Profile of Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah recipient of Champion Newspaper’s Minister of the Year Award.

Hon. (Dr) Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah an oil magnate,  entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and President of Master Energy Group, a conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries and interests across a variety of industries is the present Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development.

Ogah, who is also an awardee of the Nigerian national honour, Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) was nominated for a ministerial post by President Muhammadu Buhari and was later appointed as Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

His other awards and honours include, Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration by Abia State University in 2013, Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Entrepreneur by Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce,· Ambassador of Peace, UN-POLAC Effective Leadership Award by Global Youths Awareness & Development Initiative (GYADI), Award for Excellence Foundation Entrepreneurship Promoter of the Year by Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy Africa,· Episcopal Award for Faith Motivation by Bishop of Isikwuato/Umunneochi, Anglican Corporate Excellence.

The Minister was also recognised for his accomplishments in Private Sector Development by Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu, (Aba Chapter),· and as Diamond Father of the Year, 2012 by Catholic Men’s Organisation, Mater  Dei Cathedral Parish, Umuahia.

He holds an MBA from the University of Lagos and he is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow, Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Shipping; Fellow, Employment & Career and member, Chartered Institute of Bankers as well as, Member, Governing Council of the Nigeria-Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In December 2011, he established a foundation, known as, Uche Ogah Foundation which aims to promote empowerment, poverty alleviation, and providing education for the less privileged. He has in addition, sponsored free medical services in different parts of Nigeria, built and equipped a number of modern hospitals in his native community, Uturu, Abia State and other communities in Nigeria.

He also partnered with a number of medical centres, including the Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre, Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State to fabricate artificial limbs and calipers for people with disability.

The highly skilled and erudite Minister has a strategic framework to develop the Nigerian refineries and enhance the exchange rate to boost the economy. He explicitly highlighted the  initiatives during his Senatorial screening on July 24th to ensure national growth.

Dr Ogah, who loves reading, listening to Christian Music and making friends is happily married and is blessed with children.