Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke facts for kids

Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke, born on June 14, 1948, is a Nigerian civil engineer. She made history as the first woman to lead the Nigerian Civil Service. This is a very important role in the Nigerian government.

Life and Education

Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke was born in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria, on June 14, 1948. She went to Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls' School for her secondary education. She finished there in 1965.

After that, she traveled to England to study. She earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Civil engineering from the University of Southampton in 1971. Civil engineering is about designing and building things like roads, bridges, and water systems.

She continued her studies, learning more about water. She got a special diploma in groundwater from Loughborough University. She also earned another degree in Hydrology and Hydrogeology from University College London in 1979. These fields study how water moves and is distributed on Earth. Later, in 2001, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Career Highlights

In March 2007, Ebele Okeke became a Permanent Secretary. This is a very senior leadership role in a government department. She worked in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. This ministry manages Nigeria's water supplies.

Just a few months later, she achieved something amazing. She became the Head of the Nigerian Civil Service. This made her the first woman ever to hold this top position in Nigeria's history. The Head of the Civil Service is in charge of all government workers and helps run the country's daily operations.

She served in this important role until 2008. After that, she retired from the Nigerian Civil Service.

Ebele Okeke is known for her big contributions to engineering in Nigeria. She helped start the Abuja Chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN). This group supports women who are engineers.

In 2014, she was one of six people chosen to represent retired government workers. They attended the 2014 Nigeria's National Conference. This was a big meeting where people discussed important plans for Nigeria's future.

Awards and Honours

Ebele Okeke has received special awards for her service. These include:

• CFR (Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic) in 2006
• OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger)

Fellowships

She is also recognized by several important engineering groups:

• Fellow and Chartered Civil Engineer of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Great Britain and Ireland
• Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers
• Member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)

See also

• Yayale Ahmed