Chinwe Obaji
Encyclopedia
Chinwe Obaji is a higher education
lecturer, teacher and education administrator who was appointed to head Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education in June 2005 as Senior Minister, and was succeeded a year later by Obiageli Ezekwesili
.
in Imo State
. From 1980 she was a lecturer and administrator at Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo
, Imo State
in Nigeria
.
She directed that Universities should administer the Post University Matriculation Examination to candidate students in an effort by bypass the inefficiency of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Notably, in support of her directive, President Olusegun Obasanjo called for enhanced support by all Nigerians for the post-JAMB screening.
However, there was controversy over the fees charged by universities for the test.
In an October 2005 meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, it was unanimously agreed to peg the test fee at N1,000.
Answering questions in the House of Representative in November 2005, Chinwe Obaji said that any university that collected more than N1,000 from candidates seeking admission after the post JAMB screening had done so in violation of her directive.
The House of Representations later cancelled the directive.
In April 2006, Chinwe Obaji detailed reforms to the design of the basic education system to ensure that every Nigerian child at least has access to basic education. The government set up a system of reprimanding parents who do not register their children for school, and started to recruit 40,000 teachers for rural communities.
She stated that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program aimed at enhancing "unhindered access to quality basic education to the children, especially to the girl-child".
.
Obaji was later probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC) over alleged corruption.
Dr Chinwe Obaji was appointed Professor of International Education at the Voorhees College
in the USA starting in 2007.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
lecturer, teacher and education administrator who was appointed to head Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education in June 2005 as Senior Minister, and was succeeded a year later by Obiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Nigerian chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer Directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. She served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Federal Minister of...
.
Background
Chinwe Obaji was born in Ezinihitte-MbaiseEzinihitte-Mbaise
Ezinihitte-Mbaise is a local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. The area consists of the town of Ezi na Ihite and its surroundings and is part of the Mbaise district. Thse are the villages that make up Ezi na Ihite:-External links:*...
in Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
. From 1980 she was a lecturer and administrator at Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo
Umuagwo
Umuagwo is a town in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State in Nigeria. The population is mostly Christian and Igbo-speaking...
, Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Ministerial position
Chinwe Obaji, as Education Minister, tried to resuscitate the Inspectorate Division of the Federal Ministry of Education. She started the one-meal-a-day project in some pilot primary schools across the country.She directed that Universities should administer the Post University Matriculation Examination to candidate students in an effort by bypass the inefficiency of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Notably, in support of her directive, President Olusegun Obasanjo called for enhanced support by all Nigerians for the post-JAMB screening.
However, there was controversy over the fees charged by universities for the test.
In an October 2005 meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, it was unanimously agreed to peg the test fee at N1,000.
Answering questions in the House of Representative in November 2005, Chinwe Obaji said that any university that collected more than N1,000 from candidates seeking admission after the post JAMB screening had done so in violation of her directive.
The House of Representations later cancelled the directive.
In April 2006, Chinwe Obaji detailed reforms to the design of the basic education system to ensure that every Nigerian child at least has access to basic education. The government set up a system of reprimanding parents who do not register their children for school, and started to recruit 40,000 teachers for rural communities.
She stated that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program aimed at enhancing "unhindered access to quality basic education to the children, especially to the girl-child".
Subsequent positions
In a cabinet reshuffle in June 2006, Chinwe Obaji was replaced by Obiageli EzekwesiliObiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Nigerian chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer Directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. She served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Federal Minister of...
.
Obaji was later probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission , is a Nigerian agency that was inaugurated on the 29th of September 2000 following the recommendation of President Olusegun Obasanjo...
(ICPC) over alleged corruption.
Dr Chinwe Obaji was appointed Professor of International Education at the Voorhees College
Voorhees College
Voorhees College is a private, historically black college in Denmark, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Voorhees College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in the USA starting in 2007.