
He moved on to Addax petroleum in December 2004, as a project engineer in charge of fabrication, assembly and loadout of Ebughu east area well. A year later, he had moved on to Chevron Nigeria Limited as project engineer for the shop fabrication, assembly and loadout of Meji 49 production platform, bridge landing, production manifold and interconnecting piping.
In the same year, he moved briefly to Technip/Exxon Mobil Nigeria Unlimited as a project engineer for the fabrication, assembly and loadout of east area projects – flare platform and jacket, flare boom, topside deck, piles, and piping; before returning to Chevron as a project engineer for fabrication, loadout and sea-fastening of Meren platform.
2006 – Senior Project Engineer on Escravos Gas Project 3A Offshore Hook-up for Okan GGCP, executed for Chevron Nigeria Limited. Also in 2006 – Senior Project Engineer on Escravos Gas Project 3A Offshore Hook-up for Delta South PP, executed for Chevron Nigeria Limited. Again in 2006 – Senior Project Engineer for MEJI Production platform and Riser Platform Structural and Piping Fabrication, executed for Chevron Nigeria Limited. Further in 2006 – Project Manager Escravos Gas Project Phase 3A Brownfield Structural and Piping Fabrication for Okan GGCP and Delta South PP Tie-ins; executed for Chevron Nigeria Limited. He was with Chevron, until 2007, when he joined Baywood Continental Limited and was hugely involved in high-level & multi-volume EPCSS technical and commercial proposals and coordination.
He became a specialist in performing in-depth cost/risk analysis on proposals and ensured that tenders were submitted as per clients’ standard instructions, policies and conditions for tenders. Within this period, projects worth about $600 million were secured.
He was with Baywood, until 2010 when he joined ZB Joint Venture Limited as contract manager but later moved on to project manager delivering engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning (EPSCC) of OML Phase 1 for Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.
As Ngwu came through these phases, he became a well-rounded entrepreneur in an industry where there was little that got past him. Since floating his own company in 2016, he has managed projects of over $2 billion.
Ngwu believes that, if he was considered good at serving other business firms, he would also be excellent in the private sector and service to humanity, through his own business.
To demonstrate his patriotism and love of humanity, especially the young people. Presently, Ngwu has 533 workers on his company’s payroll.
Osita is a member of several professional bodies; Nigeria Society of Engineers (MNSE), Nigeria Mechanical Engineers Association (MNMEA) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
The emergence of Engr. Osita Ngwu as the Enugu West Senatorial District PDP Flagbearer for 2023 elections is not a mean fit. Prior to this time, RG has contested for other several positions but failed to get the party’s nomination. He once contested for Councilorship position, House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives, but failed to get the party’s nomination, and finally today he is the Enugu West Senatorial District Peoples Democratic Party Flagbearer for Senate 2023.
Enugu West may have a long way to go in reaching the desirable Promised Land, yes, it would not be easy; that is why we have to set priorities. We have to make positive-hard- choices. Although, government has to play a crucial role in bringing about the reforms we need, more money and more programmes alone will not get us where we need to be. In our collective resolve, we will have to accept responsibilities, imbibe a culture of instilling the ethics of collective achievements and promoting innovations among our youths, adopting a more competitive development, strengthen our communities and make significant sacrifices.
So, today, let us begin this long walk to socio-economic freedom of our people together and let us transform Enugu West to the envy of all.
People who love their land can make a change in order for it to be better for the good of all. This is what His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s led government is doing in Enugu State and he is determined to make things work; he may have his challenges, he may have some delays that could be occasioned by the inevitables but his administration has witnessed a significant victory and, through his will and courage, he has set the state on the path of rendezvous with destiny.
We all know what the challenges are today in Enugu West Senatorial District. We have talked about these for years, despite working so hard to overcome them. What is stopping us from meeting these challenges – of course, is not the absence of leadership and effective plans. What has consistently and constantly stopped us in the past is the lack of political will to embrace and instill the value of inclusive governance which we have today under Gov. Ugwuanyi. That is the reason for the peace and political stability we all enjoy today in Enugu State.
For instance, the parochial culture of our politics in the past in Enugu West – the ease with which we are often distracted and debased by petty and trivial matters; our previous preference for scoring cheap political points instead of rolling up our sleeves to build a working alliance in tackling problems, caused many to look away in disillusionment and frustration.
We all know the leadership crisis and calamities that befell our Zone in the past (yes, when the cabal, the cynics, the lobbyists, extremists, traducers and other special interests turned Enugu West Senatorial District into a game only them can afford to play).
Back then; they had the connections and we could only watch from down there, they thought and acted as if they own Enugu West Senatorial Zone alone, though, it belong to all of us.
I am proud to be part of the crusade in the court of public opinion that led to the most sweeping ethical reforms in the new order of politics without bitterness in Enugu West.
Today, the courageous Enugu West pro-democracy activists, and the footsoldiers with the help of the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the true owners of the West have taken their Senatorial District back to the people.
The time for old-fashioned politics is over. It is time to turn a new page to the future.
The ongoing leadership consultations and reconciliation in Enugu West led by Engr. Osita Ngwu has made some progress already, great ones for that matter.
Engr. Osita Ngwu is a quintessential technocrat, a perfect definition of a true leader whose personality goes beyond CV and profile.
Hon. Humphrey Onyima is the Publisher/CEO of Leadership SCORECARD Magazine, And the Director General of Enugu West General Assembly, (EWGA).
